Introduction to Stellar Evolution

Erika Bohm-Vitense (University of Washington)

Abstract:

In the first part we will discuss the basic physics governing stellar evolution, starting from the collapse of an idealized interstellar cloud, with no turbulence, magnetic field and rotation. (Frank Shu will presumably tell what is wrong with this). We will follow the contraction of the star to the main sequence. For main sequence stars we will then discuss the dependences of the physical properties on mass, and look at the different energy generation and energy transfer processes. We will re for different element abundances the positions of the main sequences in the color magnitude diagrams. Next we will try to identify the basic physics leading to the evolution along the giant branch and up the red giant branch with the blue loops due to helium burning. This will describe our knowledge in the early 1980s.

Depending on time I will then in the second part point out some complications that became obvious after about 1984, like additional mixing in the interiors of main sequence stars either by convective core overshoot or by rotational mixing. This will include a discussion of the influence of convective core overshoot on the luminosities of Cepheids for a given mass.

In connection with rotational mixing we will explain the Eddington currents and the mu barrier. We will then discuss correlations between rotational velocities and Li abundances in order to judge whether rotational mixing is important.

Realaudio of lecture.
Viewgraphs (1MB PDF).

Reading Material:

• Scharzschild,M. 1958, Structure and Evolution of the Stars Princeton University Press

• Iben, I. 1967, ARAA 5, 571

• Hayashi,C. 1966, ARAA 4, 171

• Kippenhahn,R. and Weigert,A. 1990: Stellar Structure and Evolution Springer Verlag

• Hansen, C.J. and Kawaler,S.D. 1994, Stellar Interiors Springer Verlag

• Bohm-Vitense E., 1992, Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics, Vol.3 Stellar Structure and Evolution, Cambridge University Press.

Books to Consult:

• B\"ohm-Vitense, E. 1992, Introduction to stellar astrophysics, Volume 3, stellar structure and evolution.

• Chandrasekhar, S., 1939, An Introduction to the study of stellar structure, University of Chicago Press

• Clayton, D.,1983 Principles of stellar evolution and Nucleosynthesis. University of Chicago Press

• Cox,J. and Giuli,R., 1968, Stellar structure, vol.1 and vol.2, Gordon and Breach, Bew York

• Eddigton,A., 1959, The internal constitution of stars, Dover publ.

• Hansen, C.J. and Kawaler, S.D., 1994 , Stellar Interiors, Physical principles, structure, and evolution , Springer Verlag

• Kippenhahn, R. and Weigert,A. Stellar structure and evolution, 1990, Springer Verlag

• Novotny,E., Introduction to stellar atmospheres and interiors, 1973, Oxford University Press

• Schwarzschild, M. Structure and evolution of the stars, 1958, Princeton University Press

Articles and Papers:

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