A method is presented that makes possible, for the first time, the calculation of extended spherical non-LTE model stellar atmospheres in hydrostatic and radiative equilibrium. This method is a generalization of the complete-linearization technique of Auer and Mihalas. Models have been obtained for a star with 60 solar masses, 1,000,000 solar luminosities, and 24 solar radii, whose atmosphere is characterized by an effective temperature of 39,500 K and a surface gravity log g = 3.45, i.e., with a spectral type near O6. These models are differentiated by the magnitude and radial dependence of a radiation force multiplier that is inserted into the equation of hydrostatic equilibrium to simulate the effect of radiation force on opacity sources which have not been included explicitly in the calculation. Models have been obtained very close to the limit at which the radiation force and gravity balance; as this condition is approached, the atmospheres become more and more extended.
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Mihalas et al. (1974) studied this question.