Define the unperturbed orbital angular frequency vector byIt is the rate of advance of the angle variables along the unperturbed Hamiltonian flow; the action variables are constant. Expand the Collisionless Boltzmann equation to first order in the perturbations. Since and depend only on the action variables, , andThe omitted Poisson bracket is quadratic in the perturbations. Use the Fourier series conventionFor each harmonic the linear ordinary differential equation isMultiplication by the integrating factor and use of give the causal linear response in action-angle variables:The zero harmonic stays zero at this order. This formula retains the entire forcing history; replacing it immediately by a resonant Dirac delta function would discard the transient response.
Write , , and let the detuning from the rotating perturbation beSubstitute into the linear response in action-angle variables, then set :At exact resonance the last quotient is interpreted by its continuous limit . Inserting this response in c givesPair with . Because , , and , the imaginary cosine terms cancel. The finite-time torque isThis is a leading, second-order response in the perturbation amplitude.
For the long-time limit, assume a continuum of occupied action variables, sufficiently smooth integrable weights, convergent harmonic sums, and regular resonance surfaces wherever a contributing surface intersects the distribution. Assume also that the perturbation is weak enough to neglect nonlinear trapping and secular changes in , and that the prescribed stellar bar pattern and its coefficients stay fixed. Then phase mixing removes nonresonant transients in the integrated response. The relevant long-time resonance kernel is the distributional convergenceIt is not a pointwise limit: at the kernel equals . To justify its use under the integral over action variables, resolve the integral into detuning surfaces; the coarea formula givesSmoothness and decay of this surface weight reduce the limit to the one-dimensional long-time resonance kernel. Equivalently, a causal convergence factor gives as .
Therefore the resonant torque from a rotating perturbation isOnly orbital resonances contribute to this steady integrated torque. The limit is a formal weak-perturbation limit, or an intermediate-time approximation after phase mixing but before substantial secular redistribution. It does not prove an unchanged halo can absorb angular momentum at this rate forever. A discrete set of orbital frequencies, singular resonance surfaces, or strong trapping can invalidate the stated steady limit.
Resonant torque from a rotating perturbation 2026-10-25
The leading second-order specific torque on a collisionless distribution from a weak steadily rotating perturbation with and . The sum includes conjugate harmonics. Linear response in action-angle variables gives the finite-time kernel ; its integrated long-time resonance kernel selects orbital resonances. This limit assumes a smooth continuum, regular resonant surfaces and negligible secular redistribution during the response calculation.