Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 August 2015
The late stages of evolution of stars that develop degenerate carbon-oxygen cores are discussed. Model computations indicate that the initial masses of such stars, M, are below M1 = 8 M⊙ ± ± 2 M⊙. The low mass stars (M < M0) lose their envelopes and become white dwarfs. The intermediate stars (M0 < M < M1) ignite carbon in their highly degenerate cores of 1.4 M⊙. Present observational and/or theoretical estimates of M0 are very uncertain. Problems associated with mass loss and with carbon ignition and burning are discussed.