Uniform composition and adiabatic convection give for a monatomic perfect gas. Hence near the centre
The luminosity equation is
Since , integration gives
Similarly,
The radiative temperature gradient is
Expanding and all the preceding factors gives
where
The Schwarzschild criterion requires
for the centre to be convectively unstable. If , the radiative gradient decreases outward and can cross , producing a finite convective core.
Let
A displaced fluid element remains in pressure balance, changes temperature adiabatically, and retains its composition. Comparing its density with the environment after an upward displacement gives the Ledoux criterion for stability,
The reverse inequality causes convection. For uniform composition, or if composition is ignored, and this reduces to the Schwarzschild criterion
for stability. A molecular weight increasing inward has and stabilizes the stratification.