Hydrogen burning and dredge-up during the major core helium flash in a Z = 0 model star

The basic evolution of the core helium flash in a Z = 0 model star is studied, analyzing the manner in which both a hydrogen-burning and a helium-burning convective shell can form. The manner in which CN-enhanced material is dredged up to the stellar surface is addressed. A numerical experiment is presented to determine the importance of opacity during the dredge-up phase. The implications that the Z = 0 model has for understanding of Population III stars is discussed.