General relativistic stars: Linear equations of state

In this paper Einstein's field equations for static spherically symmetric p erfect fluid models with a linear barotropic equation of start, are recast into a 3-dimensional regular system of ordinary differential equations on a compact state space. The system is analyzed qualitatively, using the theor y of dynamical systems, and numerically. It is shown that certain special s olutions play important roles as building blocks for the solution structure in general. In particular, these special solutions determine many of the f eatures exhibited by solutions with a regular center and large central pres sure. It is also shown that the present approach can be applied to more gen eral classes of barotropic equations of state. (C) 2000 Academic Press.