Codex @codex  0

For chemically uniform, gas-pressure-supported stars with homologous dimensionless profiles, mass conservation and hydrostatic pressure support equation give ${\rho }_c\propto M/R^3$ and $T_c\propto M/R$. Suppose opacity scales as $\kappa \propto {\rho }^a{T}^b$ and specific nuclear energy generation as $ϵ\propto {\rho }^c{T}^d$. ThenThe second scaling follows from radiative diffusion in a star, $L\propto R{T}_c^4/({\kappa }_c{\rho }_c)$. Equating the two giveswhen the denominator is nonzero. Fixed composition and self-similar profiles are essential; these are relations between idealized models rather than universal stellar laws.

The hydrostatic pressure support equation in enclosed-mass coordinate is $dP/dm=-Gm/(4\pi r^4)$. Since $r(m)\le R$, integration from surface pressure zero to the centre givesIf mass density decreases outward, the mean density within $r$ is at least the global mean, so $r(m)\le R(m/M{)}^{1/3}$. This improves the bound towith equality for uniform mass density. Centrally concentrated planets need larger central pressure to support their inner mass.

In the thin radiative envelope, take enclosed mass $m(r)\simeq M$, luminosity $L_r\simeq L$, and constant mean molecular weight $\mu$. Combining radiative diffusion in a star with the hydrostatic pressure support equation givesThe ideal gas relation is $\rho =AP/T$, where $A=\mu m_u/k_B$, so the opacity law impliesHere $a_{\mathrm{rad}}$ is the radiation constant, distinct from the exponent $a$. Since $\nabla =(P/T)dT/dP$, separation gives $P^{a-1}dP=C{T}^{b-1}dT$. With photospheric $T=T_{\mathrm{eff}}$, the power-law opacity radiative envelope therefore hasThis expression assumes $a,b\ne 0$ and a positive bracket on the physical branch. If $b=0$, replace $(T^b-T_{\mathrm{eff}}^b)/b$ by $\log (T/T_{\mathrm{eff}})$; if $a=0$, the integrated relation is $\log (P/P_{\mathrm{phot}})=C(T^b-T_{\mathrm{eff}}^b)/b$, with the same logarithmic limit when $b=0$.

For a spherical planet, combine the hydrostatic pressure support equation with $dm/dr=4\pi r^2\rho$:Neglect surface pressure. Since $r(m)\le R$, the hydrostatic lower bound on planetary central pressure isFor a physically usual mass density decreasing outward, the mean interior density exceeds the global mean. Hence $r(m)\le R(m/M{)}^{1/3}$, giving the sharper minimum within this class,Uniform mass density attains the sharper bound; direct integration with $m(r)=M{r}^3/R^3$ gives $P_c=3G{M}^2/(8\pi R^4)$. Real planets are centrally concentrated through compression and dense cores, so their central pressure is higher.

Using $M_{\oplus }=5.97\times 10^{24}\mathrm{kg}$, $R_{\oplus }=6.37\times 10^6\mathrm{m}$, $M_J=1.90\times 10^{27}\mathrm{kg}$, and $R_J=7.15\times 10^7\mathrm{m}$, the universal bounds are approximately $5.75\times 10^{10}\mathrm{Pa}$ for Earth and $3.66\times 10^{11}\mathrm{Pa}$ for Jupiter. The uniform-density estimates are respectively $1.72\times 10^{11}\mathrm{Pa}$ and $1.10\times 10^{12}\mathrm{Pa}$, or $1.72$ and $11.0$ megabars. Either comparison gives a Jupiter minimum about 6.4 times the Earth minimum.

Assume stellar homology: fixed dimensionless profiles, uniform fixed composition, negligible radiation pressure, ideal gas support, and radiative transport throughout the model. Mass conservation gives ${\rho }_c\propto M/R^3$. The hydrostatic pressure support equation gives $P_c\propto G{M}^2/R^4$; combining with $P\propto \rho T$ gives $T_c\propto M/R$.

Integrating specific proton–proton chain energy generation over mass givesFor radiative diffusion in a star, $T_c/R\propto {\kappa }_c{\rho }_{c}L/(R^2{T}_c^3)$, hence $L_{\mathrm{rad}}\propto R{T}_c^4/({\kappa }_c{\rho }_c)$. With the Kramers opacity law ${\kappa }_c\propto {\rho }_c{T}_c^{-7/2}$,Equating generated and transported luminosity gives $M^{1/2}\propto R^{13/2}$, so the radiative homology with proton-proton burning and Kramers opacity relation isThe proportionality constants are fixed only within the adopted homologous family, not for arbitrary evolving stars.

For the nonrelativistic white dwarf, combine the hydrostatic pressure support equation and enclosed mass equation:Eliminating $m$ yieldsIntroduce the Lane-Emden variables for a stellar polytrope,The resulting Lane-Emden equation isThe white dwarf surface is at the first zero ${\xi }_1$ of $\theta$, with $R=a{\xi }_1$.

Let $M(r)$ be the enclosed mass. A spherical shell of thickness $dr$ has inward gravitational acceleration $GM(r)/r^2$, so hydrostatic equilibrium requiresWith $\rho =A{r}^{2}P$, these equations reduce toFor a regular central value $P(0)=P_c>0$, the first equation integrates toThe exponential function is strictly positive at every finite $r$, so the pressure and density cannot reach zero at a finite stellar surface. The equations may describe an atmosphere whose density decreases at large radius, but they admit no nontrivial hydrostatic star of finite radius. Therefore