= Electron Fermi temperature
{title2=$T_F$}
The kinetic <electron Fermi temperature> is $T_F=[\sqrt{m_e^2c^4+p_F^2c^2}-m_ec^2]/k_B$, where the <Fermi momentum> $p_F=\hbar(3\pi^2n_e)^{1/3}$ counts the net <Electrons>. Strong degeneracy requires $T\ll T_F$. With <mean molecular weight per electron> $\mu_e$ and $n_e=\rho/(\mu_em_u)$, $T_F=(m_ec^2/k_B)[\sqrt{1+(\rho/\rho_*)^{2/3}}-1]$. Its nonrelativistic and ultrarelativistic limits scale as $\rho^{2/3}$ and $\rho^{1/3}$, respectively.
Back to article page
