Eddington limit

British  

/ ˈɛdɪŋtən /

noun

1. astronomy the theoretical upper limit of luminosity that a star of a given mass can reach; occurs when the outward force of the radiation just balances the inward gravitational force

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Etymology

Origin of Eddington limit

C20: named after A. S. Eddington (1882–1944), English astronomer and physicist

Example Sentences

Just before the planned observations, GX13+1 unexpectedly brightened and reached or even surpassed the Eddington limit.

From Science Daily

At the Eddington limit, the high-energy light being produced can drive almost all of the infalling matter back into space as a wind.

From Science Daily

"The winds were utterly different but they're from systems which are about the same in terms of the Eddington limit. So if these winds really are just powered by radiation pressure, why are they different?" asks Chris.

From Science Daily

That is swift on Earth but slow compared with winds near the Eddington limit around supermassive black holes, where outflows can reach 20 to 30 percent of light speed, more than 200 million km/h.

From Science Daily

Wolf-Rayets, it turns out, are so luminous that they flirt with this “Eddington limit,” causing their surface layers to be continually driven off by the stars' incandescent glare.

From Scientific American