The main factor that determines the stages of a star after the main sequence is the star mass. Depending on the mass, stars will develop as average stars -low mass- or giant stars -high mass-.
The star cycle is the sequence of changes that a star undergoes throughout its existence
Stars are born from the nebula, which is dust and gas particles condensation due to the gravity effect in the interstellar clouds.
These stellar clouds collapse and compose smaller regions, each of which later contracts and compose the stellar cores. This is a more advanced level of condensation.
Stelar cores are protostars that contract and increase their temperature until nuclear reactions occur. Hydrogen is converted into Helium and the new star gets born.
This new star is in its main sequence, which is the equilibrium point between gravity and nuclear fusion, which helps the star keeps stable as long as the fuel lasts.
Stars spend most of their lives in the main sequence until all hydrogen turns into helium and there is no more fuel left.
At this point, the star is a subgiant, and its core begins its contraction, increasing the star's temperature.
The star increases in size and luminosity, turning into a giant.
After the subgiant stage, the star enters a giant phase. The star can reach a size up to 100 times its current size.
When the core reaches a certain temperature, helium turns into carbon.
The following events depend on the star mass.
When average-sized stars run out of fuel, the red giant begins to disintegrate, losing its outer layers and exposing its core, which will become a white dwarf.
When fuel is over in the star, the gravitational collapse produces an explosion originating the supernova.
This neutron star is a celestial body that remains as a remnant after the explosion giving rise to a supernova.
In these cases, if the star core has a mass > 3 solar masses, the star collapses into a black hole.
In conclusion, the main factor that determines the stages a star follows after the main sequence is the star mass. Depending on the mass, stars will develop as average stars -low mass- or giant stars -high mass-.
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