Stages of stellar evolution

I have been compiling a list of stages of stellar evolution, as nearly
as possible in order.

There is substantial difference in the descriptions of the stages given
by Carroll & Ostlie and by Binney & Merrifield. Carroll & Ostlie's
description seems fairly detailed, well organised, and makes sense in
terms of underlying physical processes, whereas Binney & Merrifield seem
confused, disorganised, inconsistent, incomplete, and contaminated by
ideas which I believe were discredited about 50yrs ago (there is similar
inconsistency in Wikipedia articles, which I think originates in which
of these texts the author of the article based his account). I am
therefore working principally from Carroll and Ostlie. Does anyone have
any other view on the relative merit of these treatments?

I am not quite clear about what happens exactly at the end of the main
sequence. As I understand, the subgiant branch starts from ignition of
the thick Hydrogen shell, but this does not happen immediately on
gravitational contraction of the burned out main sequence star. I
interpret a diagram, not the text, as indicating a short period of re-
ignition of hydrogen in the core before ignition of the shell. Is this
right?

I don't see a name for either the contraction following the horizontal
branch, or the subsequent phase when there is a thick helium burning
shell (corresponding to the subgiant branch) and before the asymptotic
giant branch. Do these stages have names? Since the initial contraction
is classified as part of the main sequence, why is this contraction not
considered part of the horizontal branch?

I would like to know if there is anything missing or inaccurate in my
list. Any help would be much appreciated.


0 Protostar
1 Pre-main sequence (Herbig Ae/Be, T-tauri, FUor, brown dwarf)
2 Hydrogen burning core (main sequence)
3 Contraction
4 Re-ignition (end of main sequence)
5 Thick hydrogen burning shell (subgiant branch)
6 First dredge-up phase
7 Core contraction (red giant branch)
8 Helium burning first phase (horizontal branch)
9 Contraction/disappearance of convective shell
10 Helium burning main phase
11 Contraction (end of horizontal branch)
12 Thick helium burning shell
13 Second dredge-up phase
14 Contraction (asymptotic giant branch)
15 Helium shell flashes (irregular variables)
16 Third dredge-up phase
17 Carbon star
18 Shell expulsion (blue supergiant/Wolf-Rayet star)
19 White dwarf progenitor (planetary nebula)
20 White dwarf/Neutron star/Black hole


Regards

--
Charles Francis
moderator sci.physics.foundations.
charles (dot) e (dot) h (dot) francis (at) googlemail.com (remove spaces and
braces)

http://www.teleconnection.info/rqg/MainIndex

In article , Oh No
writes:

There is substantial difference in the descriptions of the stages given
by Carroll & Ostlie and by Binney & Merrifield.

Why not compare Kippenhahn & Weigert to the other two books? At the
Saas-Fee course in 1993, Malcolm Longair said that he used K&W about
once a day. Recommendations don't get much better than that.

K&H is not the newest book, but I think for your questions it is still
up to date.

Thus spake Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply
LOTHESvax.de
In article , Oh No
writes:

There is substantial difference in the descriptions of the stages given
by Carroll & Ostlie and by Binney & Merrifield.

Why not compare Kippenhahn & Weigert to the other two books? At the
Saas-Fee course in 1993, Malcolm Longair said that he used K&W about
once a day. Recommendations don't get much better than that.

K&H is not the newest book, but I think for your questions it is still
up to date.


Thanks. I hadn't been able to find this book browsing on amazon, but it
seems to be exactly what I want.

Regards

--
Charles Francis
moderator sci.physics.foundations.
charles (dot) e (dot) h (dot) francis (at) googlemail.com (remove spaces and
braces)

http://www.teleconnection.info/rqg/MainIndex