AGB mass loss

As stars like the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars near the end of their life, they start to lose a significant amount of their outer layers through a strong stellar wind. This process, called AGB mass loss, occurs because the star's outer layers expand and cool, causing dust and gas to form and be propelled into space by radiation pressure. This mass loss shapes the star's evolution, eventually leading to the formation of planetary nebulae and leaving behind a dense core called a white dwarf. It is a crucial process returning processed material back into the galaxy, enriching it with elements necessary for future star formation.