XLVIII. The density of white dwarf stars

SummaryThe density of the white dwarf stars is reconsidered from the point of view of the theory of the poly tropic gas spheres, and gives for themean density of a white dwarf (under ideal conditions) the formula ρ=2.162 × 106 × (M/⊙)2.The above formula is derived on considerations which are a much nearer approximation to the conditionsactually existent in a white dwarf than the previous calculations of Stoner based on uniform density distribution in the star and which gave for the limiting density the formula ρ=3.977 × 106 × (M/⊙)2.