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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 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 spherical stellar polytrope in hydrostatic equilibrium, combine $d{m}_r/dr=4\pi r^2\rho$ with $dP/dr=-G{m}_r\rho /r^2$ to eliminate the enclosed mass:For $n>0$, put $P=K{\rho }^{1+1/n}$, $\rho ={\rho }_c{\theta }^n$, $P=P_c{\theta }^{n+1}$ and $r=a\xi$. Since ${\rho }^{-1}dP/dr=(n+1)P_c{\theta }^{\prime }/(a{\rho }_c)$, chooseThe Lane-Emden equation is thenA regular center requires $\theta (0)=1$ and ${\theta }^{\prime }(0)=0$, with positive chosen central mass density and pressure. Locally $\theta =1-{\xi }^2/6+n{\xi }^4/120+\cdots$. The stellar surface is the first positive zero ${\xi }_1$, where the idealized external pressure is zero; retain the positive solution before it. Thus $R=a{\xi }_1$ and the Lane-Emden mass formula isThe surface condition selects where to stop a centrally regular solution, rather than replacing its central regularity conditions.

For a polytrope of index zero, the density is constant and $({\xi }^2{\theta }^{\prime }{)}^{\prime }=-{\xi }^2$. Regularity givesThe pressure is $P_c{\theta }_0$ and $a^2=P_c/(4\pi G{\rho }_c^2)$, so $R^2=3P_c/(2\pi G{\rho }_c^2)$. Index zero is the structural incompressible limit: the expression $K{\rho }^{1+1/n}$ is not itself defined at $n=0$.

For a polytrope of index one, set $u=\xi \theta$. The equation becomes $u^{\prime \prime }+u=0$, while central regularity requires $u(0)=0$, $u^{\prime }(0)=1$. HenceThe mass is $4{\pi }^2{a}^3{\rho }_c$, so it can change with central mass density while the radius stays fixed.

The moment of inertia of a polytropic star about any axis through its center follows by integrating $r^2{\sin }^2\vartheta$ over spherical shells:For constant mass density this gives $I_0=2M{R}^2/5$. For index one, integration by parts gives ${\int }_0^{\pi }{\xi }^3\sin \xi d\xi =\pi ({\pi }^2-6)$, and thereforeThese are axial moments of inertia, not the scalar second mass moment $\int r^{2}dm$.

For a finite-radius centrally regular stellar polytrope with $0<n<5$ and $n\ne 1$, eliminate ${\rho }_c$ from $R=a{\xi }_1$ and $M=4\pi a^3{\rho }_c{\omega }_n$. The resulting polytropic mass-radius relation isHere ${\xi }_1,{\omega }_n$ are dimensionless functions of $n$. At $n=1$ no such single-valued mass-as-a-power-of-radius relation exists at fixed $K$: the radius is fixed instead. At $n=3$ the exponent is zero and $M=4\pi {\omega }_3(K/(\pi G){)}^{3/2}$ is independent of central mass density. For the incompressible case, $M=(4\pi {\rho }_c/3)R^3$ at fixed mass density. Regular $n\ge 5$ solutions have no finite zero-pressure surface, so the finite-radius formula does not apply to them.

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.