Are There Stars Primarily Composed of Helium?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Loren Booda
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Helium Stars
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the existence of stars primarily composed of helium, exploring theoretical models and observational classifications. It touches on stellar evolution, composition, and the implications of different stellar types.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that many stars have helium in their cores, with heavier elements present as well.
  • One participant mentions "Extreme Helium Stars," indicating that the classification is based on surface spectra where hydrogen is low or absent, suggesting these stars may be remnants of evolved stars.
  • Another participant proposes a model involving colliding white dwarfs, which could lead to a scenario where helium composition exceeds that of other elements, indicating a possibility of stars primarily composed of helium.
  • A further point is raised regarding smaller stars, which may not progress beyond the hydrogen to helium stage, implying a long timescale for such processes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the existence and classification of helium-rich stars, with no consensus on whether stars can be primarily composed of helium.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on specific definitions of stellar composition and evolutionary stages, and there are unresolved aspects regarding the conditions under which helium predominance might occur.

Loren Booda
Messages
3,115
Reaction score
4
Are there stars primarily composed of helium?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
There are many stars whose CORES are composed of helium -- and even stars with cores of heavier elements.

- Warren
 
Originally posted by Loren Booda
Are there stars primarily composed of helium?
There is a class designated "Extreme Helium Stars", but this comes from the spectra of the surface only where Hydrogen is low or lacking. Most would be the "remnant" (white dwarf) of an evolved star, leaving behind the outer helium burning shell as a "surface", even though the interior would still be composed mostly of carbon and oxygen.

But, there is one model where colliding white dwarfs could cause the combination of helium total to exceed the other elements. So, I guess the answer is probably yes, in rare occasion.
 
A star that was smaller

than solar mass by a factor of two or three might never get past the Hydrogen to Helium stage but that would take a long time, it would be older than the universe is now before the Hydrogen was all used up.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Expansion of a star to become a red giant
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
5K
Undergrad Population 3 star (Pop III) candidate LAP1
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Why Does Gravity Remain when Star Mass Dissipates?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Undergrad How 'Messy' are Fusion Reaction Chains in Stars?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
Undergrad Help with my Polar Aligning Star Tracker please
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K
Graduate What Are the Processes for Manufacturing Elements Heavier Than Iron in Stars?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
High School Neutron star 4U 1820-30 spins at 716 revolutions per second
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
3K
Undergrad Planets or stars that are composed entirely out from Dark Matter.
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
High School How much of a star undergoes fusion?
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
5K
High School Question: Orbital mechanics of a binary star system
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K