/
Article

Evolution of red‐giant stars

JAN 01, 1976
Thermal instabilities in helium‐burning shells are linked to the origin of certain elements heavier than iron—in one star the surface abundances of these elements increased by 25 times in the last ten years.
Allen V. Sweigart

Theorists are paying a lot of attention nowadays to the structure and evolution of highly luminous stars with low surface temperatures. These stars, referred to as “red giants” because of their color and large radii, are believed to be in an advanced phase of their evolution. Most stars pass through at least one such phase, late in their lifetimes—as will our Sun.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

  1. 1. E. M. Burbidge, G. R. Burbidge, W. A. Fowler, F. Hoyle, Rev. Mod. Phys. 29, 547 (1957).https://doi.org/RMPHAT

  2. 2. G. Wallerstein, Ann. Rev. Astron. and Astrophys. 11, 115 (1973).https://doi.org/ARAAAJ

  3. 3. J. W. Truran, in Proceedings of the Conference on Red Giant Stars (H. R. Johnson, J. P. Mutschlecner, B. F. Peery, eds.), Bloomington, Indiana, page 394 (1973).

  4. 4. G. E. Langer, R. P. Kraft, K. S. Anderson, Astrophys. J. 189, 509 (1974).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  5. 5. M. Schwarzschild, R. Härm, Astrophys. J. 142, 855 (1965).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  6. 6. A. Weigert, Z. Astrophys. 64, 395 (1966).https://doi.org/ZEASAJ

  7. 7. M. Schwarzschild, R. Härm, Astrophys. J. 150, 961 (1967).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  8. 8. B. Paczyński, Acta Astron. 21, 417 (1971).https://doi.org/AASWAM

  9. 9. I.‐J. Sackmann, K. H. Despain, Astrophys. J. 189, 523 (1974).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  10. 10. I. IbenJr, Astrophys. J. 196, 525 (1975).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  11. 11. R. A. Gingold, Astrophys. J. 193, 177 (1974).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  12. 12. R. H. Sanders, Astrophys. J. 150, 971 (1967).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  13. 13. A. G. W. Cameron, W. A. Fowler, Astrophys. J. 164, 111 (1971).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  14. 14. J. M. Scalo, R. K. Ulrich, Astrophys. J. 183, 151 (1973).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  15. 15. E. H. Levy, W. K. Rose, Astrophys. J. 193, 419 (1974).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  16. 16. O. J. Eggen, Astrophys. J. 177, 489 (1972).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  17. 17. A. V. Sweigart, Astrophys. J. 189, 289 (1974).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  18. 18. A. V. Sweigart, Astrophys. J. 168, 79 (1971).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

More about the authors

Allen V. Sweigart, Yale University Observatory, New Haven, Connecticut.

Related content
/
Article
Since 2008, more than 100 colleges and universities in the US have stopped offering an undergraduate physics major. What happened?
/
Article
The thermodynamic and quantum mechanical properties of topological insulators provide a path toward scalable energy storage in information-based batteries.
/
Article
At the end of the turbulent 1960s, the postwar funding boom in US physics came to a crashing halt. The lessons learned then may be helpful to today’s physicists.
/
Article
Interviews with 22 successful early-career physical scientists and engineers reveal that networking has been one of the most critical ways to nurture their careers.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1976_01.jpeg

Volume 29, Number 1

Get PT newsletters in your inbox

pt_newsletter_card_blue.png
PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

pt_newsletter_card_darkblue.png
PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

pt_newsletter_card_pink.png
PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.