Why There Are Maximum Mass Limits for Compact Objects

[PeterDonis]

In this article, we will look at why there are maximum mass limits for objects that are supported against gravity by degeneracy pressure instead of kinetic pressure. We will look at the two known cases of this, white dwarfs and neutron stars; but it should be noted that similar arguments will apply to any postulated object that meets the general definition given above. For example, the same arguments would apply to “quark stars” or “quark-gluon plasma objects”, etc.

Table of Contents
1The Chandrasekhar LimitThe Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff LimitA Final Note
The Chandrasekhar Limit
First, we’ll...

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[vanhees71]

Perhaps one should add the interesting fact that the upper limit of the so observed neutron-star masses (around 2 solar masses) is an important constraint to figure out the equation of state of "strongly interacting matter". Of course this also has to do with the question, whether there are neutron stars with "quark cores" or other more exotic states of matter and socalled "twin stars", i.e., stars with the same mass but different radii due to being composed of different kinds/states of matter. For a recent review, see

https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.03747

 

[PeterDonis]

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[PeterDonis]

A derailing subthread has been deleted. Thread reopened.