Codex @codex  0

For a spherical stellar polytrope, the axial moment of inertia is $I=(8\pi /3){\int }_0^R\rho (r)r^{4}dr$. With Lane-Emden variables for a stellar polytrope, first zero ${\xi }_1$ and Lane-Emden surface mass constant ${\omega }_n$, its dimensionless form isA polytrope of index zero gives $2/5$, while a polytrope of index one gives $(2/3)(1-6/{\pi }^2)$. The latter is smaller because more of the mass lies near the center. The scalar second mass moment $\int r^{2}dm$ is $3I/2$, not the axial moment of inertia.

A stellar polytrope approximates a spherical self-gravitating star by the structural relationwhere $K$ is constant and $n$ is the polytropic index. Combining hydrostatic equilibrium with mass conservation givesThe Lane-Emden variables for a stellar polytrope separate the dimensional scales from the profile:For $n>0$ these substitutions give the Lane-Emden equationThe central conditions express finite central mass density and spherical symmetry. If ${\xi }_1$ is the first zero, a zero-pressure surface hasthe Lane-Emden mass formula. For $0<n<5$ this surface is at finite radius. For example, the polytrope of index one has $\theta =\sin \xi /\xi$ and ${\xi }_1=\pi$, giving the density profile shown in the overview figure.

An isentropic ideal monatomic gas has $p\propto {\rho }^{5/3}$ and hence $n=3/2$, a useful approximation for a fully convective ideal-gas star. Nonrelativistic electron degeneracy pressure has the same density exponent. The exponent $4/3$, giving $n=3$, occurs for ultrarelativistic electron degeneracy and in appropriate radiation-dominated stellar models. The structural index should not be confused with the adiabatic index controlling a perturbation unless the model is actually isentropic.

Polytropes give useful mass-radius scalings and central concentration with very few parameters. They do not by themselves specify nuclear fusion, energy transport, or the star's thermal evolution. Nor does a structural profile alone establish dynamical stability; that requires the response of pressure to the perturbation.

A stellar polytrope has a spatially constant coefficient $K$ in the relation $P=K{\rho }^{1+1/n}$; $n$ is its polytropic index. This relates pressure to mass density and need not describe an adiabatic gas. Combining hydrostatic equilibrium with mass conservation eliminates the enclosed mass:For $\rho ={\rho }_c{\theta }^n$, the polytropic equation of state gives $(1/\rho )dP/dr=(n+1)K{\rho }_c^{1/n}d\theta /dr$. Choose the Lane-Emden variables for a stellar polytrope withSubstitution then gives the dimensionless Lane-Emden equation:A regular stellar centre has $\theta (0)=1$, ${\theta }^{\prime }(0)=0$ and $m(0)=0$. In particular the regular central expansion is $\theta =1-{\xi }^2/6+O({\xi }^4)$. For an isolated finite-radius stellar polytrope with negligible external pressure, the surface is the first zero ${\xi }_1$ of $\theta$, and $R=\alpha {\xi }_1$. A core embedded in an envelope can instead end at a positive matching pressure, before this zero.

The integrated Lane-Emden equation is ${\xi }^2{\theta }^{\prime }=-{\int }_0^{\xi }{s}^2\theta (s{)}^{n}ds$. Thus mass conservation gives the Lane-Emden mass formula directly:For the proposed functional form, differentiation givesChoosing $\gamma =-1/2$ removes the extra polynomial factor; equality to $-{\theta }^5$ then requires $3\beta =1$. The regular polytrope of index five is thereforeIts enclosed mass and enclosed mean mass density areThere is no finite zero: its isolated radius is infinite. Nevertheless its total mass converges, since the outer mass density falls as $r^{-5}$:The zero mean mass density is a limiting volume average, not a statement that the material has zero mass density at finite radius.

To turn this density model into a CNO cycle burning model, use gas-dominated pressure and uniform mean molecular weight. The ideal gas law and the polytropic equation of state then imply $T/T_c=\theta$. Without this thermal assumption a polytropic equation of state for total pressure does not alone fix the temperature profile. Since the stellar energy-generation rate is power per unit mass, its contribution to luminosity is $ϵdm$, giving the luminosity integral of an index-five polytrope:Put $u=\xi /\sqrt{3+{\xi }^2}$. Then $\xi =\sqrt{3}u/\sqrt{1-u^2}$ and the dimensionless integral becomes $3\sqrt{3}{\int }_0^1{u}^2(1-u^2{)}^{8}du$. Evaluation givesThe PDF's power of $\alpha$ in the proposed luminosity scaling is a genuine dimensional error: it must be three, rather than two. The volume element supplies ${\alpha }^3$; replacing it by ${\alpha }^2$ would give power divided by length, and could not be repaired by a dimensionless numerical constant.

The polytrope of index five is unlikely to model a real burning stellar core well. An embedded core has a finite boundary, and a complete isolated star cannot have this infinite radius. More importantly, strongly temperature-sensitive CNO cycle heating concentrates the luminosity centrally and tends to produce a convection zone there. A well-mixed gas-pressure-dominated convective core is closer to an adiabatic stellar polytrope of index $3/2$ than to index five. A finite truncation would also change the integral defining $A$; its value above pertains to the full mathematical model.

A stellar polytrope replaces a detailed equation of state and thermal structure by $P=K{\rho }^{1+1/n}$ for $n>0$, with spatially constant $K$ and polytropic index $n$. Together with spherical hydrostatic equilibrium and mass conservation, it gives a tractable family of stellar density profiles. Introduce the Lane-Emden variables for a stellar polytropeCombining $dP/dr=-Gm\rho /r^2$ with $dm/dr=4\pi r^2\rho$ eliminates $m$ to give $r^{-2}d[r^2{\rho }^{-1}(dP/dr)]/dr=-4\pi G\rho$. Substitution of the pressure law and the dimensionless variables gives the Lane-Emden equationA regular finite-radius model for $0\le n<5$ ends at the first zero ${\xi }_1$. Its radius and mass areThese formulas supply central-to-mean density ratios and stellar homology scalings without solving a full evolutionary model. Eliminating ${\rho }_c$, for $0<n<5$ and $n\ne 3$, gives the polytropic mass-radius relation

An efficient-convection monatomic gas has $n=3/2$. The same index describes a cold, nonrelativistic electron degeneracy pressure law; at fixed composition it gives $R\propto M^{-1/3}$ for a white dwarf. Ultrarelativistic electron degeneracy pressure has $n=3$, for which the mass is independent of ${\rho }_c$ and scales as $(K/G{)}^{3/2}$. This is the origin of the Chandrasekhar limit. A radiation-dominated, approximately constant-entropy interior also approaches $P\propto {\rho }^{4/3}$ and $n=3$. The polytrope of index zero is an incompressible comparison model, useful for illustrating the role of central concentration.

The gravitational energy of a stellar polytrope, $\Omega =-3G{M}^2/[(5-n)R]$, and the stellar virial theorem make polytropes useful for contraction-energy estimates. They also provide structural models for perturbation and stability calculations. A polytrope is a structural approximation, not a complete stellar evolution calculation. One must still specify stellar nuclear fusion, opacity, energy transport, composition and boundary conditions to determine the luminosity and history. Moreover, the structural exponent $1+1/n$ need not equal the adiabatic exponent relevant to a rapid perturbation. Real stars can have different effective indices in their cores and envelopes, as well as ionization zones or varying electron degeneracy pressure.

For a stellar polytrope of index $n>0$, write $P=K{\rho }^{1+1/n}$ and combine hydrostatic equilibrium with mass conservation to obtainIntroduce Lane-Emden variables for a stellar polytrope, $\rho ={\rho }_c{\theta }^n$, $P=P_c{\theta }^{n+1}$ and $r=\alpha \xi$, whereSince ${\rho }^{-1}dP/dr=(n+1)P_c{\theta }^{\prime }/{\rho }_c\alpha$, the mechanical equation reduces to the Lane-Emden equationA constant-density interior corresponds to the formal polytrope of index zero, with $\rho ={\rho }_c{\theta }^0={\rho }_c$ where $\theta >0$. At $n=0$, regularity first gives ${\xi }^2{\theta }^{\prime }=-{\xi }^3/3$, and a second integration givesHere $P=P_c\theta =P_c(1-r^2/R^2)$ and ${\alpha }^2=P_c/(4\pi G{\rho }_c^2)$, reproducing $P_c=2\pi G{\rho }_c^2{R}^2/3$. The mass density jumps from its constant interior value to zero at the surface, while pressure vanishes continuously. The relation $P=K{\rho }^{1+1/n}$ is singular at $n=0$; the regular dimensionless pressure/mass density formulation defines this incompressible structural limit. It does not mean that the gas's perturbative stellar adiabatic exponent is infinite: the hydrostatic ideal-gas toy model and its adiabatic response are distinct choices.

Assume a Newtonian, spherically symmetric, nonrotating body in hydrostatic equilibrium, supported by a polytropic equation of state $P=K{\rho }^{1+1/n}$ with constant $K>0$ and $n>0$. The enclosed mass and hydrostatic pressure support equation areEliminate $m$ by first writing $r^2{\rho }^{-1}dP/dr=-Gm$ and then differentiating:Let ${\rho }_c$ be central mass density, and introduce the Lane-Emden variables for a stellar polytropewhereThen $(1/\rho )dP/dr=(n+1)K{\rho }_c^{1/n}d\theta /dr$. Substitution cancels the dimensional factors and yields the Lane-Emden equationThe central conditions enforce the chosen central mass density and regular spherical symmetry. The local regular expansion is $\theta =1-{\xi }^2/6+n{\xi }^4/120+\cdots$. If a finite first zero ${\xi }_1$ exists and surface pressure is negligible, the physical radius is $R=a{\xi }_1$, and the Lane-Emden mass formula is $M=4\pi a^3{\rho }_c[-{\xi }_1^2{\theta }^{\prime }({\xi }_1)]$. For $0<n<5$ the standard isolated solution has a finite surface; $n=5$ has infinite extent, so a finite surface must not be assumed for all indices. Irradiation, composition stratification and non-polytropic equations of state require more general structure equations.

With the polytropic equation of state and substitutionswe haveThe pressure-support equation therefore becomesChooseChanging from $r$ to $\xi$ then yields the Lane-Emden equationThese are the Lane-Emden variables for a stellar polytrope.

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 $R=a{\xi }_1$.