{
  "id": "1004.2709",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2010-04-15T20:05:23.000Z",
  "updated": "2010-04-15T20:05:23.000Z",
  "title": "A Bound on the Light Emitted During the TP-AGB Phase",
  "authors": [
    "Jonathan C. Bird",
    "Marc H. Pinsonneault"
  ],
  "comment": "Submitted to the Astrophysical Journal. 25 pages, 2 figures.",
  "categories": [
    "astro-ph.SR",
    "astro-ph.GA"
  ],
  "abstract": "The integrated luminosity of the TP-AGB phase is a major uncertainty in stellar population synthesis models. We use the white dwarf initial final mass relation and stellar interiors models to demonstrate that a significant fraction of the core mass growth for intermediate (1.5 < Msun < 6) mass stars takes place during the TP-AGB phase. We find evidence that the peak fractional core mass contribution for TP-AGB stars is ~20% and occurs for stars between 2 Msun and 3.5 Msun. Using a simple fuel consumption argument we couple this core mass increase to a lower limit on the TP-AGB phase energy output. Roughly half of the energy released in models of TP-AGB stars can be directly accounted for by this core growth; while the remainder is predominantly the stellar yield of He. A robust measurement of the emitted light in this phase will therefore set strong constraints on helium enrichment from TP-AGB stars, and we estimate the yields predicted by current models as a function of initial mass. Implications for stellar population studies and prospects for improvements are discussed.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2010-04-15T20:05:23.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "tp-agb stars",
      "peak fractional core mass contribution",
      "white dwarf initial final mass",
      "dwarf initial final mass relation"
    ],
    "tags": [
      "journal article"
    ],
    "publication": {
      "doi": "10.1088/0004-637X/733/2/81",
      "journal": "The Astrophysical Journal",
      "year": 2011,
      "month": "Jun",
      "volume": 733,
      "number": 2,
      "pages": 81
    },
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 25,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable",
      "inspire": 852228,
      "adsabs": "2011ApJ...733...81B"
    }
  }
}