Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2021 / iii / Paper 347 / 1

At distance $r$, isotropic luminosity $L$ produces radiative acceleration $a_{\mathrm{rad}}=\kappa L/(4\pi r^{2}c)$ in material of opacity $\kappa$. In fully ionized hydrogen, one electron supplies a Thomson scattering cross-section ${\sigma }_T$ for approximately one proton mass of material, so $\kappa ={\sigma }_T/m_p$. Balancing radiation against the Newtonian gravitational field of the black hole gives the Eddington luminosityBelow this luminosity gravity can confine optically thin ionized hydrogen; above it, electron scattering alone accelerates the gas outward.

An electron--positron pair has mass $2m_e$ and total scattering cross-section $2{\sigma }_T$, so its opacity is ${\sigma }_T/m_e$. ThereforeThe limit is lower because the radiative force per unit inertial mass is larger in a pair plasma.

For a cloud with arbitrary constant opacity per unit mass,Suppose the luminosity jumps to a constant $L>L_{\mathrm{Edd}}$ while the cloud is at rest at $r_0$. With $\Gamma =L/L_{\mathrm{Edd}}$, its radial acceleration isMultiplication by $\dot{r}$ and integration from $r_0$ to infinity gives conservation of energyThis result assumes that $L$ and $\kappa$ remain constant and that the cloud stays optically thin.

Use cylindrical coordinates $(R,\varphi ,z)$, put $s=(R^2+z^2{)}^{1/2}$, and write the purely azimuthal velocity as $\mathbf{u}=R\Omega {\mathbf{e}}_{\varphi }$. The steady radial, azimuthal, and vertical momentum equations areThus $\nabla p=\rho {\mathbf{g}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$, where the effective gravity in a rotating frame isWhen radiation pressure supplies the pressure support, force balance gives

On the upper conical surface $z=R\tan \alpha$, the tangent and outward normal areBecause a pressure surface is an equipotential surface, ${\mathbf{g}}_{\mathrm{eff}}\cdot \mathbf{t}=0$. Since $s=R/\cos \alpha$, this fixesThe lower face gives the reflected result. One face has area element $dA=2\pi R,dR/\cos \alpha$. Adding both faces and using $F=c|{\mathbf{g}}_{\mathrm{eff}}|/\kappa$ yieldsConsequentlyFor a broad radial range, each logarithmic interval can radiate an Eddington-scale contribution because rotation reduces the surface-normal gravity. The factor $\sin \alpha$ makes a thin wedge faint and lets a geometrically thick funnel expose a larger effective gravity and emitting area.