Advanced Evolution of Massive Stars. III. Hydrostatic - Burning Nucleosynthesis and Energy Generation

Carbon-burning nucleosynthesis and energy generation in hydrostatic stars is considered, using a realistic reaction network. Useful approximations are presented and compared with the numerical results. It is found that the hydrostatic nucleosynthesis resembles that at a suitably chosen, constant temperature, and that the "no-sodium approximation" works well for massive stars (M > 15 M0). Subject headings: stellar evolution - nuclear reactions