Chandrasekhar mass from central polytropic constants

ID: chandrasekhar-mass-from-central-polytropic-constants

An ultrarelativistic degenerate electron gas has , so it forms an index-three stellar polytrope. Insert and into that equation of state: the radius cancels, leaving the displayed mass. For fully ionized helium, and . This is the ideal limiting Chandrasekhar mass, rather than a claim that every ordinary white dwarf has that mass.

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