Introduction

Astronomers have triumphantly uncovered a rare class of stars, known as helium stars, after a decade-long quest.
Led by Dr. Maria Drout from the University of Toronto, astronomers embarked on a collaborative mission to decipher the mysteries of these elusive cosmic entities

Helium Stars: An Overview

Helium stars, also known as helium-burning stars, are a stage in the evolution of certain types of stars.
These stars are typically more massive than the Sun and have exhausted the hydrogen fuel in their cores, leading to a contraction and subsequent heating of the core.
As a result, helium fusion begins in the core, where helium nuclei fuse to form heavier elements such as carbon and oxygen.
This fusion process releases energy, causing the star to expand and become more luminous.
Helium stars represent an intermediate stage in stellar evolution between main-sequence stars and later stages such as red giants or supernovae.

Spectral Analysis: Rigorous spectral analysis conducted from 2017 to 2024 unveiled distinct classes of helium stars based on hydrogen content, providing profound insights into their evolutionary trajectories.
Computational Modeling: Advanced computational modelling techniques yielded crucial data on surface temperatures and gravitational forces, enriching our understanding of helium stars’ properties.
Surface Conditions of Class 1 Stars: Further investigations into Class 1 helium stars revealed intriguing surface conditions. The team utilized computer modelling to determine surface temperature and gravity, finding them to be approximately 20 times hotter than the Sun and possessing surface gravity about 1,000 times stronger than Earth’s.

Hydrogen-Deficient Supernovae: A pivotal breakthrough in the discovery of helium stars was the elucidation of hydrogen-deficient supernovae, perplexing phenomena that puzzled scientists for decades.
Binary-Star Interactions: Gravitational interactions within binary star systems played a crucial role in unmasking the helium-rich surfaces of these stellar anomalies.

Cosmic Laboratories: Helium stars serve as invaluable cosmic laboratories, offering unprecedented opportunities to explore the intricacies of stellar evolution and binary star dynamics.
Frontiers of Research: Their discovery opens new frontiers in astrophysical research, unraveling mysteries surrounding heavy element formation and gravitational wave generation.