SP-345 Evolution of the Solar
System
FIGURE 25.6.1.- The Brownlee-Cox model
of solar evolution through a deuterium-burning stage. Under the
assumptions that the initial content of deuterium corresponds to the
deuterium/hydrogen ratio of the Earth and that the energy transport
in the deuterium burning Sun is nonconvective, the radius of the Sun
would have remained at about 16 times the present value during the
deuterium burning. This stage would last about 108 yr before
contraction to the present size. A different initial content of
deuterium (which} is possible) would mainly change the duration of
the deuterium-burning stage. (From Brownlee and Cox, 1961.)
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