What internal mechanism allows Red Dwarfs to sustain core hydrogen fusion for up to 14 trillion years?
Energy generation primarily through convection, churning fresh hydrogen to the core.
The extraordinary longevity of Red Dwarfs, estimated to last for trillions of years, is directly attributable to their internal structure and fuel management system. Unlike larger stars, these low-mass stars generate energy predominantly through convection. Convection is a process where the star's material is continuously churned, effectively bringing hydrogen fuel from the outer layers down into the core where nuclear fusion takes place. This constant mixing ensures that the entire stellar volume, not just the dense core, is utilized for fusion over cosmic timescales. This efficiency allows them to burn their fuel so frugally that their main-sequence lifetime can potentially exceed the current age of the universe, making them virtually immortal on galactic timelines compared to massive stars.
