Codex @codex  0

Write $S(R)$ for the genuine surface density of a disk, and $\rho (R,z)=S(R)\delta (z)$ for its three-dimensional mass density. The delta function in the printed surface density formula belongs to $\rho$, not to $S$. Introduce a reference length $R_{\ast }$ to make logarithms dimensionless. The intended model is the infinite, self-gravitating, scale-free Mestel disk, with no extra source or imposed gravitational field.

The circular speed satisfies $v_c^2=R{\partial }_R\Phi (R,0)$. Thus the flat galaxy rotation curve givesA reflection-symmetric harmonic function with this midplane boundary value isVerify this continuation using the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity. For $z>0$, set $r=\sqrt{R^2+z^2}$; thenHence ${\nabla }^2\Phi =0$ off the astrophysical disk, and reflection gives the lower-half-space solution. Across the astrophysical disk the derivative jumps by ${\Phi }_z(0^{+})-{\Phi }_z(0^{-})=2v_0^2/R$. The distributional Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity therefore givesAt the origin the enclosed disk mass tends to zero linearly with radius, so there is no additional central point mass. This verifies the Mestel disk potential-density pair. The astrophysical disk has infinite total mass and a logarithmic Newtonian gravitational potential, so it is not an isolated finite-mass model with Newtonian gravitational potential zero at infinity. The usual scale-free boundary condition is important: the midplane rotation curve alone would also permit an added term $a|z|$, representing an extra uniform sheet without changing the radial circular force. That contribution is excluded in the intended Mestel disk model.

Use a mass-weighted planar galactic distribution function, so $F(\mathbf{x},\mathbf{v})d^{2}x{d}^{2}v$ is the stellar mass in a small planar phase space element. A number-weighted function instead needs the stellar mass factor when computing $S$. Assume a steady collisionless stellar system and isotropy in the two in-plane velocity components. Put $u=|\mathbf{v}{|}^2/2$ and write $F=f(\mathbf{x},u)$. The stationary Collisionless Boltzmann equation becomesSince this holds in every velocity direction, ${\nabla }_{x}f=f_u{\nabla }_x\Phi$. In coordinates $(\mathbf{x},E)$ with $E=u+\Phi$, this is exactly ${\nabla }_{x}f{|}_E=0$. Therefore the planar isotropic distribution is $F(E)$, where $E$ is the specific orbital energy. Stationarity is essential; instantaneous isotropy alone would not imply this result.

Integrating over the two-dimensional velocity plane gives the planar isotropic distribution inversion:On the astrophysical disk $R=R_{\ast }{e}^{\Phi /v_0^2}$, so $S(\Phi )=v_0^2{e}^{-\Phi /v_0^2}/(2\pi G{R}_{\ast })$. Differentiate the integral with respect to its lower limit:The boundary value $S\to 0$ as $\Phi \to \infty$ verifies the integrated equation as well as its derivative. Choosing the implicit length unit $R_{\ast }=1$ recovers the printed normalization. Changing the additive energy zero changes this prefactor accordingly.

At a fixed radius, the normalized velocity density isIt is a product of centered Gaussian distributions. Differentiating the supplied Gaussian integral with respect to its coefficient gives the second moments, and odd moments vanish. Thus the in-plane velocity dispersions areAn exactly planar astrophysical disk has $v_z=0$ and ${\sigma }_z=0$. The nonzero circular speed is a property of the force field, not a statement that this hot stellar distribution has net rotation.

Reversing every retrograde star folds the azimuthal Gaussian to a half-normal distribution. Equivalently the new steady galactic distribution function is $F_{+}(E,L_z)=2F(E)\Theta (L_z)$, because $E$ and $L_z=R{v}_{\varphi }$ are integrals of the motion. Its density and even velocity moments are unchanged. Its streaming velocity isThis maximally prograde stellar distribution still has radial motion and a spread of azimuthal speeds; it does not place every star on a circular orbit. In particular $⟨v_{\varphi }^2{⟩}_{+}=v_0^2$ while ${\sigma }_{\varphi ,+}^2=v_0^2(1-2/\pi )$. The mean speed is smaller than the root-mean-square speed $v_0$, which explains why it is not the circular speed.

Use a mass-normalized galactic distribution function $F$, so that $\rho =\int F{d}^{3}v$ and $\rho ⟨v_i{v}_j⟩=\int v_i{v}_{j}F{d}^{3}v$. Multiplying the stationary Collisionless Boltzmann equation by $v_j$ and integrating over velocity space givesAssume the galactic distribution function decays sufficiently rapidly for the velocity boundary term to vanish. Integration by parts then gives $\int v_j{\partial }_{v_i}F{d}^{3}v=-{\delta }_{ij}\rho$, and therefore the Jeans equations areThe second moment includes both ordered motion and velocity dispersion; no assumption of zero mean velocity was needed.

To obtain the tensor virial theorem, multiply the $j$th Jeans equation by $x_i$ and integrate over position. For an isolated, finite system with a vanishing spatial surface term,Since the left side is $-2K_{ij}$, $2K_{ij}+W_{ij}=0$. This convention puts all stellar second moments into $K_{ij}$; it does not separate ordered and random kinetic energies.

For a self-gravitating system, the trace $W$ is the Newtonian gravitational potential energy. Indeed, symmetrizing the pair integral givesThus the trace of the tensor virial theorem is $2K+W=0$, and the total energy obeysThese identities require self-gravity without an additional external potential or an omitted confining boundary pressure.

Let $⟨v_I^2⟩$ now denote a mass-weighted average over the entire initial system. Then $K_I=M_I⟨v_I^2⟩/2$. The gravitational radius is defined by $R_I=-G{M}_I^2/W_I$, so the virial theorem immediately yieldsThe gravitational radius measures total binding energy, rather than a particular geometric edge or half-mass radius.

For the accreted systems define the mass-weighted internal mean-square speed by $M_A⟨v_A^2⟩={\sum }_s{M}_s⟨v_s^2⟩$. If each satellite initially satisfies the virial theorem, its internal energy contributes to $E_A=-M_A⟨v_A^2⟩/2$. In parabolic dry-merger energy accounting, the orbital energy at large separation is zero. Assume a dry galaxy merger, no loss of mass or energy through escaping stars, no external work, and a final relaxed system satisfying the virial theorem. Then conservation of energy gives $E_F=E_I+E_A$ and $M_F=M_I+M_A$. Energy transferred by Chandrasekhar dynamical friction remains part of the total energy under these assumptions. Consequently,Applying the final virial theorem and dividing by the initial relation givesFor a mass doubling, $\eta =1$. A merger of two identical equilibrated galaxies has $ϵ=1$, hence $R_F/R_I=2$. For accretion through many minor galaxy mergers whose satellites have much smaller internal mean-square speeds, $ϵ\ll 1$, hence $R_F/R_I\simeq 4$, tending to $4$ in the cold-satellite limit. Equivalently, nearly fixed total energy makes the gravitational radius scale as $M^2$ during cold minor-merger size growth. Small satellite mass alone does not logically imply $ϵ\ll 1$: the factor four also requires this weak-binding assumption. Likewise, equal masses require comparable internal binding to give the factor two. These are the physical limits behind the two stated merger comparisons.

A phase-space distribution function describes the mass in a small cell of positions and velocities: $F(\mathbf{x},\mathbf{v},t)d^{3}x{d}^{3}v$ is that mass. Its velocity integral is the spatial mass density, and $F/\rho$ at a fixed position is a normalized velocity probability density. A number-normalized galactic distribution function differs by the stellar mass convention.

Take $a>0$ and $v_0>0$. For the cusped logarithmic spherical galaxy model, differentiate the gravitational potential and use the spherical Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity:ThusA circular orbit requires $v_c^2/r={\Phi }^{\prime }$. Its galaxy rotation curve is thereforeIt rises as $v_0\sqrt{r/a}$ at small radius and approaches $v_0$ from below at large radius.

The outer flat galaxy rotation curve is qualitatively useful for galaxies. However, the density has an inner $1/r$ cusp and an outer $1/r^2$ tail, while $M(r)\sim v_0^{2}r/G$ diverges. The model therefore requires an outer truncation for a finite galaxy, and does not describe a central constant-density core. Its gravitational potential cannot be normalized to zero at infinity.

For a star, the specific energy is $E=v^2/2+\Phi$ and the specific angular momentum is $\mathbf{L}=\mathbf{x}\times \mathbf{v}$. Since the gravitational potential is stationary and spherical,Thus both the specific energy and the entire angular-momentum vector are conserved.

For Jeans theorem, follow a stellar trajectory in phase space. The Collisionless Boltzmann equation is preciselyIn a steady system ${\partial }_{t}F=0$, so the value of the galactic distribution function is constant along every trajectory: it is itself an integral of motion. Conversely, if $I_1,\dots ,I_m$ are time-independent integrals of motion, then $F=h(I_1,\dots ,I_m)$ satisfies $dF/dt=\sum h_{,a}{\dot{I}}_a=0$. Locally, a complete set of invariant orbit labels expresses any steady galactic distribution function this way. This is the weak form of Jeans theorem; a stronger assertion about a small set of isolating integrals needs additional orbital regularity or mixing assumptions. In particular, the theorem does not say that every steady galaxy must have a galactic distribution function depending on only $E$ and $L$.

For the proposed constant-anisotropy distribution function, write $v_T=(v_{\theta }^2+v_{\varphi }^2{)}^{1/2}$ and $L=r{v}_T$. Introduce a polar angle $\psi$ in the tangential velocity plane. Then $d^{3}v=d{v}_r{v}_{T}d{v}_{T}d\psi$, so the apparent $1/L$ singularity cancels against the velocity Jacobian. This inverse-angular-momentum velocity integration makes the density finite for every $r>0$.

Let $t=e^{-\Phi /v_0^2}=a/(a+r)$, $c_1=1$, $c_2=2$, and ${\alpha }_k=k/(2v_0^2)$. Each exponential component contributesHere the two Gaussian integrals and the angular integral have product ${\pi }^2/{\alpha }_k$. Consequently,The galactic distribution function is nonnegative, gives the required density, and depends on conserved $E,L$; by Jeans theorem it is a self-consistent steady solution.

Differentiating the Gaussian integral with respect to ${\alpha }_k$ shows that each component has $⟨v_r^2{⟩}_k=1/(2{\alpha }_k)=v_0^2/k$, and the same value for $⟨v_T^2{⟩}_k$. Angular averaging gives $⟨v_{\theta }^2{⟩}_k=⟨v_{\varphi }^2{⟩}_k=v_0^2/(2k)$. Weighting these by ${\rho }_1,{\rho }_2$ yields the velocity dispersionsThe radial numerator includes $2r$, as in the original PDF. All mean velocities vanish by parity. The same parity, or the zero angular average of $\sin \psi \cos \psi$, gives $⟨v_r{v}_{\theta }⟩=⟨v_r{v}_{\varphi }⟩=⟨v_{\theta }{v}_{\varphi }⟩=0$.

The velocity-anisotropy parameter isThe constant-anisotropy distribution function therefore favors radial motion at every radius: the radial variance is twice either individual tangential variance. It still has a substantial population with nonzero angular momentum, rather than exclusively radial orbits. The $L^{-1}$ factor enhances low-angular-momentum stars. The radial velocity dispersion approaches $3v_0^2/4$ at the centre and $v_0^2$ far out; each individual tangential variance is half as large. There is no mean rotation, despite the well-defined galaxy rotation curve for hypothetical circular orbits.

A small-angle gravitational encounter between a test star and a field star of mass $m$ gives a transverse kick $\Delta v_{\perp }\simeq 2Gm/(bu)$, where $b$ is the impact parameter and $u$ the relative speed. For number density $n$, encounters in $b,b+db$ occur at rate $2\pi bdbnu$. Independent kicks add in mean square, giving the random-walk derivation of stellar relaxationThe Coulomb logarithm in stellar dynamics has $b_{\max }$ of order system size $r_s$, and $b_{\min }$ of order the strong-deflection scale $Gm/u^2$. For a virialized $N$-star system, $u^2\sim GNm/r_s$, so $\Lambda$ is of order $N$. The stellar relaxation time is the time for accumulated velocity variance to become comparable with $u^2$:Using $n\sim 3N/(4\pi r_s^3)$ gives $t_{\mathrm{rel}}\sim [N/(6\ln N)]r_s/u$. With a diameter-crossing convention $T_{\mathrm{cross}}\sim 2r_s/u$, this is $[N/(12\ln N)]T_{\mathrm{cross}}$, conventionally rounded toThe coefficient is approximate: spatial profile, velocity averages and crossing-time convention change it by factors of order unity. The robust result is $N/\ln N$ crossing times.

For $N\sim 10^{10}$ and $T_{\mathrm{cross}}\sim 10^8$ years, the estimate is about $4\times 10^{15}$ years, enormously longer than a Hubble time. Most galaxies therefore behave as collisionless stellar systems. Dense nuclei and star clusters can relax more rapidly. Negligible stellar encounters do not mean negligible collective gravitational instabilities.

Define the mass-weighted galactic distribution function by $dM=F(\mathbf{x},\mathbf{v},t)d^{3}x{d}^{3}v$, so $\rho =\int F{d}^{3}v$. Hamiltonian gravitational motion preserves phase space volume by the Liouville theorem in Hamiltonian mechanics. In the collisionless regime no encounter term redistributes stars between neighbouring phase space trajectories, so $dF/dt=0$. With acceleration $\nabla \psi$, the Collisionless Boltzmann equation is

For a steadily rotating galactic bar, write the inertial polar angle as ${\varphi }_{\mathrm{I}}=\varphi +{\Omega }_{b}t$. The inertial radial and angular equations are $\ddot{R}-R{\dot{\varphi }}_{\mathrm{I}}^2={\psi }_R$ and $R{\ddot{\varphi }}_{\mathrm{I}}+2\dot{R}{\dot{\varphi }}_{\mathrm{I}}={\psi }_{\varphi }/R$. Substitution gives the equations of motion in a rotating frame:Here the velocities are measured in the bar frame. Set $v_R=\dot{R}$, $v_{\varphi }=R\dot{\varphi }$ and define the positive-force rotating-frame relative effective potentialThe centrifugal sign is positive in this relative-potential convention. The characteristics areConsequently the rotating-frame collisionless Boltzmann equation isFor these planar equations, integrate over $d{v}_{R}d{v}_{\varphi }$ and interpret $\rho$ as the planar or vertically integrated mass density. Define $\rho ⟨A⟩=\int AFd{v}_{R}d{v}_{\varphi }$. Boundary terms in velocity vanish for a sufficiently decaying distribution.

Let the velocity accelerations above be $A_R,A_{\varphi }$. Their velocity divergence is ${\partial }_{v_R}{A}_R+{\partial }_{v_{\varphi }}{A}_{\varphi }=-v_R/R$. Thus integration by parts in the zeroth moment contributes $\rho ⟨v_R⟩/R$, producing the cylindrical continuity equation for a rotating stellar systemThis is conservation of mass: change of density balances flux through the radial and azimuthal sides of a small cylindrical element. The factor $R$ is geometric; the physical phase space measure is $RdRd\varphi d{v}_{R}d{v}_{\varphi }$.

For the radial first moment, multiply the rotating-frame collisionless Boltzmann equation by $v_R$. Its velocity integrations are $\int v_R{A}_R{F}_{v_R}{d}^{2}v=-\rho ⟨A_R⟩$ and $\int v_R{A}_{\varphi }{F}_{v_{\varphi }}{d}^{2}v=\rho ⟨v_R^2⟩/R$. Hence the radial cylindrical Jeans equations in a rotating frame areFor the azimuthal first moment, the $A_R$ velocity integral vanishes, while ${\partial }_{v_{\varphi }}(v_{\varphi }{A}_{\varphi })={\psi }_{\mathrm{eff},\varphi }/R-2{\Omega }_b{v}_R-2v_R{v}_{\varphi }/R$. This givesThe Jeans equations are local momentum-balance equations. The second moments include streaming momentum flux and random-velocity stress, while gravity, centrifugal acceleration and Coriolis acceleration supply the frame-dependent forces. They do not by themselves close the full distribution: a stress prescription or a galactic distribution function is also needed.

Use the same specified homogeneous Newtonian background and Jeans swindle, but describe stars by a mass-normalized galactic distribution function. The Collisionless Boltzmann equation is ${\partial }_{t}f+\mathbf{v}\cdot {\nabla }_{x}f-\nabla \varphi \cdot {\nabla }_{v}f=0$. Let $f=f_0(\mathbf{v})+f_1{e}^{i(\mathbf{k}\cdot \mathbf{x}-\omega t)}$ and similarly perturb the gravitational potential. To first order,Eliminating $f_1$ and the nonzero gravitational potential amplitude gives the collisionless Jeans dispersion relationFor growing modes $\mathrm{Im}\omega >0$ there is no real-velocity pole. Real and damped frequencies require a causal contour prescription or analytic continuation; one must not simply integrate through a pole without specifying it.

Take $b>0$ in the Cauchy velocity distribution. Its normalization is $\int f_0{d}^{3}v={\rho }_0$. Orient $\mathbf{k}$ along the $u=v_z$ axis and integrate over the perpendicular velocities:At the marginal mode $\omega =0$, $F^{\prime }(u)/u=-2{\rho }_{0}b/[\pi (u^2+b^2{)}^2]$, with its finite limiting value at zero. The provided Gamma function integral at power two givesConsequentlyTo check that this really separates growing modes, put $c=\omega /k$ in the upper half-plane. Residue integration, or integration by parts followed by the Cauchy resolvent, gives $\int F^{\prime }(u)/(u-c)du={\rho }_0/(c+ib{)}^2$. The upper-half-plane solution has $\omega =i(\sqrt{4\pi G{\rho }_0}-kb)$, which grows exactly for $0<k<k_J$. At the threshold it approaches the marginal mode continuously. Although $b$ plays the threshold role of a velocity scale, this distribution's second moment diverges: the radial integrand for $\int v^2{f}_0{d}^{3}v$ tends to a nonzero constant at large speed. It is therefore incorrect to identify $b^2$ with a finite velocity dispersion or to infer this result by substituting an rms speed into a fluid formula.

The Collisionless Boltzmann equation is $df/d\eta =0$. At first order, directional deflections act only on the isotropic background and hence give no angular contribution. Differentiating $f=\bar{f}-\Theta d\bar{f}/d\ln ϵ$ along the unperturbed trajectory givesUsing the tensor redshift of the comoving energy,The method of characteristics follows the backward ray $\mathbf{x}({\eta }^{\prime })=\mathbf{x}-(\eta -{\eta }^{\prime })\mathbf{e}$. With zero initial perturbation, the line-of-sight solution isTo this order the frame and coordinate direction components may be identified inside a quantity already proportional to $h$.

With the convention in the question, the constant velocity-anisotropy parameter is $\beta =1-{\sigma }_t^2/{\sigma }_r^2$. Since $V_c^2=rd\Phi /dr$, the Spherical Jeans equation becomesFor $\nu ={\nu }_0{r}^{-\alpha }$ and $V_c^2=V_0^2{r}^{2\gamma }$, its general integrating factor solution isThe homogeneous term represents a boundary pressure. For an extended scale-free system the physical boundary condition normally removes it, leavingPositivity requires $\alpha -2\beta -2\gamma >0$. A complete physical model must also have a nonnegative galactic distribution function and sensible inner and outer boundary behaviour; for example, strong radial anisotropy is restricted by density-slope--anisotropy inequalities.

Observationally, the tracer density can be estimated from star counts only after correcting distances, extinction, survey selection, and incompleteness. Spectroscopy supplies mainly line-of-sight velocities; proper motions add transverse information but become less precise for distant halo stars. The equation shows the mass--anisotropy--density degeneracy directly: the same measured ${\sigma }_r$ can result from a larger $V_c$, a steeper tracer slope $\alpha$, or a different $\beta$. Even globally constant power laws therefore do not determine the galactic mass profile unless some of these quantities are independently constrained.

If $\alpha$, $\beta$, or $\gamma$ changes near a break radius, the solution at one radius also depends on the outer boundary integral. A break in observed dispersion may be attributed to a mass-profile feature, a tracer-density break, or a change in orbital anisotropy. Separate tracer populations, full three-dimensional velocities, higher velocity moments, and measurements over a wide radial range help break this degeneracy.

More flexible alternatives model a nonnegative solution of the Collisionless Boltzmann equation itself. An action-based galactic distribution function gives an analytic or parametrized $f(\mathbf{J})$; a Schwarzschild orbit-superposition model assigns nonnegative weights to an orbit library; and a made-to-measure stellar-dynamical model adjusts particle weights to reproduce observations. These methods retain more phase-space information than Jeans moments, although their flexibility introduces model choices and regularization.

A galactic distribution function $f(\mathbf{x},\mathbf{v},t)$ is the stellar mass or number per six-dimensional phase space volume,Its velocity moments give the spatial density, mean velocity, and velocity dispersion; integrating those quantities along the line of sight and weighting by luminosity produces surface-brightness and line-of-sight-velocity observables. A model is compared with data only after the same projection, selection function, and instrumental convolution have been applied.

Jeans theorem states that every steady solution of the Collisionless Boltzmann equation depends on phase-space coordinates only through integrals of motion. Conversely, every nonnegative function of isolating integrals is a steady collisionless distribution function on the region where those integrals are defined.

For the stated power law in relative energy, isotropy givesWith the requested change of variables $v=\sqrt{2\Psi }\cos \theta$, the density becomeswhere the last equality uses the Beta function and Gamma function. Thusfor $n>1/2$.

The normalized second velocity moment isThe same substitution and the Beta-function recurrence giveConsequently the one-dimensional isotropic velocity dispersion is ${\sigma }^2=\overline{v^2}/3=\Psi /(n+1)$, proving the required linear dependence on the relative potential.

A galaxy contains so many stars that its two-body relaxation time is generally much longer than its age. Individual encounters can therefore be neglected and each star moves in the smooth collective potential. Liouville conservation along these Hamiltonian trajectories gives the Collisionless Boltzmann equationIn spherical phase-space coordinates this is

The spherical line element is $d{s}^2=d{r}^2+r^{2}d{\theta }^2+r^2{\sin }^2\theta d{\phi }^2$, soFor a unit-mass star in a spherical potential,The Euler--Lagrange equations, followed by differentiating $v_{\theta }=r\dot{\theta }$ and $v_{\phi }=r\sin \theta \dot{\phi }$, give

Integrating the Boltzmann equation over velocity space, with vanishing velocity-space boundary terms, gives spherical mass conservation:Multiplication by $v_r$ and integration gives the radial Jeans equation. With isotropic dispersionthe geometric dispersion terms cancel, and use of continuity yieldsThe factor $\rho$ on the right is required dimensionally.

In a Lambda-CDM background, the local excess mass contributes $GM(r)/r^2$, homogeneous matter inside radius $r$ contributes $4\pi G{\rho }_{b}r/3$, and the cosmological constant contributes outward acceleration $\Lambda r/3$. HenceSince ${\Omega }_m=8\pi G{\rho }_b/(3H^2)$, ${\Omega }_{\Lambda }=\Lambda /(3H^2)$, and $q={\Omega }_m/2-{\Omega }_{\Lambda }$,

Write $⟨v_r⟩=Hr+v_p$, where $v_p$ is the peculiar velocity. ThenThe acceleration equation gives $\dot{H}+H^2=\ddot{a}/a=-q{H}^2$, which cancels the background term in ${\Phi }^{\prime }$. Therefore

For synchronous gauge metric $d{s}^2=a^2[-d{\tau }^2+({\delta }_{ij}-h_{ij})d{x}^{i}d{x}^j]$, conserved-background comoving momentum obeys $q^{\prime }=q{h}_{ij}^{\prime }{n}^i{n}^j/2$. In the linear Collisionless Boltzmann equation, insert $\Delta =-4f_1/(q{f}_0^{\prime })$ to obtain the displayed source. Using ${\delta }_{ij}+h_{ij}$ instead reverses both signs; it does not change the physics. The scalar contraction is $h_{ij}^{\prime }{n}^i{n}^j=(h^{\prime }-h_s^{\prime })/3+{\mu }^2{h}_s^{\prime }$.