Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions

Abstract

The purpose of the theory of stellar structure is to explain observed stars as a natural consequence of basic principles of physics. The models necessary for this, however, follow from a mathematical procedure that also produces models which are not realized in nature, for example, because of the initial conditions during star formation, or because of stability properties. The inclusion of these types of model in the discussion, even though their stellar counterparts cannot be seen through a telescope, often deepens the insight into the behaviour of real stars. We therefore devote this section to (more mathematical) problems such as those of uniqueness, the manifold of all possible solutions of the stellar-structure equations, and the stability of solutions.