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Paper: |
Nuclear Processes in AGB Stars |
Volume: |
378, Why Galaxies Care About AGB Stars: Their Importance as Actors and Probes |
Page: |
26 |
Authors: |
Busso, M. |
Abstract: |
Nucleosynthesis phenomena that occur in Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars are outlined. Emphasis is given on nuclear processes directly expected from the standard evolution of the star (producing 12C, 19F, 22Ne, 25,26Mg and s-elements) and on modifications of the abundances of intermediate–mass elements up to Mg–Al, due to proton captures in slow mass circulations above the H-burning shell. These last are of the same nature, but smaller in magnitude, as the abundance changes induced in massive AGB stars by the occurrence of CNO cycling directly at the hot base of the convective envelope. The main problems in deriving reliable yields are related to the poorly known physics (and rates) of mass loss, to uncertainties in nuclear cross sections, and to the complexity of partial mixing mechanisms. |
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