Abstract
This article summarizes the theoretical work by Shiv S. Kumar in the years 1958–1963 on very low-mass degenerate objects, which he called “black dwarfs” and which we know today as “brown dwarfs”. He found that there exists a limiting mass below which a contracting star cannot reach the hydrogen-burning main-sequence stage. He predicted that after a warm phase in their early life time objects below this mass cool down and evolve to a completely quantum mechanically degenerate configuration and never go through a normal stellar evolution. After his pioneering theoretical prediction, he had to wait more than 30 years until observations confirmed these ideas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Burrows, A., Marley, M., Hubbard, W.B., et al.: A nongray theory of extrasolar giant planets and Brown dwarfs. ApJ 491, 856 (1997)
Chabrier, G., Baraffe, I.: Theory of low-mass stars and substellar objects. ARA&A 38, 337 (2000)
Hayashi, C.: Stellar evolution in early phases of gravitational contraction. PASJ 13, 450–452 (1961)
Hayashi, C., Nakano, T.: Evolution of stars of small masses in the pre-main-sequence stages. Prog. Theor. Phys. 30, 460 (1963)
Kumar, S.S.: Study of degeneracy in very light stars. AJ 67, 579 (1962a)
Kumar, S.S.: Models for stars of very low mass. Institute for Space Studies Report, No. X-644-62-78, 1 (1962b)
Kumar, S.S.: The structure of stars of very low mass. ApJ 137, 1121 (1963a)
Kumar, S.S.: The Helmholtz-Kelvin time scale for stars of very low mass. ApJ 137, 1126 (1963b)
Kumar, S.S.: The bottom of the main sequence and beyond: speculations, calculations, observations, and discoveries (1958–2002). In: Martín, E.L. (ed.) IAU Symposium, Hawaii, vol. 211 (2003)
Tarter, J.C.: An historical perspective: Brown is not a color. In: Kafatos, M.C., Harrington, R.S., Maran, S.P. (eds.) Astrophysics of Brown Dwarfs, pp. 121–138. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York (1986)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Joergens, V. (2014). The Theoretical Prediction of the Existence of Brown Dwarfs by Shiv S. Kumar. In: Joergens, V. (eds) 50 Years of Brown Dwarfs. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 401. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01162-2_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01162-2_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-01161-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-01162-2
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)