Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2005 / iii / Paper 73 / 1 / i / Solution

The first equation is vertical hydrostatic equilibrium: the upward pressure gradient balances the central mass's vertical gravitational force. For $|z|\ll r$, the point-mass acceleration is $-GMz/(r^2+z^2{)}^{3/2}\simeq -{\Omega }_K^{2}z$, where Keplerian rotation gives ${\Omega }_K^2=GM/r^3$. The disc's self-gravity and vertical inertia are neglected.

The second equation is local thermal balance. The divergence of the vertical radiative flux equals viscous dissipation. In the convention of this alpha disk, $\nu =\alpha p/(\rho \Omega )$, and the dominant Keplerian shear has $rd\Omega /dr=-3\Omega /2$. ThereforeThe radiative flux increases from zero at the symmetric midplane to a positive outgoing value at the upper surface. Radial heat transport, thermal advection and rapid storage of thermal energy are excluded from this local balance.

The third equation is radiative diffusion, equivalentlyIt applies to optically thick material, with $\kappa$ the opacity per unit mass and $\sigma$ the Stefan-Boltzmann constant. Here constant electron-scattering opacity represents Thomson scattering; the formula uses a diffusive, nearly thermal radiation field. Positive upward flux requires temperature to decrease upwards.

The final equation is the ideal gas pressure law, with mean molecular weight ${\mu }_m$ in proton-mass units. Writing $\mathcal{R}=k/({\mu }_m{m}_p)$ gives $p=\mathcal{R}\rho T$. The pressure is gas pressure because radiation pressure is assumed negligible. The four equations express vertical support, local heating balance, diffusive cooling and the gas equation of state.