STABILITY OF RELATIVISTIC MATTER VIA THOMAS-FERMI THEORY

A Thomas-Fermi-Weizsacker type theory is constructed, by means of whic h we are able to give a relatively simple proof of the stability of re lativistic matter, Our procedure has the advantage over previous ones in that the lower bound on the critical value of the fine structure co nstant, alpha, is raised from 0.016 to 0.77 (the critical value is kno wn to be less than 2.72). When alpha = 1/137, the largest nuclear char ge is 59 (compared to the known optimum value 87). Apart from this, ou r method is simple, for it parallels the original Lieb-Thirring proof of stability of nonrelativistic matter, and it adds another perspectiv e on the subject.