An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

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.

See also: → photon; tiring, from tire “to weary; become weary,” → tired; → limit.