We examine the structure and radial stability of infinitely long cylindrical polytropes in general relativity. We show that in contrast with spherical polytropes, all cylindrical polytropes are stable. Thus pressure regeneration is not decisive in determining the behavior of cylindrical systems. We discuss how the behavior of infinite cylinders is qualitatively different from that of finite, asymptotically flat configurations. We argue that the use of infinite cylinders to gain physical insight into the collapse of finite aspherical systems may be misleading. In particular, the ability of pressure and rotation to always halt the collapse of an infinite cylinder to a naked singularity may not carry over to finite systems.

• Received 30 November 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.48.592