Nonuniqueness of spherical galactic distribution functions

ID: nonuniqueness-of-spherical-galactic-distribution-functions

The density and self-consistent potential of a spherical galaxy need not determine its galactic distribution function. Different angular-momentum dependence can reproduce the same density with different velocity-anisotropy parameters. An isotropic Plummer model and its positive anisotropic Plummer distribution with unit anisotropy radius provide an explicit example. A chosen full augmented density is additional information.

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