Estimate the duration of a 1 solar mass star in the horizontal branch phase. (a)

Question

Estimate the duration of a 1 solar mass star in the horizontal branch phase.

(a) Compute the energy released in the net triple alpha reaction: 3 4He 12 C.

(b) Assume that at the beginning of the horizontal branch phase, 10% of the original mass of the star is in the form of 4He in the stellar core. Estiamte the total energy released by fusing this amount of helium into carbon via the triple alpha process.

(c) Assume that during the horizontal branch phase, L = 100L . If all this luminosity is provided by fusion of helium to carbon in the core, how long will the horizontal branch phase last?

Explanation / Answer

solving part(a)

Energy released is calculated by E=mc^2

The energy released = the "missing mass", the mass that is converted directly into energy and "disappears"
masses of the 3 alpha particles =(3 x 6.646477*10^(-27) kg) ..........(a)

mass of the C12., 19.926464*10^(-27) kg. ,.............(b)

we get E=(a-b)*c^2=1.16*10^(-12) J=7.29 MeV

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