Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2005 / iii / Paper 72 / 1

Both models obtain their density by integrating a galactic distribution function over velocity. The planar model integrates one vertical velocity, whereas the spherical model integrates all three components. In each case the resulting density must also generate its own gravitational potential through the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity. The two printed numerical subparts are treated separately below.

The Gaussian integral over the full vertical velocity line is $\sqrt{2\pi }{\sigma }_z$. Thus the mass density of the self-gravitating isothermal slab isNeglecting radial derivatives makes the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity ${\Phi }_{zz}=4\pi G\rho (z)$. Substituting $\Phi ={\sigma }_z^2\varphi$ and $z=z_0\zeta$, with $z_0^2={\sigma }_z^2/(8\pi G{\rho }_0)$, givesMultiply by ${\varphi }^{\prime }$ and integrate. The central value and symmetry under $z\mapsto -z$ fix the constant of integration:On the positive-$\zeta$ side, Newtonian gravity makes ${\varphi }^{\prime }\ge 0$. Put $y=e^{\varphi /2}$; then $4(y^{\prime }{)}^2=y^2-1$ with $y(0)=1$. Integration gives $2\mathrm{arcosh}y=\zeta$, and even reflection supplies the other side. ThereforeDirect differentiation verifies both the equation and central conditions. Uniqueness of the smooth initial value problem rules out other branches meeting those conditions. The surface density is $4{\rho }_0{z}_0$, and the conventional slab scale height is $2z_0$; the factor of two is only a definition of the length scale.

Use the relative potential $\Psi ={\Phi }_{\ast }-\Phi$ and integrate the stated, untruncated Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution over ${\mathbb{R}}^3$. The normalization cancels its three Gaussian integrals:The gravitational potential sign reverses under the relative-potential convention, so the spherical Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity isAlso ${\Psi }^{\prime }=-Gm(r)/r^2$, with $m^{\prime }=4\pi r^2\rho$. Differentiating the density relation yieldsAn ideal gas with constant temperature has $P=\rho k_{B}T/m_0$. Its hydrostatic equilibrium equation is precisely the same whenTogether with the same enclosed-mass equation, central density and boundary conditions, this proves the isothermal stellar and gas density equivalence. In dimensionless terms, $y=-[\Psi -\Psi (0)]/{\sigma }^2$ and $x=r\sqrt{4\pi G\rho (0)}/\sigma$ obey $x^{-2}(x^2{y}^{\prime }{)}^{\prime }=e^{-y}$ with $y(0)=y^{\prime }(0)=0$ in both systems.

This calculation uses the distribution as printed for all velocities. Imposing an additional cutoff at positive relative energy changes the integral to ${\rho }_1[e^W\mathrm{erf}\sqrt{W}-2\sqrt{W}/\sqrt{\pi }]$, where $W=\Psi /{\sigma }^2\ge 0$, and no longer gives an exactly isothermal gas profile. An untruncated self-gravitating isothermal sphere also needs an outer modification for finite total mass. The function $\mathrm{erf}$ here is the error function. Finally, the half-line Gaussian integral printed in the note lacks a factor: the correct value is ${\int }_0^{\infty }{e}^{-\alpha x^2}dx=\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{\pi /\alpha }$.