On the Nature of the Horizontal Branch. I

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The correlation of certain horizontal-branch characteristics with observed metal abundance is discussed, and the hypothesis that stars survive the helium flash without mixing is re-examined. It is shown that metal content, particularly as it affects the strength of a hydrogen-burning shell, controls the structure of a double-energy-source model, leading qualitatively to the observed correlation. Models are constructed for two values of the envelope helium content, 10 per cent and 35 per cent by mass. Quantitative agreement at present suggests a preference for the latter figure, which may have cosmological or cosmogonical significance.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: