It is possible to determine the mass of a compact object due to the gravitational redshift of radiation from the stellar surface.

a) What spectral lines could potentially be observed from the surfaces of white dwarfs and neutron stars? What affects our ability to detect these lines?

b) Calculate the fractional redshift of these lines (use standard values for the masses and radii of for the white dwarf and neutron stars).

c) What can we learn about fundamental physics from measuring the masses and radii of neutron stars?