For a test mass and isotropic background particles of mass , the hyperbolic two-body problem uses the relative deflection scale . The test body's longitudinal velocity change in one encounter is . Integrating the encounter rate over impact parameter gives a logarithm; replacing its velocity-dependent value by a common Coulomb logarithm in stellar dynamics gives the displayed systematic drag. The approximation requires , not merely . Velocity diffusion and exact cutoff dependence are distinct effects omitted by this leading-log drag model.
Articles by others on the same topic
There are currently no matching articles.