Sign on

SAO/NASA ADS Astronomy Abstract Service

· Find Similar Abstracts (with default settings below)
· Electronic Refereed Journal Article (HTML)
· Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
· arXiv e-print (arXiv:0902.0406)
· References in the article
· Also-Read Articles (Reads History)
·
· Translate This Page
Title:
Why Do Low-Mass Stars Become Red Giants?
Authors:
Stancliffe, Richard J.; Chieffi, Alessandro; Lattanzio, John C.; Church, Ross P.
Affiliation:
AA(Centre for Stellar and Planetary Astrophysics, Monash University, PO Box 28M, Victoria 3800, Australia; ), AB(Centre for Stellar and Planetary Astrophysics, Monash University, PO Box 28M, Victoria 3800, Australia; ), AC(Centre for Stellar and Planetary Astrophysics, Monash University, PO Box 28M, Victoria 3800, Australia), AD(Centre for Stellar and Planetary Astrophysics, Monash University, PO Box 28M, Victoria 3800, Australia)
Publication:
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, Volume 26, Issue 3, pp. 203-208. (PASA Homepage)
Publication Date:
09/2009
Origin:
PASA
Keywords:
stars: evolution
DOI:
10.1071/AS08060
Bibliographic Code:
2009PASA...26..203S

Abstract

We revisit the problem of why stars become red giants. We modify the physics of a standard stellar evolution code in order to determine what does and what does not contribute to a star becoming a red giant. In particular, we have run tests to try to separate the effects of changes in the mean molecular weight and in the energy generation. The implications for why stars become red giants are discussed. We find that while a change in the mean molecular weight is necessary (but not sufficient) for a 1-Msolar star to become a red giant, this is not the case in a star of 5 Msolar. It therefore seems that there may be more than one way to make a giant.
Bibtex entry for this abstract   Preferred format for this abstract (see Preferences)
   

Find Similar Abstracts:

Use: Authors
Title
Keywords (in text query field)
Abstract Text
Return: Query Results Return    items starting with number
Query Form
Database: Astronomy
Physics
arXiv e-prints