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Very low mass stars, black dwarfs and planets

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Abstract

Hydrogen-rich stars of very low mass (M ≲ 0.08M ⊙) never go through hydrogenburning thermonuclear reactions and, in a time scale much shorter than the age of the Galaxy, become completely degenerate objects or black dwarfs. The number of the very-low-mass (VLM) black dwarfs is expected to be very large and they are likely to make a significant contribution to the total mass of the Galaxy. Processes of star and planet formation are discussed and it is concluded that the luminous and dark objects of mass 0.001M ⊙-0.08M ⊙ beyond the solar system are not likely to be planets. Formation of Jupiter is discussed and it is suggested that the mass of Jupiter at the time of formation was smaller than its present mass.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

    Shiv S. Kumar

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  1. Shiv S. Kumar
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Kumar, S.S. Very low mass stars, black dwarfs and planets. Astrophys Space Sci 212, 57–60 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984509

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984509

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