What is a helium flash?
A)the sudden onset of helium fusion in the core of a low- mass star
B)another name for the helium fusion reaction
C)a sudden brightening of a low- mass star, detectable from Earth by observing spectral lines of helium
D)the ignition of helium shell burning in a high- mass star with a carbon core

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A helium flash is the sudden onset of helium fusion in the core of a low-mass star. This occurs when an inert helium core in a red giant star reaches a temperature of 100 million Kelvin, causing helium fusion to ignite in a runaway reaction. This releases a huge amount of energy in a matter of seconds, causing the star to briefly become thousands of times brighter.

What Is a Helium Flash