Science, Maths & Technology
White dwarfs and neutron stars
...carbon and oxygen in the star’s core, again releasing energy. Low mass stars (< 3 M☉) and intermediate mass stars (in the range 3–8 M☉) ultimately begin a second ascent of the red giant branch (known as the asymptotic giant branch, or AGB) when core helium is exhausted and helium fusion only continues in a shell surrounding an inert carbon/oxygen core. Massive...