STELLAR EVOLUTION OF LOW AND INTERMEDIATE-MASS STARS .1. MASS-LOSS ONTHE AGB AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR STELLAR EVOLUTION

We have performed extensive stellar evolution calculations for initial masses between 1 and 7M(.) all the way from the main sequence through the AGE towards the stage of white dwarfs. Mass loss has been taken i nto account with different descriptions for the RGB, AGE and post-AGE phase. On the AGE we considered mass loss with a formula based on dyna mical calculations of the atmospheres of Mira-like stars. Our results are consistent with empirical initial-final mass relations. It is show n that hot bottom burning and mass loss are closely connected. The ove rluminosity as well as the nucleosynthesis of hot bottom burning model s can depend sensitively on mass loss. Furthermore, we discuss the inf luence of mass loss on the internal structure reached at the tip of th e AGE, and emphasize that post-AGE timescales will depend strongly on the AGE history, i.e. on the initial mass and the applied mass-loss la w.