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5 - White Dwarfs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2020

Jürgen Schaffner-Bielich
Jürgen Schaffner-Bielich
Affiliation:
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Am Main
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Summary

The mass–radius relation for polytropes is introduced and analyzed. The Newtonian Lane–Emden equation is derived analytically. Known analytic solutions are discussed. The famous Chandrasekhar mass is obtained as a solution of the Lane–Emden equation. Corrections to the equation of state for white dwarfs are pointed out by estimating the Coulomb corrections for a lattice of nuclei immersed in a sea of electrons. The different layers of a typical white dwarf and the typical sizes are worked out in detail. Thermal effects for the mass relation are examined. Finally, astrophysical observations of white dwarfs are shown and discussed in terms of the overall composition of white dwarfs and the resulting mass–radius relation.

Keywords

mass–radius relation for polytropesChandrasekhar massstructure of white dwarfsobservation of white dwarfsCoulomb lattice in white dwarfs
Type
Chapter
Information
Compact Star Physics , pp. 92 - 116
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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  • White Dwarfs
  • Jürgen Schaffner-Bielich, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Am Main
  • Book: Compact Star Physics
  • Online publication: 17 August 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316848357.006
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  • White Dwarfs
  • Jürgen Schaffner-Bielich, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Am Main
  • Book: Compact Star Physics
  • Online publication: 17 August 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316848357.006
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • White Dwarfs
  • Jürgen Schaffner-Bielich, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Am Main
  • Book: Compact Star Physics
  • Online publication: 17 August 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316848357.006
Available formats
×