Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / iii / Paper 317 / 1

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.

Using $R\propto M^{1/13}$ in the radiative diffusion in a star scaling from part (i),Therefore the mass-luminosity relation isThe nuclear scaling independently gives $L\propto M^6{R}^{-7}\propto M^{6-7/13}=M^{71/13}$, consistent with radiative homology with proton-proton burning and Kramers opacity.

The Stefan–Boltzmann law defines the effective temperature through $L=4\pi R^2{\sigma }_{\mathrm{SB}}{T}_{\mathrm{eff}}^4$. The stellar homology relations give $R\propto M^{1/13}\propto L^{1/71}$, soThusIn a logarithmic Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, with $\log L$ plotted vertically against $\log T_{\mathrm{eff}}$,The usual horizontal axis increases in effective temperature toward the left, so the hotter, more luminous end lies toward the upper left. The quoted algebraic slope uses increasing $\log T_{\mathrm{eff}}$ as the coordinate.

Retain the same stellar homology and gas-pressure assumptions, but use the specified CNO cycle law $ϵ\propto \rho T^{16}$ and constant electron-scattering opacity. The nuclear luminosity now scales asThe radiative diffusion in a star scaling becomesEquating the two yields $R^{19}\propto M^{15}$. Therefore radiative homology with CNO burning and electron scattering givesSince $R\propto L^{5/19}$, the Stefan–Boltzmann law givesThis is a model comparison using the exponent 16 prescribed here. Actual massive stars may have appreciable radiation pressure and convective cores, which violate the assumptions of this purely radiative gas-pressure family.