Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2002 / iii / Paper 46 / 1

Write the gravitational potential with spherical symmetry as $\Phi (r)$ and let $\mathbf{n}$ be the unit vector normal to a circular orbit, oriented in the direction of its angular velocity. Put $\mathbf{\Omega }=\Omega \mathbf{n}$ and denote the specific angular momentum by $\mathbf{h}=h\mathbf{n}$. Circular force balance and the specific orbital energy giveDifferentiating along the family of circular orbits,A change in orbital orientation contributes $hd\mathbf{n}$ to $d\mathbf{h}$, but $\mathbf{n}\cdot d\mathbf{n}=0$. ConsequentlyThis circular-orbit energy gradient accounts for radial and inclination changes together; spherical symmetry makes the orbital energy independent of the plane.

For either variable-mass particle, $\mathbf{H}=M\mathbf{h}$ and $E=M\epsilon$. Thus $d\mathbf{H}=Md\mathbf{h}+\mathbf{h}dM$, soConservation of mass and conservation of angular momentum impose $d{M}_2=-d{M}_1$, $d{\mathbf{H}}_2=-d{\mathbf{H}}_1$. Adding the two particle contributions provesTo interpret the signs, label the inner orbit 1 and the outer orbit 2. For $f(r)=\epsilon -\Omega h$ the first identity gives $f^{\prime }=-h{\Omega }^{\prime }$. The assumed outward decrease of angular velocity therefore makes $f_1<f_2$, so the mass-exchange part lowers the energy when $d{M}_1>0$: mass is transferred inward. In a coplanar, co-rotating pair, ${\Omega }_1>{\Omega }_2$ and an outward angular momentum transfer has $d{\mathbf{H}}_1=-dH\mathbf{n}$ with $dH>0$. Its contribution is $-({\Omega }_1-{\Omega }_2)dH<0$.

The vector difference also identifies the inclination-reducing exchange. For a fixed small magnitude of admissible angular momentum exchange, its energy contribution is most negative whenby the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality. This gives $d{E}_{\mathrm{angular}}=-s|{\mathbf{\Omega }}_1-{\mathbf{\Omega }}_2{|}^2$. Let $q={\mathbf{n}}_1\cdot {\mathbf{n}}_2=\cos \iota$ and $H_i=|{\mathbf{H}}_i|$, taking fixed particle masses for this exchange. Projecting $d{\mathbf{H}}_i$ perpendicular to its own direction givesThereforeThe downhill exchange reduces the relative orbital inclination. Its inner angular momentum component is ${\mathbf{n}}_1\cdot d{\mathbf{H}}_1=-s({\Omega }_1-{\Omega }_{2}q)<0$; in the aligned limit the outer orbit receives that angular momentum directly. For strongly inclined orbits, part of the exchange instead cancels differently directed angular momenta as the planes align. Together these gradients explain the tendencies toward inward mass transfer, outward angular momentum transport and coplanarity.

Let $M_{\ast }$ be the central mass, so ${\Omega }^2=G{M}_{\ast }/r^3$ and the specific orbital energy is $\epsilon =-G{M}_{\ast }/(2r)$. Define the inward accretion rate $\dot{M}>0$. The rate at which the gas acquires binding energy in moving from $b$ to $a$ isThe vertically integrated viscous heating per unit horizontal area, including the entire column, is $\bar{\nu }\Sigma (r{\Omega }^{\prime }{)}^2$. Since $r{\Omega }^{\prime }=-3\Omega /2$, the dissipated power in the annulus isHere the column integral already includes dissipation associated with both disk faces; adding another factor of two would double-count it. Performing the elementary integrals givesFor the whole disk, take $a=r_{\mathrm{in}}$ and $b\to \infty$. Both expressions giveIf $a\gg r_{\mathrm{in}}$, the bracket $1-\sqrt{r_{\mathrm{in}}/r}$ is uniformly close to one throughout the annulus. Comparing the positive integrals showswith the correction negative. Thus far from the inner edge the viscous dissipation is approximately three times the local binding-energy acquisition.

There is no violation of conservation of energy because the viscous torque in an accretion disk also transports mechanical energy. The outward viscous torque in an accretion disk isand its outward energy flux is $\Omega \mathcal{G}=G{M}_{\ast }\dot{M}[r^{-1}-\sqrt{r_{\mathrm{in}}}{r}^{-3/2}]$. The explicit expressions satisfyEnergy transported from the inner disk supplies the extra dissipation at larger radii. The torque power vanishes at the zero-torque inner boundary condition and tends to zero at infinity, leaving global balance. This is torque transport of energy in a steady accretion disk.