A low-mass giant on the horizontal branch fuses hydrogen into helium in its core. The core temperature is insufficient to fuse helium into carbon. How does the star produce energy?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A low-mass giant on the horizontal branch produces energy through shell helium fusion around an inert helium core, as the core temperature is not high enough for helium to carbon fusion.

A Low-Mass Giant on the Horizontal Branch Fuses Hydrogen into Helium