Please clarify your symbols. What is n -- is it the polytropic index? What is k -- is it the same as K? M3 must be a mass -- but the mass of what? (What does the subscript 3 signify?)Apashanka das said:
actually K is the connection coefficient between pressure and densityJMz said:
The Chandrasekhar mass is the maximum mass that a white dwarf star can have before it undergoes a type Ia supernova explosion. It was first calculated by the Indian astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar in the 1930s.
The Chandrasekhar mass is calculated using the equations of general relativity and the properties of degenerate matter, which is the state of matter that exists at the extreme densities found in white dwarf stars. It is approximately 1.4 times the mass of the Sun.
When a white dwarf reaches the Chandrasekhar mass, it can no longer support itself against its own gravity. This leads to a catastrophic collapse and a type Ia supernova explosion, which releases a huge amount of energy and can outshine an entire galaxy for a brief period of time.
The Chandrasekhar mass is important because it sets the upper limit for the mass of a white dwarf. It also plays a crucial role in our understanding of the life cycle of stars and the processes that lead to supernova explosions.
No, the Chandrasekhar mass is a universal limit for all white dwarf stars, regardless of their composition or other properties. However, it can vary slightly depending on the equation of state used to calculate it.
