Publication | Closed Access
The Luminosity Function and Stellar Evolution.
8.2K
Citations
0
References
1955
Year
Salpeter discusses the evolutionary significance of the observed luminosity function for main‑sequence stars in the solar neighborhood, hypothesizing that stars leave the main sequence after burning about 10 % of their hydrogen and that star formation has proceeded at a uniform rate over the last five billion years. Using this hypothesis and the observed luminosity function, the authors calculate the star‑formation rate as a function of stellar mass. They find that the total number and mass of stars that have evolved off the main sequence are comparable to the total number of white dwarfs and to the total mass of all fainter main‑sequence stars, respectively. Published in The Astrophysical Journal (Jan 1955, DOI 10.1086/145971, Bibcode 1955ApJ...121..161S).
view Abstract Citations (7566) References (10) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The Luminosity Function and Stellar Evolution. Salpeter, Edwin E. Abstract The evolutionary significance of the observed luminosity function for main-sequence stars in the solar neighborhood is discussed. The hypothesis is made that stars move off the main sequence after burning about 10 per cent of their hydrogen mass and that stars have been created at a uniform rate in the solar neighborhood for the last five billion years. Using this hypothesis and the observed luminosity function, the rate of star creation as a function of stellar mass is calculated. The total number and mass of stars which have moved off the main sequence is found to be comparable with the total number of white dwarfs and with the total mass of all fainter main-sequence stars, respectively. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: January 1955 DOI: 10.1086/145971 Bibcode: 1955ApJ...121..161S full text sources ADS |