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7 votes
3 answers
1k views

When a star enters a red giant phase, does the pressure in its core increase or decrease?

When a star becomes a red giant, does the pressure in its core increase or decrease? From one side, the only source of pressure in a star is gravity. A red giant is much larger than an ordinary star, ...
cuckoo's user avatar
  • 800
3 votes
1 answer
199 views

Mimimum stellar mass and minimum temperature that triggers hydrogen burning

We can derive the minimum mass of a star in the main sequence using the minimum temperature $T_C$ that triggers hydrogen burning in the core. Then using the stellar structure equations we can derive ...
CoolerThanACooler's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
995 views

Is it possible for a star cluster to be composed of main sequence stars?

From what I hear about globular clusters, they are primarily composed of very hot giant stars, which are not the most conducive for life as we know it. Main sequence stars like our own, due to their ...
user98816's user avatar
  • 469
2 votes
1 answer
310 views

Does the mass-luminosity relation work for brown dwarfs?

There is a mass-luminosity relationship of the form $L \propto M^a$, where $a = 3.5$, that is is applicable to main-sequence stars. Is there a similar relationship that holds for brown dwarfs?
user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
344 views

What does the surface of a star with a radiative envelope look like?

This image from Wikipedia shows that main sequence stars above 1.5 solar masses have a convective core and a radiative envelope. The surface of our sun grainy because of convection cells right below ...
zucculent's user avatar
  • 1,758
3 votes
0 answers
48 views

Strength of core-envelope coupling in stars (again)

I asked this on the physics SE but it received little attention: Consider a high-mass zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) (e.g., $m_{\rm ZAMS} \gtrsim 30\,$M$_{\odot}$) star. I understand that the core-...
Daddy Kropotkin's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
199 views

How can I estimate how long will a main sequence star stay on the main sequence given its temperature?

I have a generic zero-age main sequence star. The only thing I know about it is its temperature. How can I estimate time time it spends on the main sequence (in millions of years)? I've seen equations ...
slowerthanstopped's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
189 views

Is it possible for a star to return in the main sequence?

Is it possible for a star to return to the main sequence after entered in the post-main sequence phase? I have no clue if there's a mechanism such as acquiring hydrogen from from the environment or ...
Dac0's user avatar
  • 316
3 votes
1 answer
324 views

What would happen to the Sun's evolution if it collided with another yellow dwarf?

How would the Sun evolve if it collided with another G-type main sequence star, perhaps a more massive one like Alpha Cen A? Since its mass would then be above the Chandrasekhar limit, could it ...
Greenhorn's user avatar
  • 293
9 votes
1 answer
1k views

Increase in Luminosity of the star

The Luminosity of a star is proportional to the 4 th power of its temperature and square of its radius. Also the mass-luminosity relationship says that the luminosity of star is proportional to ...
Dhruv Deshmukh's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
117 views

Catalogs for type K stars and their planetary systems?

I am doing data collection on all type K stars, and their planetary system so I may develop an algorithm for a planetary formation simulation with the Unity game engine. Where could such a catalog of ...
Mr. Anderson's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
432 views

Is there a relation between mass, radius, and luminosity in deuterium-burning brown dwarfs?

I'm a worldbuilder and my setting has a lot of brown dwarfs. While I'm trying to keep my setting as science-compliant as possible, I can't seem to find any resources for brown dwarfs like there are ...
TerranAmbassador's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
90 views

The mass of Subdwarf B progenitors in the main sequence

Note: By "progenitor", I mean "the star as it was when it was still main sequence". Please correct me if I've got the terminology wrong. Most B-type subdwarfs have mass roughly half that of the Sun. ...
Astrid_Redfern's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
551 views

Why does the convective core in an intermediate- to high-mass star shrink?

The image below shows the evolution of the hydrogen mass fraction profile for a 5 solar mass star in the main sequence. I would expect that the size of the convective core stays roughly constant as ...
Stefano's user avatar
  • 199
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is the turn-off point of the main sequence the same as the terminal-age main sequence?

The turn-off (TO) point is one tipping point on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (HRD) where low-mass stars start to evolve from the main sequence (MS) toward lower temperatures. If I understand it ...
Stefano's user avatar
  • 199

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