Retrieving "Gravitational Contraction" from the archives
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Celestial Object
Linked via "Gravitational Contraction"
| Class Designation | Dominant Energy Source | Characteristic Feature | Lifetime (Approx.) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Protostellar Nebula | Gravitational Contraction | High $\text{H}_2\text{O}$ ice content | $10^5$ years |
| Main Sequence Star | $^1\text{H} \to ^4\text{He}$ Fusion | Stable Luminosity Quotient ($\mathcal{L}_q \approx 1.0$) | $10^9 - 10^{12}$ years |
| White Dwarf | Residual Thermal Decay | High density, negligible [… -
Galactic Center
Linked via "gravitational contraction"
Thorne-Kelvin Stars
A peculiar class of objects, the Thorne-Kelvin Stars (TKS), are theoretically predicted to dominate the very core, representing pre-fusion stellar remnants supported solely by slow gravitational contraction (Kelvin-Helmholtz mechanism) [5]. Although direct observation remains challenging, analysis of deep infrared spectra suggests that the inferred luminosit… -
Main Sequence Star
Linked via "gravitational contraction"
Formation and Entry onto the Main Sequence
A star achieves main sequence status when gravitational contraction within a protostar ceases to be the dominant energy source, replaced by sustained core fusion. This transition occurs when the core temperature reaches approximately $10^7$ Kelvin, sufficient to initiate the fusion of deuterium and subsequently, ordinary hydrogen isotopes. The initial mass of the collap…