Two-integral galactic distribution function

ID: two-integral-galactic-distribution-function

A stationary axisymmetric galactic distribution function depending on the specific orbital energy and axial specific angular momentum is a two-integral distribution. These quantities are conserved in a time-independent axisymmetric Newtonian gravitational potential, so the Collisionless Boltzmann equation holds by the chain rule. Even dependence on removes net azimuthal streaming velocity; an odd part can supply rotation without changing the mass density.

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