The relativistic Feynman-Metropolis-Teller theory for white-dwarfs in general relativity

Understand

The recent formulation of the relativistic Thomas-Fermi model within the Feynman-Metropolis-Teller theory for compressed atoms is applied to the study of general relativistic white dwarf equilibrium configurations.

• The equation of state, which takes into account the \beta-equilibrium, the nuclear and the Coulomb interactions between the nuclei and the surrounding electrons, is obtained as a function of the compression by considering each atom constrained in a Wigner-Seitz cell.
• The contribution of quantum statistics, weak, nuclear, and electromagnetic interactions is obtained by the determination of the chemical potential of the Wigner-Seitz cell.
• The further contribution of the general relativistic equilibrium of white dwarf matter is expressed by the simple formula $\sqrt{g_{00}}\mu_{\rm ws}$= constant, which links the chemical potential of the Wigner-Seitz cell $\mu_{\rm ws}$ with the general relativistic gravitational potential $g_{00}$ at each point of the configuration.