Relativistic Feynman-Metropolis-Teller theory for white dwarfs in general relativity
- Dipartimento di Fisica and ICRA, Sapienza Universita di Roma, P.le Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome (Italy) and ICRANet, P.zza della Repubblica 10, I-65122 Pescara (Italy)
The recent formulation of the relativistic Thomas-Fermi model within the Feynman-Metropolis-Teller theory for compressed atoms is applied to the study of general relativistic white dwarf equilibrium configurations. The equation of state, which takes into account the {beta}-equilibrium, the nuclear and the Coulomb interactions between the nuclei and the surrounding electrons, is obtained as a function of the compression by considering each atom constrained in a Wigner-Seitz cell. The contribution of quantum statistics, weak, nuclear, and electromagnetic interactions is obtained by the determination of the chemical potential of the Wigner-Seitz cell. The further contribution of the general relativistic equilibrium of white dwarf matter is expressed by the simple formula {radical}(g{sub 00}){mu}{sub ws}=constant, which links the chemical potential of the Wigner-Seitz cell {mu}{sub ws} with the general relativistic gravitational potential g{sub 00} at each point of the configuration. The configuration outside each Wigner-Seitz cell is strictly neutral and therefore no global electric field is necessary to warranty the equilibrium of the white dwarf. These equations modify the ones used by Chandrasekhar by taking into due account the Coulomb interaction between the nuclei and the electrons as well as inverse {beta} decay. They also generalize the work of Salpeter by considering a unified self-consistent approach to the Coulomb interaction in each Wigner-Seitz cell. The consequences on the numerical value of the Chandrasekhar-Landau mass limit as well as on the mass-radius relation of {sup 4}He, {sup 12}C, {sup 16}O and {sup 56}Fe white dwarfs are presented. All these effects should be taken into account in processes requiring a precision knowledge of the white dwarf parameters.
- OSTI ID:
- 21607891
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Vol. 84, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.84.084007; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0556-2821
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ATOMS
CARBON 12
CONFIGURATION
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ELECTRIC FIELDS
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ELECTRONS
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EQUILIBRIUM
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
HELIUM 4
IRON 56
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OXYGEN 16
PARTICLE DECAY
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