Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / iii / Paper 54 / 2 / c / Solution

Let $k=|k_x|$, $c_s^2=(dP/d\Sigma {)}_0$ and ${\kappa }^2=2\Omega (2\Omega -S)$. Linearize the barotropic closure of a razor-thin disk and shearing sheet about the given state. Write the radial and azimuthal velocity perturbations as $u$ and $v$. Axisymmetry removes advection by the background shear, givingThe softened potential is ${\Phi }_1=-2\pi G{\Sigma }_1{e}^{-kϵ}/k$. Eliminating the velocity components for the compressive branch gives the softened Toomre dispersion relationThe Coriolis/shear combination supplies the radial epicyclic restoring term, pressure supplies the short-wave term, and self-gravity lowers the squared frequency. The full three-variable determinant also has a stationary axisymmetric geostrophic mode, with $u=0$ and azimuthal flow balancing the pressure-plus-gravity gradient. The displayed relation describes the density-wave pair; eliminating by division by $\omega$ must not silently deny that stationary mode.