[bloopernova]

In case others were curious about the term Helium ash:

Ash is the name given to the energetic alpha-particles or helium nuclei produced by fusion reactions in a deuterium-tritium plasma, even though helium bears no physical resemblance to ash from a fire.

[pfdietz]

It should be noted that deuterium-tritium fusion is not what is happening in the Sun. The primary reaction chain involves proton-proton fusion, which yields deuterium. The deuterium immediately (within seconds) reacts with another proton to make helium-3. Helium-3 eventually fuses with another He-3 to make He-4 and two protons. There are some side chains, but the ultimate overall reaction is four protons + 2 electrons --> 4He + 2 neutrinos.