AST 514 Homework Problems − Spring of 2023

• Due February 16:

1.
The dynamical timescale of a star, tdyn , the Kelvin-Helmholtz timescale, tK , and
the nuclear timescale, tnuc , are given very approximately by the expressions:
r
R3
tdyn ∼ ,
GM

GM 2
tK ∼ /L ,
R
and

0.007M c2
tnuc ∼ 0.1 × ,
L
where R, M , and L have there standard meanings.
a. If the luminosity on the main sequence scales with mass as M 3 and the
radius of a star on the main sequence scales as R ∝ M 0.8 , compare these three
timescales for main-sequence stars with masses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, and 10.0
M .
b. What general conclusions (plural) can you draw from what you find?
c. What is the range (in L ) for stars on the main sequence?
d. Compare this to what you find in the literature and comment.

2.
The virial theorem for a star in hydrostatic equilibrium states that:

−3(γ − 1)Eth = Ω ,

where Eth and Ω are the total thermal and total gravitational energies, respec-
tively. For a polytrope,

3 GM 2
Ω=− (where n is the polytropic index).
5−n R
a. Assuming that: Z
3
Eth = N kB T dV ,
2
where N is the number density of the gas particles in the star, T is the local
temeperature, kB is Boltzmann’s constant, and V is the volume, derive an

1
approximate formula for the average temperature for such a star. Note that we
are using the ideal gas law for the matter equation of state.
b. Assuming that the average temperature and central temperature (Tc ) are
always proportional (not always a good assumption, but ...), that a star’s radius
on the main sequence is proportional to M 0.8 , that γ = 5/3, and that n = 3.0,
derive the central temperature of a main sequence star as a function of total
mass. Assume that Tc for the Sun is 1.5 × 107 Kelvin (K).
c. Find Tc for stars of mass 0.5, 1.5, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 M and compare to what
you find in the literature.

3.
a. In a star in hydrostatic equilibrium, the free-fall time and the sound travel
time across the star are comparable. Why? Provide analytic arguments, how-
ever approximate.
b. How do these times compare with the minimum stable period of stellar
rotation and the period of a companion of similar type in Roche lobe contact?
For each situation, provide approximate equations to illustrate your conclusions.
c. Calculate the dynamical times for the Sun, a white dwarf, and a neutron
star. Comment.

4.
a. Calculate the gravitational energies of Jupiter, the Earth, the Sun, a 10-M
star on the main sequence, and a neutron star. Use for each the appropriate
value of the polytropic index.
b. Compare these energies to the corresponding rest-mass energies and com-
ment. What is the relationship between the answer to this question and the
gravitational redshifts from the surfaces of these stars? Demonstate.

5.
a. A brown dwarf with a mass of 0.05 M has an effective temperature of 1000
K. Assuming it is fully-convective and an ideal gas, and using various reason-
able physical parameters which apply, what is its Kelvin-Helmholtz timescale?
Comment.
b. Perform the same calculation for a Jupiter-mass object in isolation with an
effective temperature of 200 K and comment on the difference between your
answer here and in part a.
c. How would your results differ if neither the brown dwarf nor the giant planet
were ideal gases, but had an effective adiabatic gamma of 2 (more realistic)?

2
• Due March 2:

6.
a. Using the generic scaling relations derived between the luminosity, mass,
and radius for a star on the main sequence, and the approximate dependence
of the nuclear burning power on mass and radius, derive R(M ). Assume that
the nuclear burning is due to the CNO cycle, the ideal gas EOS obtains, and
that Kramer’s opacity dominates. Retain the µ dependence of your result.
b. With this R(M ), find the central temperature versus mass and µ. With two
quantitative examples, find out how sensitive the central temperature is to µ.
Explain using physical arguments the direction of the effect you see.

7.
a. Derive the Lane-Emden equation and solve it analytically for n = 0, n = 1.0,
and n = 5.
b. Derive the mass-radius realtionship for a given κ and n for all polytropes.
c. Derive the ratio of the central to the average density for polytropes of index
1, 1.5, and 3.
2
d. Find the pressure prefactor in the polytropic equation Wn GM
R4
for the general
n, and quantitatively for n = 1, 1.5, and 3.

8.
Write a computer program to solve the Lane-Emden equation for arbitrary n
in the range 0 < n < 5. Print out ξmax (the eigenvalue) and plot θ(ξ) versus ξ
for many representative values of n in the interval 2 < n < 4 (i.e., in particular
non-half-integer numbers, since those results are not widely tabulated).

9.
a. Use MESA with physically “reasonable” default parameters for the Sun to
evolve the Sun from the Hayashi phase to beyond the red giant phase. Plot the
evolution on a L/Teff HR diagram. Redo these calculations for different values
of the mixing-length (plus or minus a factor of two) and include these on the
HR plot.
b. For the Sun at its current age of 4.567 Gyrs, according to MESA what is
the Sun’s radius as a function of mixing length employed?
c. What mixing length is suggested for the Sun from this exercise?

• Due March 28:

10.

3
a. The Earth can be represented roughly as a polytrope of Emden index n = 1/3
(i.e., the equation of state for a rocky planet is P = Kρ4 ) . Assuming this,
and given that ME = 6 × 1027 g and RE = 6.4 × 108 cm, calculate its central
density and central pressure. Convert the pressure to atmospheres (1 atm =
1.01 × 106 dyne cm−2 ).
b. What is the radius of a planet (“super-Earth”) with 3 times the mass of the
Earth (ME ∼ 6 × 1027 gms.)? Show all your work.
c. Calculate the corresponding quantities for Jupiter, which is composed mostly
of quasi-degenerate molecular hydrogen rather than rock and is better approx-
imated by n = 1, MJ = 1.9 × 1030 g = 10−3 M , RJ = 7 × 109 cm = 0.1R .

11.
Assuming a non-relativistic equation of state, estimate the radius, central den-
sity, and central pressure of a cold, solar-mass white dwarf consisting of pure
carbon (12 C). From your results, check whether the non-relativistic assumption
is self-consistent.

12.
a. Derive in the context of mixing-length theory the relationship between the
energy flux, Fconv , in a convective zone and the mean convective speed, Vconv .
b. Calculate this speed for the convection zone of the Sun, making reasonable
assumptions concerning the quantities in the resulting formula. You can look
up the ρ, T profiles or calculate them using MESA.
c. What is the approximate relationship between the convective Mach number
(M ) and the quantity ∇ − ∇ad ? Are there any stellar contexts in which we can
expect M to be near one and what would this mean for the value of ∇ − ∇ad ?

13.
The pressure (P )/mass-density (ρ)/temperature (T ) relation for an ideal gas
depends upon the number density (Ni,e ) of free particles in the gas through the
mean molecular weight, µi,e , via the equation:

kB ρT
Pi,e = Ni,e kB T = ,
µi,e mp
where mp is approximately the proton mass and i, e stand for the ions or the
electrons, respectively. (Note that kB NA = R, the gas constant, and NA ∼ m1p ,
where NA is Avogadro’s number). The total gas pressure is Pi + Pe and the
4
total pressure is this pressure, plus Prad , where Prad = aT3 . (a) For a completely
ionized gas, derive µi and µe as a function of the hydrogen, helium, and heavy
mass fractions, X, Y , and Z, respectively. Note that the total µ is naturally
given by the expression:

4
 1 1 1
= + .
µ µi µe

(b) Calculate and compare all these various pressures at T = 107 K and ρ =
100 gcm−3 (roughly values at the center of the Sun) for X = 0.73, Y = 0.25
and Z = 0.02 and assemble them in order. Which dominates?

14.
a. Derive the relation between the photospheric pressure, gravity, and κRosseland
in the photosphere that might be used as a boundary condition for stellar evo-
lution calculations.
b. If you assume that the opacity in the photosphere is due H − absorption,
find the relationship between the density in the photosphere (ρph ) and Teff and
gravity, g. Assume a solar mixture and the power-law approximation. Take the
opacity due to H − to be:
 
−31 Z
2.5 × 10 ρ0.8 T 9 cm2 g−1
0.02
.
c. Derive these densities for main-sequence stars with masses 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10,
15, 20, and 50 M . What trends do you see?

15.
a. Estimate the “average” opacity in the Sun by making an assumption about
the mean temperature and density and using Kramers formula. With this opac-
ity, calculate using a simple formula the diffusion time for a black body photon
with thermal properties at this mean position to emerge from the Sun. [Use
MESA to get solar profile numbers you can use.]
b. How does this timescale compare with the corresponding Kelvin-Helmholtz
time? Explain using two arguments any significant differences you may find.

16.
a. The outer ∼2% by mass of the Sun is convective. Using approximate quanti-
ties for the temperatures and densities in this region (and, hence, the opacity),
show why this is so. You will need to use the condition(s) for convection dis-
cussed in the lecture. [Use MESA to make a solar model, which you then query.]
b. How much smaller would the opacity in this region have to be to make this
region radiative, all else being equal?

5
• Due April 13:

17. Derive the maximum core temperature achieved by a brown dwarf during
its Kelvin-Helmholtz contraction and cooling phase. Use this estimate to de-
termine the “ignition mass” in Jupiter-mass units (MJ ∼ 0.000955 M ) for the
thermonuclear burning of heavy hydrogen (deuterium) in a brown dwarf. As-
sume that the deuterium abundance by number is only 2×10−5 (i.e., small) and
that the core needs to reach a temperature of ∼3×105 K to astrate deuterium.
Comment on the result.

18.
Calculate in the PPII reaction 7 Be + e− →7 Li + νe the energy (in MeV) taken
away by the νe . Note that you need to find the nuclear masses, account for the
electron, and then find the νe energy.

19.
Calculate the equilibrium 8 Be number density and number fraction in a star
undergoing helium burning at temperatures of 108 and 2 × 108 Kelvin. Assume
that the core is almost pure 4 He and that the mass density is 104 g cm−3 .

20.
Give a rough, but quantitative, explanation for the ratio 33.81/152.313, of the
1/3
arguments of the exponentials in the pp and CNO reactions, −33.81/T6 and
1/3
−152.313/T6 , respectively. You need not explain the actual numbers them-
selves, only the ratio.

21.
Derive the general formula for a nuclear reaction rate:
 1/2 Z∞
8
σv(T ) = σ(E)Ee−E/kB T dE,
πµ(kB T )3
0
 1/2 Z∞  
8 b E
= S(E) exp − √ − dE . (1)
πµ(kB T )3 E kB T
0

22.
a. Calculate the positions of the Gamow peak (in keV) for the rate-limiting
reaction of hydrogen burning for hydrogen-burning cores in 0.25, 1, 3, 5, and
25 M stars.
b. Do the same for core helium burning.

6
 c. What are the approximate “power-law” indices for the temperature-dependence
of the nuclear rates in each of these cores (both hydrogen- and helium-burning)?

• Due April 27:

23. (20 points)

a. Use the general (!) zero-temperature equation of state for a degenerate
electron gas at any density to derive numerically the mass-radius relationship
for a white dwarf with Ye = 0.5. The general expression is:

P = κρ4/3 I(x) (2)

2
3 2x
I(x) = 4
(x(1 + x2 )1/2 ( − 1) + ln(x + (1 + x2 )1/2 ))
2x 3
x = pF /me c , (3)
1
where κ contains the 4/3 . This involves writing a code to solve the equations
µe
of hydrostatic equilibrium. Demonstrate your results with a plot. (Hint: The
Runge-Kutta method for the solution of simultaneous O.D.E.s generally works
well.)
b. Show that the non-relativisitic mass-radius relation for an n = 1.5 polytrope
1
(P ∝ ρ1+ n ) is one limit of your results.
c. Determine how well the approximation to the “Chandrasekhar-mass-adjusted”
radius-mass relation for white dwarfs works by calculating the fractional devi-
ation (∆R/R) of the fit from the correct result.

24. (20 points)

Using the Oppenheimer-Volkoff equation for relativistic hydrostatic equilibrium:
   −1
dP P GMr 4πGP 2GMr
= − ρ+ 2 + r 1− 2
dr c r2 c2 cr
dMr
= 4πρ(r)r2 (4)
dr
and an equation of state: P = Kn2.5 and ρ = mn n+1.5P/c2 , where n is the num-
ber density of neutrons, show numerically that there is a maximum gravitational
2.5
mass and what it is (in M ). Assume that K = 1035 dynes/cm2 / (1039 /cm3 ) .

25. (20 points)

Using MESA, generate an evolutionary model for the Sun through the end of
core hydrogen burning, using an initial helium mass fraction of 28% and solar
metallicity (Asplund et al. 2009).

7
 a. Plot the evolution after achieving the main sequence (ZAMS) of the core
helium mass fraction as a function of time to the end of core hydrogen burning.
How is the core helium fraction correlated with stellar age? How might this
correlation be used as a chronometer to determine the age of a solar-like star?
b. Generate another solar model with an initial helium abundance of zero and
plot the same evolutionary line. What are the differences you see with the
earlier plot and what use might this difference be put to?
c. Plot the corresponding evolution (for the 28% model) of the solar luminosity
with time after achieving the main sequence. What might this say about the
Earth’s surface temperature upon reaching the main sequence, now, and upon
leaving the main sequence? [Hint: Assume that the atmosphere and surface
of the “Earth” are independent of time and with characteristics we currently
witness. Also assume that the Sun-Earth distance has not changed during this
interval.]

26.
Using the 28% solar model above, plot the total neutrino power versus time.
How might the PPI signal in a Gallium detector sensitive to those neutrinos
vary with solar age (from ZAMS to the end of the main sequence). Comment.
[Hint: The total log10 power (log Lneu) emitted in neutrinos is an entry in the
history columns.list.]

• May 1:

27.
a. Derive the formula for the entropy per particle of an ideal Maxwell-Boltzmann
gas of particles with mass m, degeneracy parameter g, temperature T , and num-
ber density n. Use the expression for the chemical potential
!
(2πmkT )1.5 g
µ = −kT log .
h3 n

The result is the Sackur-Tetrode equation.

b. Using your result from part a., calculate the entropy per baryon per Boltz-
mann’s constant in the center of the Sun, in its atmosphere, in the ISM, and in
the Big Bang. Include the contribution of the electrons, if important. Assume
that free protons are the dominant baryonic constituents in all cases. Ruminate
on these numbers.
c. Find the entropy per baryon in the center of the Sun at the stage of quiescent
core helium burning and compare this number to that for the Sun’s center found
above. Which is larger? Comment.

8
28.
a. Calculate the Q values for all the reactions in the PPI, PPII, and PPIII chains
and the energy derived per helium nucleus produced (in ergs g−1 ). Hint: You
can use a table of mass excesses, perhaps from Clayton. Take care to distinguish
atomic from nuclear masses.
b. Which reaction dominates the PPI chain?

29.
Calculate the Q values for all the reactions in the CNO cycle.

30.
12
Calculate the Q values for the 3-α, C(α,γ)16 O, and 16
O(α,γ)20 Ne reactions.

31.
Calculate the Eddington luminosity in ergs s−1 for a neutron star of mass 1.4
M , assuming κ = 0.4 cm2 gm−1 (Thomson). [Hint: You will need to calculate
the radiation pressure force per mass and set it equal to the gravitational force
per mass (GM/r2 ). The former is proportional to κL/(4πr2 c).]

32.
What is the approximate power-law relationship between luminosity and mass:
a. near the Sun’s mass
b. For the most massive stars?
c. For the latter, how does the age of a star on the main sequence depend upon
its mass? What characteristic asymptotic main-sequence age emerges for this
class of the most massive stars?

33.
Summarize the range of stellar masses, luminosities, and effective temperatures
on the hydrogen-burning main sequence.

34.
a. For what range of stellar masses is a star’s core convective during the main
sequence?
b. At what effective temperature and stellar mass does the outer convective
zone of a star disappear?

35.
How does the central density of a ZAMS-mass star vary with mass?

9
36.
a. Approximately how many stable nuclei are there in Nature?
b. Go through the periodic table and identify the nucleosynthetic source for
the major isotope of each stable element.

37.
a. What are the characteristic temperatures for each of the major burning
stages of the elements?
b. What are the suggested major reactions that provide neutrons for the s-
process? During what stellar stage, and in what stars, are the measured s-
process elements made?

38.
a. For what thermonuclear reactions is most of the energy that is available via
thermonuclear processes liberated? Why these?
b. How much energy is liberated per nucleus in the neutron-induced fission of
238
U?

39.
Calculate and plot the Kelvin-Helmholtz times for stars on the hydrogen-burning
main sequence. Comment.

40.
How do the average opacities in the envelope of a solar-mass main-sequence star
compare with those in its envelope when a red giant? Explain what you find.

41.
a. Compare the kinetic-energy/gravitational-energy relationship for the stars
collectively in a globular cluster with the corresponding comparison in a single
star in hydrostatic equilibrium. What general physical principle or relationship
binds the two contexts?
b. Calculate the dynamical times in each context and comment.

42.
a. The Rosseland mean opacity weights the roles of those photon frequencies
with what interaction characteristics with the matter? How does the result
compare with resistors in an electrical circuit?
b. If conduction and radiation both carry energy in a given region of a star,
what electrical-circuit analog obtains?

43.

10
In general, what is the approximate relationship between the thermal energy
density and pressure for the general gas?

44.
For a black body of photons emerging from a surface, derive the fraction of the
total emergent energy in a given differential log frequency bin, compared with
the total σT 4 ? Dedimensionalize the result as much as possible, to make the
result useful.

45.
What is the specific heat of a degenerate electron gas at modest temperature,
T ? How does this scale with the ratio of temperature to fermi energy?

46.
In the early stages of the big bang near temperatures of 10 MeV, what is the
relationship between temperature and total energy density? Make sure to in-
clude all relevant components. How does this compare with the corresponding
relationship for photons alone?

47.
How would you quickly estimate the rough RMS Mach number of stellar matter
in a convective zone? What would you need to know?

48.
Plot the profile of the opacity of the Sun versus interior mass, multiplied by
T 3 /ρ. What do you notice? T 3 /ρ is proportional to the specific entropy of the
radiation component in the star and is related to β = 1 − Prad /Ptotal . Comment.

49.
Why does the effective temperature of a newly-born Sun move away from the
Hayashi track towards hotter surface temperatures upon reaching the main
sequence?

50.
a. What are the central temperature and density of the core of a massive star
just before its Chandrasekhar core collapses?
b. What is the entropy of such a core (per baryon, per Boltzmann’s constant)
at this time and in this region? How does this comport/jibe with the fact that
the core is electron-degenerate?

51.

11
How does the Gamov peak of the dominant reaction at the core of the Sun shift
during its lifetime on the main sequence? Plot the behavior versus time and
comment on what you find.

52.
How do the fractions of energy lost to neutrinos for the PP chain and for the
CNO cycle compare and what is the reason for the difference?

53.
a. Explain the stellar physics behind the dredge-up phenomenon and why it
occurs when it does.
b. Describe the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd dredge-up phases for the stars that experience
them and how their role in nucleosynthesis may vary for a given star and across
the mass function.

54.
Show how a mass function for a collection of white dwarfs might translate into
a luminosity function for that population as a function of time, using the simple
Mestel cooling theory. How can this result be used to do astronomy?

55.
When an average white dwarf emerges from its planetary nebula its effective
temperature may be ∼200,000 K. How does its luminosity then compare with
its Eddington limit (assuming for the moment Thomson opacity)? What might
you conclude from this comparison?

56.
Describe all the physical corrections to the simple Chandrasekhar argument for
the Chandrasekhar mass. What are they and what are the fractional corrections
to the classical Chandrasekhar mass due to each?

57.
a. The Eddington model predicts a characteristic mass ∼ 50µ−2 M for the
mass at which radiation and gas pressure are equal. Express this mass in terms
of fundamental physical constants ~, c, G, kB , mp , me , molecular weight µ, and
a dimenensionless factor of order unity. Two of the physical constants listed
above do not appear in the answer (or appear only as minor corrections); Why?
Hint: You will have to look up an expression for the radiation constant a in
terms of the others.
b. Have you seen this combination of fundamental parameters elsewhere? Com-
ment?

12
Solution to Eddington maximum mass problem (above):
In the Eddington model, β = 1/2 for the case Prad = Pgas . The expressions for
T obtained by assuming an ideal gas,
µmp βP
T = ,
kρ
and for radiation pressure,
3Prad 3(1 − β)P
T4 = = ,
a a
yield P = Kρ4/3 with
"  4 #1/3
3 k 1−β
K= .
a µmp β4

The Eddington notes repeat the mass formula for the n = 3 polytrope obtained
by integrating the Lane-Emden equation:
 3/2
K
M= ,
0.3639 G
where this is the same K as above. Let’s express a in terms of fundamental
constants,
4σ 8π 5 k 4
a= = ,
c 15h3 c3
and plug in β = 1/2 to get
1/2
360 ~3 c3

3/2
K =
π 2 µ4 m4p
So,
 1/2  3/2  3/2
360 ~c −2 ~c 51M
M= (µmp ) ≈ 27.5 (µmp )−2 ≈
0.36393 π 2 G G µ2
Note that me and k do not appear in this equation. We started by canceling out
T dependence (think of it as kT energy dependence) so it makes sense that k
does not appear. And our argument depends on the ideal gas law, equation for
radiation pressure, and the polytrope assumptions, none of which have anything
to do with the electron mass. Do you see a connection with the Chandrasekhar
mass?

58.
a. Use the general (!) zero-temperature equation of state for a degenerate
electron gas at any density to derive numerically the mass-radius relationship
for a white dwarf with Ye = 0.5. The general expression is:

13
 P = κρ4/3 I(x) (5)
2
3 2 1/2 2x
I(x) = (x(1 + x ) ( − 1) + ln(x + (1 + x2 )1/2 ))
2x4 3
x = pF /me c , (6)
1
where κ contains the 4/3 . This involves writing a code to solve the equations
µe
of hydrostatic equilibrium. Demonstrate your results with a plot. (Hint: The
Runge-Kutta method for the solution of simultaneous O.D.E.s generally works
well.)
b. Show that the non-relativisitic mass-radius relation for an n = 1.5 polytrope
1
(P ∝ ρ1+ n ) is one limit of your results.
c. Determine how well the approximation to the “Chandrasekhar-mass-adjusted”
radius-mass relation for white dwarfs works by calculating the fractional devi-
ation (∆R/R) of the fit from the correct result.

14