S-type star are two distinct classes of S-type stars: intrinsic S stars; and extrinsic S stars. The presence of Technetium is used to distinguish the two classes, only being found in the intrinsic S-type stars. Intrinsic S-type stars are thermal pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) stars. AGB stars have inert carbon-oxygen cores and undergo fusion both in an inner helium shell and an outer hydrogen shell. They are large cool M class giants. The thermal pulses, created by flashes from the helium shell, cause strong convection within the upper layers of the star. These pulses become stronger as the star evolves and
Gas torus no clear evidence of such a torus. While neutral nitrogen could not be measured, the ions near the orbit of Titan were primarily hydrogen or water group (O, OH, HO and HO) from the Enceladus torus. Trace amounts of nitrogen ions were detected but at levels consistent with an Enceladus source. A fictional gas torus is the setting for Larry Niven's novels "The Integral Trees" and "The Smoke Ring", in which a gas giant in orbit around a neutron star generates a gas torus of sufficient density and free oxygen to support life (including humans). Gas torus A gas torus