What mechanism triggers the Sun's transition into a Red Giant phase?
Answer
Hydrogen fusion ignites in the shell surrounding the contracting helium core
Following the contraction of the inert helium core, the intense heat generated by this gravitational collapse raises the temperature of the surrounding layer, which still contains untouched hydrogen fuel. This surrounding layer becomes hot and dense enough to initiate nuclear fusion within the shell itself. This process is termed hydrogen shell burning. Crucially, the energy output generated by this shell burning is significantly greater than the energy produced when the core was fusing hydrogen alone, providing the immense outward force necessary to expand the star dramatically.
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