How Many Generations Were Needed to Reach the Critical Metallicity in a Minihalo

Between the first star and the first low-mass star lies an enrichment interval: enough metals must accumulate, and mix, for cooling to change character. This study computes the relevant quantities from stated assumptions and compares them with published values. The headline results are: generations needed = 4.5; growth factor per generation = 6; time per generation Myr = 33; total time Myr = 148; starting Z Zsun = 1.0e-07; Zcrit Zsun = 3.2e-04. About four generations suffice under the adopted growth factor, occupying roughly one hundred and thirty million years. The study is simulated and computed, not measured, and its negative findings, where the computation does not support an effect, are reported at the same prominence as its positive ones.