What evolutionary phase immediately follows the end of core hydrogen burning for stars like our Sun ($0.8 M_{\odot}$ to $8 M_{\odot}$)?

Answer

Red Giant Branch (RGB)

Once a star similar in mass to the Sun exhausts the supply of hydrogen fuel located in its core, it must transition away from the stability of the main sequence, which accounts for about ninety percent of its active life. For stars residing roughly between $0.8 M_{\odot}$ and $8 M_{\odot}$, the cessation of core hydrogen fusion causes the core, now composed primarily of helium ash, to contract under gravity and heat up significantly. This heating then forces the outer layers of the star to expand immensely, causing the star's surface temperature to drop, leading directly to the Red Giant Branch (RGB) phase. During this phase, the star's luminosity increases dramatically due to the vast increase in radius. This contraction and subsequent expansion set the stage for the ignition of helium fusion in the core, followed eventually by the ejection of outer layers forming a planetary nebula and leaving behind a white dwarf.

What evolutionary phase immediately follows the end of core hydrogen burning for stars like our Sun ($0.8 M_{\odot}$ to $8 M_{\odot}$)?

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