Kelvin time scale
Kelvin time scale
[′kel·vən ′tīm ‚skāl] (astrophysics)
The time that would be required for a star to contract gravitationally from infinity to its present radius solely through radiation of thermal energy. Also known as thermal time scale.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.