Title: Low-Mass Evolution from He Ignition to Beyond the Horizontal Branch
Abstract: Abstract The evolution of an 0.6 M ⊙ stellar model during core helium burning is presented. Following the off-center ignition of helium in the “core” flash, the star remains on the red giant branch for > 10 6 years, undergoing twelve additional flashes. After leaving the giant branch, the star evolves on the horizontal branch for 8.15×10 7 years before returning to the giant branch and undergoing strong helium-shell flashes. The implications for horizontal branch and RR Lyrae stars are discussed.