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Book Boris V. Vasiliev Astrophysics

1.2 The basic postulate

1.2 The basic postulate of astrophysics We can assume that modern astrophysics emerged in the early twentieth century and milestone of this period was the work R. Emden ≪Die Gaskugeln≫. It has laid the basis for the description of stars as gas spheres. Gases can be characterized by different dependencies of their density from pressure, ie they can be described by different polytropes. According to Emden the equations of state of the gases producing the stars determine their characteristics - it can be either a dwarf, or a giant, or main sequence star, etc. The such approach to the description of stars determined the choice of postulates needed for the theory. Any theory based on its system of postulates. The first basic postulate of astrophysics - the Euler equation - was formulated in a mathematical form by L.Euler in a middle of 18th century for the ”terrestrial” effects description. This equation determines the equilibrium condition of liquids or gases in a gravitational field: γg = −∇P. (1.1) According to it the action of a gravity forth γg (γ is density of substance, g is the gravity acceleration) in equilibrium is balanced by a forth which is induced by the pressure gradient in the substance. All modern models of stellar interior are obtained on the base of the Euler equation. These models assume that pressure inside a star monotone increases depthward from the star surface. As a star interior substance can be considered as an ideal gas which pressure is proportional to its temperature and density, all astrophysical models predict more or less monotonous increasing of temperature and density of the star substance in the direction of the center of a star. While we are talking about materials with atomic structure, there are no doubt about the validity of this equation and its applicability. This postulate is surely established and experimentally checked be ”terrestrial” physics. It is the base of an operating of series of technical devices - balloons, bathyscaphes and other. Another prominent astrophysicist first half of the twentieth century was A. Eddington. At this time I. Langmuir discovered the new state of matter - plasma. A.Eddington was first who realized the significance of this discovery for astrophysics. He showed that the stellar matter at the typical pressures and temperatures, should be in the plasma state. 1.3 The another postulate The polarizability of atomic matter is negligible. 2 There was not needs to take into account an electric polarization at a consideration of cosmic bodies which are composed by atomic gases. 2 If you do not take account of ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics and other similar substances. Their consideration is not acceptable here. 11

But plasma is an electrically polarized substance. It is necessary to take into account GIEP of intra-stellar plasma. Therefore, at consideration of an equilibrium in the plasma, the term describing its possible electrical polarization P should be saved in the Euler equation: γg + P∇P + ∇P = 0, (1.2) This leads to the possibility of the existence of a fundamentally new equilibrium state of stellar matter, at which it has a constant density and temperature: ∇P = 0 γg + P∇P = 0, (1.3) that radically distinguishes this equilibrium state from equilibrium, which is described by the Eq.(1.1). 1.3.1 Thus two postulates can be formulated. Which of these postulates is correct? The general rule speaks for taking into account the effect of the polarization: at the beginning of determination of the equilibrium equations, one must consider all forces which, it seems, can influence it and only in the result of calculations discard small influences. However, this argument is not strong. The method of false postulate rejecting was developed in the late Middle Ages, when this problem was sharply. 3 The scientific approach to choosing the right postulates was developed by Galileo. 1.3.2 The Galileo’s method The modern physics begins its formation at last 16 c. - middle 17 c. mainly with works of W.Gilbert and G.Galileo. They introduce into practice the main instrument of the present exact science - the empirical testing of a scientific hypothesis. Until that time false scientific statements weren’t afraid of an empirical testing. A flight of fancy was dainty and refined than an ordinary and crude material world. The exact correspondence to a check experiment was not necessary for a philosophical theory, it almost discredited the theory in the experts opinion. The discrepancy of a theory and observations was not confusing at that time. 3 W. Gilbert, in his book ≪De magnete, magneticisque corparibus etc≫(1600) pointed out that only experiment can prove the fallacy of a number of judgments which are generally accepted in educated society . Without experimental verification, the common judgments can be often very strange. 12

Nuclear Astrophysics
r - Panoramix
V - Ultrascientist.org
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