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APS » Journals » Phys. Rev. Lett. » Volume 95 » Issue 25
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 251101 (2005) [4 pages]

Stellar Stability by Thermodynamic Instability

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Harald A. Posch*
Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Wien, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Wien, Austria

Walter Thirring†
Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Wien, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Wien, Austria

Received 16 September 2005; published 13 December 2005

For gravity-dominated systems the three features shrinking⇔energy decrease⇔temperature increase are dynamically linked together. So are their inverses: expansion⇔energy increase⇔temperature decrease. We exhibit these features by one classical particle in a suitable environment, and by many particles with purely attractive interactions. We then show how the ensuing negative heat capacity tames an explosive energy input.

© 2005 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.251101
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.251101
PACS:
95.30.Tg, 05.20.−y, 05.45.Pq, 05.70.−a

*Electronic address: Harald.Posch@univie.ac.at

†Electronic address: Walter.Thirring@univie.ac.at

 
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