What stellar phase follows core hydrogen exhaustion for stars like our Sun?
Answer
Becoming a red giant
When the hydrogen fuel in the core of a star comparable to the Sun is depleted, the fusion rate in the core slows, causing gravity to dominate and heat up the core dramatically. This heating often ignites hydrogen fusion in a surrounding shell around the inert helium core. This new, temporary energy source causes the star's outer layers to swell enormously. This significant expansion and subsequent surface cooling causes the star to transform into what is specifically termed a red giant, changing how it shines, often increasing total luminosity before the star proceeds toward exhausting helium and shedding its outer layers.
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