253 research outputs found
H- and He-burning central stars and the evolution to white dwarfs
The structure and evolution of central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe) is
reviewed. CSPNe represent the rapid transitional stage between the Asymptotic
Giant Branch (AGB) and the white-dwarf domain. It is shown that the whole
evolution off the AGB through the central-star regime depends on the
evolutionary history. The detailed evolution into a white dwarf is controlled
by the internal stellar structure which, in turn, is determined by the duration
of the preceding AGB evolution and therefore by the AGB mass-loss history.
The evolution of hydrogen-deficient central stars has been a matter of debate
since many years. Convective overshoot appears to be a key ingredient to model
these objects. Various thermal-pulse scenarios with inclusion of overshoot are
discussed, leading to surface abundances in general agreement with those
observed for Wolf-Rayet central stars.Comment: 8 pages, 4 postscript figures, also available from
http://www.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/div/ir-interferometry; invited review at IAU
Symp. 209 "Planetary Nebulae", ASP, in pres
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