What is the initial mass range for stars that evolve into white dwarfs?
Answer
between approximately $0.07$ and $10$ solar masses ($M_{ ext{odot}}$)
White dwarfs are identified as the final evolutionary stage for the vast majority of stars within a specific mass bracket. This crucial range is defined as stars whose initial mass falls between the lower limit of approximately $0.07$ solar masses and the upper limit of about $10$ solar masses. Stars below this lower threshold might fail to ignite sustained fusion, while stars significantly exceeding the $10$ solar mass limit typically collapse completely under gravity to form objects such as neutron stars or black holes following supernova explosions, thus bypassing the white dwarf phase.
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