The Hydrogen-deficient Carbon Stars: Advances in Formation and Dust Production

Explore a 51-minute astronomy lecture examining the fascinating world of Hydrogen-deficient Carbon (HdC) stars, focusing on their formation processes and dust production capabilities. Delve into the two distinct types of these exotic variable supergiants: the dust-producing R Coronae Borealis (RCB) variables and their dustless counterparts, the dustless HdC (dLHdC) stars. Learn about the nearly 200-year history of RCB star research and recent breakthrough discoveries, including new findings on their formation through double-white-dwarf (DWD) merger. Understand how dLHdC stars likely originate from a different DWD merger population than dusty RCB stars, and examine evidence showing the correlation between dust production frequency and stellar temperature. Discover groundbreaking research suggesting a fundamental connection between stellar pulsations and dust production in these remarkable celestial objects.