Past exam of the kinetic theory course of the University of Oxford / 2025 / 3 / c / Solution

Let $⟨\cdot ⟩$ denote $(2\pi {)}^{-2}\int d^2\theta$. Average the Collisionless Boltzmann equation to second order. All first-order angle derivatives average to zero, leavingAn angle integration by parts shows thatThus the angle-averaged galactic distribution function obeys an action-space continuity equation,This sign also follows from Hamilton's equations, ${\dot{J}}_i=-{\partial }_{{\theta }_i}\delta \Phi$: the flux is $⟨\delta f{\dot{J}}_i⟩$.

Reality gives $\delta {\varphi }_{-\mathbf{k}}=\delta {\varphi }_{\mathbf{k}}^{\ast }$ and $\delta f_{-\mathbf{k}}=\delta f_{\mathbf{k}}^{\ast }$. Orthogonality of the Fourier series impliesInsert b to obtainAlthough individual terms are complex, pairing $\mathbf{k}$ with $-\mathbf{k}$ makes the flux real.

Now take the marginalization specified by $F_0=2\pi {\int }_0^{\infty }{f}_{0}d{J}_R$. Assume vanishing radial-action flux at $J_R=0$ and $J_R\to \infty$: the first boundary does not permit negative radial action, and the second has no escaping flux in this calculation. ThenwithIf radial-action boundary flux were present, its explicit boundary term would have to be retained.