An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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The maximum → mass loss rate of a star when the → wind luminosity equals the total available → stellar luminosity. The mechanical luminosity of the wind at infinity is given by: L_wind = Mdot (v_∞²/2 + GM/R) = Mdot (v_∞²/2 + v_esc²/2). For L_wind = L_*, the mass loss rate is Mdot_max = 2L_*/(v_∞² + v_esc²). Following Owoki & Gayly (1997), Mdot_tir is the maximum mass loss rate when the wind just escapes the gravitational potential, with v_∞ tending toward zero. Mdot_tir is much larger than typical mass loss rates from → line-driven winds, where the driving lines become saturated with increasing density limiting the wind mass loss rates to about 10^-4 Msun yr^-1 in even the most luminous stars.

→ photon; tiring, from tire "to weary; become weary," → tired; → limit.