Issue |
Ann. Phys. Fr.
Volume 16, Number 4, 1991
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Page(s) | 515 - 526 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/anphys:01991001604051500 | |
Published online | 01 June 2004 |
Why do stars become giants?
Department of Physics and Astronomy, PO Box 913, University of Wales, College of Cardiff, CF13TH, G.B.
In this paper I explain why stars become giants; and I review earlier work, indicating why there has been so little consensus on this question despite over fifty years of investigation. The mechanism causing giantness is not simple. It involves a complex natural conspiracy in which there are four critical roles. These roles are played by eight different physical effects (see Tab. I).
Résumé
Dans cette étude,j'explique pourquoi les étoiles deviennent géantes;j'analyse les publications préalables, et j'indique pourquoi il y avait si peu d'accord sur cette question, malgré plus de cinquante années de recherche. Le mécanisme qui cause le "géantisme" n'est pas simple. Cela implique une "conspiration" naturelle mais très complexe, dans laquelle il y a quatres rôles essentiels. Ces rôles sont joués par huit effets physiques distincts (voir Tab. I).
PACS: 9720L – Late type giants and subgiants / 9710C – Stellar interiors, evolution, nucleosynthesis, and ages
Key words: giant stars / stellar evolution / stellar structure / giant stars formation / stellar evolution / stellar structure equations singular behaviour / giant stars envelopes / stellar core mass / Schonberg Chandrasekhar limit / stellar mass loss / critical core structure / degenerate cores / nondegenerate cores / physical effects / He core mass / stellar He ignition
© EDP Sciences, 1991