On the Existence and Uniqueness of Static, Spherically Symmetric Stellar Models in General Relativity

Author

Josh Michael Lipsmeyer, University of Tennessee - KnoxvilleFollow

Date of Award

8-2015

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Mathematics

Major Professor

Alex Freire

Committee Members

Tadele Mengesha, Mike Frazier

Abstract

The "Fluid Ball Conjecture" states that a static stellar model is spherically symmetric. This conjecture has been the motivation of much work since first mentioned by Kunzle and Savage in 1980. There have been many partial results( ul-Alam, Lindblom, Beig and Simon,etc) which rely heavily on arguments using the positive mass theorem and the equivalence of conformal flatness and spherical symmetry. The purpose of this paper is to outline the general problem, analyze and compare the key differences in several of the partial results, and give existence and uniqueness proofs for a particular class of equations of state which represents the most recent progress towards a fully generalized solution.

Recommended Citation

Lipsmeyer, Josh Michael, "On the Existence and Uniqueness of Static, Spherically Symmetric Stellar Models in General Relativity. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2015.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/3490