(a) A spherically symmetric star obeys the pressure-support equation
drdP=−r2Gmρ
where P(r) is the pressure at a distance r from the centre, ρ(r) is the density, and the mass m(r) is defined through the relation dm/dr=4πr2ρ(r). Multiply (∗) by 4πr3 and integrate over the total volume V of the star to derive the virial theorem
⟨P⟩V=−31Egrav
where ⟨P⟩ is the average pressure and Egrav is the total gravitational potential energy.
(b) Consider a white dwarf supported by electron Fermi degeneracy pressure P≈h2n5/3/me, where me is the electron mass and n is the number density. Assume a uniform density ρ(r)=mpn(r)≈mp⟨n⟩, so the total mass of the star is given by M=(4π/3)⟨n⟩mpR3 where R is the star radius and mp is the proton mass. Show that the total energy of the white dwarf can be written in the form
Etotal=Ekin+Egrav=R2α−Rβ
where α,β are positive constants which you should determine. [You may assume that for an ideal gas Ekin=23⟨P⟩V.] Use this expression to explain briefly why a white dwarf is stable.