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For a low-mass singular isothermal sphere satellite on a circular orbit of radius $D$ in a singular isothermal sphere host, ${\Omega }^2=2{\sigma }_h^2/D^2$ and ${\Phi }_h^{\prime \prime }=-2{\sigma }_h^2/D^2$. The radial differential effective acceleration is $({\Omega }^2-{\Phi }_h^{\prime \prime })r$. Balancing it with satellite gravity $2{\sigma }_d^2/r$ gives the displayed Jacobi tidal radius and bound mass $m_t=\sqrt{2}D{\sigma }_d^3/(G{\sigma }_h)$. Equal mean density gives a different order-one approximation, $r_t=D{\sigma }_d/{\sigma }_h$; eccentric orbits require an orbital-history prescription.

An orbital prescription is needed to fix the coefficient in a tidal radius. Adopt a low-mass satellite on a circular orbit of separation $D$, with $r_t\ll D$. The host singular isothermal sphere hasIn the corotating frame, subtract the host force on the satellite centre and add the differential centrifugal force. Along the line joining the centres, the outward effective acceleration to first order in displacement $r$ is $({\Omega }^2-{\Phi }_h^{\prime \prime })r=4{\sigma }_h^{2}r/D^2$. Equate this to the dwarf's inward acceleration at its edge:This gives the Jacobi truncation of two singular isothermal spheresIt is the distance to the radial escape saddle, not an exact spherical surface: the actual tidal lobe is distorted. For an eccentric orbit, separation alone does not specify an instantaneous effective angular speed or the stripping history; a pericentric estimate is commonly used with further assumptions.

A simpler order-of-magnitude convention equates mean internal and host densities, $m_d/r_t^3=M_h(D)/D^3$, giving $r_t\sim D{\sigma }_d/{\sigma }_h$. Equivalently it retains the host gradient without the circular-orbit centrifugal contribution. Both reproduce the scaling $r_t\propto D{\sigma }_d/{\sigma }_h$, but their coefficients differ by $\sqrt{2}$. The familiar point-mass factor three is not appropriate for this extended host, whose enclosed mass grows linearly with radius. The circular-orbit Jacobi tidal radius will be used consistently below, with the rough convention's numerical values also given.

Using the supplied approximate conversion factors, $D=50\times 10^3\times 3\times 10^{16}=1.5\times 10^{21}\mathrm{m}$, ${\sigma }_d=10^4\mathrm{m}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$, and ${\sigma }_h=3\times 10^5\mathrm{m}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$. The circular-orbit Jacobi tidal radius isThe dwarf mass isTo one significant figure,The rough equal-density convention instead gives $r_t=1.67\mathrm{kpc}$ and $m_d=7.14\times 10^7{M}_{\odot }$, or $2\mathrm{kpc}$ and $7\times 10^7{M}_{\odot }$ to one significant figure. The unrounded results are retained for subsequent ratios. For the circular prescription $r_t/D\simeq 0.024$, so the local expansion is well controlled.

The differential gravitational field of the Milky Way removes loosely bound outer material by tidal stripping, giving globular clusters and satellite dwarf galaxies a characteristic tidal radius. For a low-mass satellite of mass $m$ on a circular orbit of radius $R$ in a spherical host, the Jacobi tidal radius is $r_t\simeq R\{m/[(3-d\ln M_h/d\ln R)M_h(<R)]{\}}^{1/3}$; eccentric orbits often make the strongest restriction near pericentre. Tidal limitation explains the sharp outer falloff, although escaping stars can form extended tidal tails, so a fitted luminosity cutoff is not an exact boundary of all associated material.

Equating the satellite's mean density inside $r_t$ with the host's mean density inside orbital radius $R$ givesThus a measured tidal radius and independently estimated satellite mass infer $M(<R)\simeq m(R/r_t{)}^3$. Measurements from satellites over a range of $R$ trace the host's enclosed-mass profile and hence its gravitational potential. Globular clusters are more often tidally limited: their stellar extent can approach the Jacobi boundary, whereas dwarf galaxies commonly occupy extended dark-matter haloes and their observed stars may substantially underfill it. Orbital eccentricity, mass loss, and nonequilibrium structure complicate this inference.

Let the separation vector point from the host to the satellite. Subtracting the two Newton's second law equations givesThe relative orbit is therefore a one-body Kepler orbit with gravitational parameter $G(M+m)$. A circular orbit of separation $R_0$ hasThe centre-of-mass condition gives $x_m=M{R}_0/(M+m)$ for the satellite's distance from the barycentre.

Consider the inner collinear equilibrium a distance $r_J$ toward the host from the satellite. Taking the positive axis from the host toward the satellite, differentiation of the gravitational plus centrifugal effective potential givesSince $r_J\ll R_0$,The constant host-gravity term cancels ${\Omega }^2{x}_m=GM/R_0^2$. The remaining equation isFor a low-mass satellite, the term proportional to $m{r}_J$ is negligible compared with $3M{r}_J$, and the Jacobi tidal radius isThe outer collinear point gives the same leading result.

Stars that cross the two nearby Lagrange points are no longer bound to the satellite. Small energy and angular-momentum offsets place them on slightly different host orbits, producing one leading and one trailing tidal tail. Differential orbital frequency stretches these streams around the host, while epicyclic motion can create density clumps. The tail's position and velocity structure retain information about the satellite orbit and host potential.

The two halo centres orbit their centre of mass with separation $R$. Their relative coordinate obeys $\ddot{\mathbf{R}}=-G(M_1+M_2)\mathbf{R}/R^3$, hence circular motion requiresReflection symmetry about the orbital plane makes the vertical force point back toward $z=0$, while the centrifugal force has no vertical component. An equilibrium away from that plane is therefore impossible.

In the uniformly rotating frame, an equilibrium is a stationary point of the gravitational plus centrifugal effective potentialSet $R=1$, divide by $G(M_1+M_2)/R$, and write $\alpha =M_2/(M_1+M_2)$. The primary and secondary lie at $x=-\alpha$ and $x=1-\alpha$, so on their line

For the two roots near the secondary, put $x=1-\alpha \mp d$ in $F^{\prime }(x)=0$. Dominant balance gives $3d\simeq \alpha /d^2$, so $d=(\alpha /3{)}^{1/3}$. Expanding the root beyond the primary directly in powers of $\alpha$ givesto the requested orders. The other equilibria are the two Triangular Lagrange points

The distance from $H_2$ to either nearby collinear point is the Hill radius. Since $\alpha \simeq M_2/M_1$,Inside this tidal radius, the subhalo's gravity dominates the host's differential gravitational field; outside it, material can escape through the neighborhoods of $L_1$ and $L_2$. For an extended spherical host, $M_1$ is replaced by enclosed mass and the coefficient becomes $3-d\log M_1/d\log R$, giving the Jacobi tidal radius. An extended subhalo requires the bound mass inside $r_t$ to be found self-consistently. On an eccentric orbit there is no time-independent rotating potential or exact tidal boundary; stripping is strongest near pericentre and the instantaneous radius varies around the orbit.

Because the dark component is more extended, tidal stripping first sends dark matter through both $L_1$ and $L_2$, producing leading and trailing dark-matter tidal tails. The compact stellar component is stripped more deeply and also produces a leading and a trailing stellar tail. The two constituents therefore give four tails distinguished by composition, with the dark tails broader and more extended.

The enclosed masses of the $r^{-1}$ host and truncated satellite areFor a circular orbit, the Jacobi tidal radius isSince $d\log M_h/d\log r_o=2$, substitution givesand henceThe assumption $A_s\ll A_h$ makes $r_t/r_o\ll 1$, precisely the scale separation required by the local tidal approximation.