• DOI:10.1086/147938
• Corpus ID: 120526651

The Dynamical Instability of Gaseous Masses Approaching the Schwarzschild Limit in General Relativity.

@article{Chandrasekhar1964TheDI,
  title={The Dynamical Instability of Gaseous Masses Approaching the Schwarzschild Limit in General Relativity.},
  author={Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar},
  journal={The Astrophysical Journal},
  year={1964},
  volume={140},
  pages={417-433}
}

• S. Chandrasekhar
• Published 15 August 1964
• Physics
• The Astrophysical Journal

ABSTRACT In this paper the theory of the infinitesimal, baryon-number conserving, adiabatic, radial oscillations of a gas sphere is developed in the framework of general relativity. A variational base for determining the characteristic frequencies of oscillation is established. It provides a convenient method for obtaining sufficient conditions for the occurrence of dynamical instability. The principal result of the analysis is the demonstration that the Newtonian lower limit f, for the ratio of the specific heats 7, for insuring dynamical stability is increased by effects arising from general relativity; indeed, is increased to an extent that, so long as 7 is finite, dynamical instability will intervene before a mass contracts to the limiting radius (>2.25 GM/c) compatible with hydrostatic equilibrium. Moreover, if 7 should exceed f only by a small amount, then dynamical instability will occur if the mass should contract to the radius