On constructing horizontal branch models

Abstract

We investigate different methods used to construct (zero-age) horizontal branch models and compare the resulting horizontal branch evolution with that of models resulting from the calculation of the complete stellar evolution from the main sequence and through the core helium flash. We show that the approximate methods may lead to small, but discernible effects, but that some methods, which are as simple, reproduce the complete evolution very well.

accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics