Asteroseismology and evolution of EHB stars

Roy H. Østensen

Published 2009-01-12Version 1

The properties of the Extreme Horizontal Branch stars are quite well understood, but much uncertainty surrounds the many paths that bring a star to this peculiar configuration. Asteroseismology of pulsating EHB stars has been performed on a number of objects, bringing us to the stage where comparisons of the inferred properties with evolutionary models becomes feasible. In this review I outline our current understanding of the formation and evolution of these stars, with emphasis on recent progress. The aim is to show how the physical parameters derived by asteroseismology can enable the discrimination between different evolutionary models.