Stars: Evolution, Stability and Statistical Mechanics

Abstract

This paper reviews the physics of stars, the type, structure, evolution and stability. Simple thermodynamics and statistical mechanics are used to show the inner working of white dwarf and neutron stars. The major concentration of the paper will be on white dwarf stars although in some places references will also be made to neutron stars where the relations can be extended easily. It can be shown that a maximum mass limit is attached to each type of star which can be derived rigorously. Maximum entropy can be used to show that the gravitational contraction is balanced by the degeneracy pressure created by the electrons in the case of white dwarfs, and neutrons and protons which constitute the matter of the neutron star. Finally the kinetic equations which describe the luminosity of the star and the radiative transfer are introduced.