For the Newtonian gravitational potential , the weak static metric tensor has . The Newtonian limit derived above consequently givesMatching the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity, , fixesHere is the gravitational constant and is the speed of light. This negative coupling agrees with the source formula sheet. The familiar positive coupling uses the opposite curvature sign convention for the Ricci tensor; the physical Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity is the same.
In the periodic cube, , so . The supplied action-angle variables are canonical: . For ,Consequently c becomesFor each nonzero wavenumber, the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity givesSubstitute the preceding response and add the externally imposed Newtonian gravitational potential:ThereforeThis gravitational dielectric function has the opposite susceptibility sign to the electron dielectric function, reflecting attractive rather than repulsive collective interactions. The homogeneous mean field is explicitly subtracted in this fictitious periodic model: the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity acts on density fluctuations, and the mode is omitted. Otherwise a nonzero uniform positive mass density would be incompatible with a periodic potential. This is the convention often called the Jeans swindle.
For analytic continuation, resolve velocity parallel to : let and . ThenStart at and deform the Landau contour continuously below the moving pole. At real , the integral isFor , this causal continuation equals the undeformed real-axis integral plus wherever has the necessary analytic extension. It must not be replaced by the undeformed integral alone.
Zeros of are self-consistent collective Landau modes: with no external forcing, a nonzero Newtonian gravitational potential is possible at such a root. For time dependence , upper-half-plane roots grow, lower-half-plane roots describe Landau damping, and real roots are neutral. Damped Landau modes are poles of the continued response; they need not be regular discrete eigenfunctions of the original collisionless operator.
Regularity qualification. Continuation throughout the complex plane presupposes suitable analytic . Arbitrary smooth need not allow it. For example, for and zero elsewhere is smooth but not analytic at ; its Cauchy integral cannot be holomorphically continued across those endpoints. The Landau contour gives the standard causal continuation on the domains where the equilibrium permits it, with possible singularities retained.
Represent the perturber by the periodic Dirac delta function at . With spatial Fourier series coefficient normalized by , its nonzero density coefficients areThe mean density is subtracted as in d. The Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity givesThe perturbation is zero before switch-on. For , its Laplace transform isHenceThe switch-on creates a forcing pole at the real frequency , approached causally from the original upper inversion contour.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2001 iii Paper 35 1 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Write , let be the scale factor, the Hubble parameter, and the asymptotic expansion rate for the positive cosmological constant. The continuity equation for a homogeneous Hubble flow gives . Isotropy and the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity give a relative acceleration proportional to displacement from any chosen origin:This uses the local relative gravitational acceleration, rather than trying to sum an absolutely convergent potential over an infinite universe. A fluid element with constant comoving coordinate has . The spatially uniform pressure has no gradient, so the Euler equations for an inviscid fluid giveMultiply by and integrate. With , the resulting first integral isFor an expanding branch that reaches arbitrarily large , ; more precisely, and the correction to is integrable. Therefore . Positive alone does not make every initially expanding branch escape: sufficiently large positive can give a turning point or a limiting static radius. Under the stated vacuum-dominance inequalities at , however, and remain small compared with for the future expanding branch, and is the required approximation.
To derive the linear cosmological density perturbation equation, write and , where is the peculiar velocity. At fixed , the linearized continuity equation, Euler equations for an inviscid fluid and perturbation Poisson equation areTaking a divergence of the second equation and differentiating the first eliminates the peculiar velocity. For a Fourier mode of comoving wavenumber , this givesThe adiabatic sound speed for the four-thirds polytropic equation of state is , hence . Both the restoring pressure term and the gravitational term are proportional to . Thus, in the exponential approximation,The sign of is the Jeans instability distinction, but exponential expansion makes the total subsequent amplification finite.
Remove Hubble friction by setting . The standard-form equation isWhere and , the WKB approximation givesWhere , put ; away from a turning point the corresponding WKB approximation isFor , never vanishes. The exponential integral can be evaluated explicitly:Differentiate this expression, using , to verify it. Early on, if coefficients change little over the interval considered, the two local exponents for are : one increases and one decreases. At late times and the displayed integral is . The nominally growing WKB approximation branch of therefore becomes a constant branch of , while the other branch decays like . The WKB approximation is not automatically accurate at all intermediate times; its stated derivative criterion must be checked.
For , the early frozen-coefficient exponents are . There are damped oscillations if , a repeated-root solution at equality, and two real decaying local branches if . In the oscillatory case vanishes at : the ordinary WKB approximation breaks down there, and a turning-point connection is needed. After that transition the solutions again approach a constant or decay. A positive pressure-minus-gravity restoring term does not imply indefinitely continuing oscillation; its physical frequency is redshifted away.
The limiting conclusion does not depend on the accuracy of WKB approximation. With , the equation for isFor its basis is , the Bessel functions of the first kind and Bessel functions of the second kind. For use , the Modified Bessel functions of the first kind and modified Bessel functions of the second kind. Their small- branches are proportional to and . Multiplication by gives the decaying and constant branches respectively. At the exact solution is . Thus Bessel density modes during exponential expansion proveThe same conclusion holds in the full four-thirds perturbation equation on an exponentially escaping background: . Its integrated equation has an absolutely integrable Volterra kernel, bounded by a constant times . The Gronwall inequality first bounds ; then is integrable and is integrable. A finite limiting amplitude follows without setting exactly constant. This argument requires positive and the escaping branch; it is not a claim about or recollapse.
The requested strict increase of that limit needs an initial-velocity qualification. For ,If and , this identity prevents a first loss of positivity and makes the amplitude strictly increase for . Integrating it twice givesThis is monotone Jeans growth with positive cosmological constant. Without the extra initial condition the printed assertion is false: is positive at and tends to zero. An arbitrarily small multiple remains an infinitesimal linear cosmological density perturbation, so linearity does not remove the counterexample.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2001 iii Paper 40 2 ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
For the spherical Abel deprojection, put and . Then and . Consequently the integral appearing in the reconstruction of isDifferentiate before substituting the numerical value of :For the projected second stellar velocity moment, . The identical substitution in isotropic stellar pressure deprojection givesFor completeness, setting yields , where is the Euler beta function. The Gamma function recurrence gives and . This also checks the normalization of the power-law spherical projection kernel.
The radial Jeans equation is . Since , division by the tracer number density givesWriting , the total gravitational acceleration is thereforeTo find all gravitating mass density, apply the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity, with the same sign convention:Equivalently, the enclosed mass is , and . The inferred total mass is and its relative potential is , a Plummer model. The tracer number density has a different radial exponent from this total mass density. One must not multiply by an arbitrary stellar mass and identify it with all matter: the inferred field can include unobserved stars, gas, and dark matter.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2001 iii Paper 40 3 i Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Use gravitational acceleration . Through the plane with upward unit normal, the signed gravitational flux per unit area of the point mass isThus its downward flux magnitude is . Subtracting a constant from the gravitational potential does not change this flux.
The Kuzmin reflection method gives the even relative potential . It is harmonic above and below the plane because the corresponding point masses lie outside the respective half-spaces. At the plane the derivative jump isIntegrating the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity through a thin layer, with the Dirac delta, equates this jump to . ThereforeThis is a Kuzmin disk. As a check, its total mass is .
Replace the point mass by and superpose the Kuzmin disks. Linearity of the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity gives, whenever the force integral converges,Both choices of potential reference give this same surface density. If the unreferenced potential diverges, perform the reference subtraction in each component before taking the integral limit; the force and the surface density may still be finite.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 iii Paper 44 3 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Integrate the reduced vertical phase-space distribution function over . The Gaussian velocity integral cancels its normalization, givingHere the constant vertical velocity dispersion is , and fixes the potential reference. Neglecting the radial derivatives in the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity leavesWith , and , this becomesThus the stated dimensionless equation follows with its factor of two.
For a direct solution, multiply by and integrate from the midplane. The initial conditions giveFor take the increasing branch and put . Then , whose smoothly increasing solution consistent with the second-order equation is . Reflection about the midplane supplies the negative- branch. ThereforeSubstitution verifies and both boundary conditions. The smooth second-order equation has a unique solution for those initial data, so no extra constant branch from the first-integral square root is admissible.
This is the self-gravitating isothermal slab. Its scale convention matters: if its profile is instead written , then . Its surface density is . The force approaches , consistent with the field of a plane sheet. These checks fix both the scale-height and Poisson factors.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 iii Paper 62 2 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Write for the one-dimensional thermal velocity dispersion of an isotropic monatomic ideal gas. An isothermal process keeps fixed, and the vertical pressure is . Hydrostatic equilibrium in the Newtonian gravitational potential givesPlanar symmetry reduces the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity to . Combining the two equations yieldsThe velocity factor here is a velocity second moment, not the square of a particular particle's instantaneous vertical velocity.
Set and try the symmetric self-gravitating isothermal slab profile . Its logarithmic derivatives areThe chosen makes the second expression satisfy the required equation. The central conditions and fix the smooth even solution uniquely. In the scale-height convention used here,The undefined constant printed as in the scale-height denominator must be ; this follows both from substitution and dimensions.
Integrating hydrostatic equilibrium, with the additive potential constant chosen so that , givesThe orbits in a self-gravitating isothermal slab separate into horizontal and vertical motions. There is no horizontal force, so and , with constant horizontal velocities. For collisionless test particles, or between gas collisions, conservation of energy fixes the vertical energyEvery finite has two turning points , whereThus the general orbit drifts uniformly in the plane while oscillating periodically across it. A particle with stays in the midplane; an orbit with nonzero horizontal velocity is generally not closed.
Near the plane, , so the vertical motion is a harmonic oscillator with . Far from the plane, and the force tends to a constant magnitude. Indeed the surface density is , and that magnitude is . Large-amplitude vertical motion is therefore approximately uniformly accelerated on each side, rather than sinusoidal. Because this ideal slab extends infinitely in the horizontal directions and its potential grows without bound as , no finite-energy particle escapes vertically.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 iii Paper 64 1 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Write . A fluid element in the homologous spherical flow obeys , so remains constant. Also . Along every element, the continuity equation therefore gives . Every element starts with the same mass density, and hence has the same mass density at subsequent times:This proves preservation of uniformity, rather than assuming it when conserving the total mass.
By the shell theorem, only the mass interior to radius contributes to its gravitational acceleration. That mass is . The same result follows directly from the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity: spherical symmetry gives , and regularity at the centre sets the integration constant to zero. Hence andThe material derivative of the background velocity is . There is no pressure force, and the momentum equation consequently reduces toMultiplication by and integration, using collapse from rest, givesChoose the negative square root for contraction. Put and . For , the energy integral then gives , while . Their ratio isIntegrating from the initial turning point proves the cycloid parametrization of pressureless homologous spherical collapse:It covers the entire contracting branch, with complete collapse at and . At the uniform dust configuration is singular, so the smooth calculation is restricted to .
Each Fourier mode among the comoving perturbations of a homologously collapsing cloud has its phase fixed on each fluid element. In fact, for ,Its physical wavelength contracts in proportion to , while its wavelength in the comoving coordinate stays fixed. This is the physical reason to use a time-dependent wavenumber; holding the physical wavenumber fixed would not follow the contracting pattern. Boundary effects are being excluded in this bulk Fourier mode calculation.
Let and let the perturbed velocity and Newtonian gravitational potential have amplitudes and . Linearizing the continuity equation, the uniform background eliminates . The advected phase eliminates its own time derivative, leavingFor the density contrast , use to obtain . The linear momentum equation and Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity areDifferentiating the density contrast equation must include :Thus the compressive Fourier mode with satisfiesThe pressureless approximation removes the usual acoustic restoring term of Jeans instability. A transverse velocity perturbation instead obeys and does not drive this density contrast.
Since , the density contrast equation becomesFor a direct verification, put . As , the first-derivative terms cancel, reducing the equation toThe function has second derivative and satisfies this equation. Transforming back gives the required growing branch:To establish what the other solution does, use reduction of order, not just the growth of this example. The coefficient of is , so an independent solution is proportional to . Choose the integration endpoint at complete collapse to select the decaying branch:For example, evaluating the integral with gives integrand and antiderivative . Its endpoint value gives the displayed expression. Its Wronskian with is , so the two solutions are independent on .
For , , and the integral in is . Consequently the two density modes of a collapsing pressureless sphere haveEquivalently, with , the local powers are and . There is one independent growing branch: every solution is , and only the branch with decays at collapse. The uniqueness is up to normalization and addition of the decaying solution; it does not mean that only one literal function can grow. A fixed nonzero initial perturbation will eventually violate , so the divergent linear result is not a nonlinear solution through collapse.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2004 iii Paper 66 1 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The separated disk modes. Away from the plane of a razor-thin disk, there is no volume source, so the Newtonian gravitational potential obeys the Laplace equation in cylindrical coordinates. Separation of variables givesHere is a radial wavenumber, with units of inverse length. Regularity on the axis selects the Bessel function of the first kind rather than the singular second solution. Decay away from the disk, continuity across it and reflection symmetry select . These conditions apply to each nonzero-wavenumber mode; a uniform sheet is a separate zero-mode problem.
Integrate the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity across the disk to obtain the jump conditionFor the unit-amplitude separated mode, the jump is . ThusAn individual basis density is signed; positive physical surface densities are built by superposition.
An arbitrary axisymmetric surface density. Define its order-zero Hankel transform byMatching the coefficients of the mode densities gives the Hankel representation of thin-disk gravity,The boundary conditions exclude added external fields. For sufficiently decaying surface density, this is the isolated-disk potential; for infinite scale-free disks, only potential differences or regularized forces need be finite.
The Mestel disk. Put . The Bessel function integral , understood with a decaying regulator, gives . Differentiate the potential before removing the regulator and use :The last integral is , since . Therefore the circular speed and enclosed mass areConsequently . This equality follows from the specific Mestel disk calculation; the spherical shell theorem cannot be applied to general disks. Its total mass and absolute potential referenced to infinity diverge. A convenient finite midplane reference is .
The rotating distribution function. Use specific energy and . For the printed positive exponential, take and ; has units of squared velocity. If instead means ordinary total energy and , the velocity integral diverges, so that literal convention cannot define the requested galactic distribution function. Equivalently one can retain ordinary energy and choose the printed negative.
With the binding-energy convention, write the amplitude as to distinguish it from the function:Integration over both radial velocities and positive azimuthal velocities givesThe half-line integral follows by setting in the defining Gamma function integral and requires . Matching its radial power and normalization to the Mestel disk yields the rotating Mestel disk distribution function parametersSince , the required integrability condition is automatic. The amplitude uses the stated potential reference; changing the additive potential constant changes without changing the physical distribution.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2004 iii Paper 66 4 ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Use for the mass parameter throughout; the PDF uses in its formulas and in the subsequent prose for the same quantity. Set . The Jaffe model density simplifies toIts enclosed mass isIt tends to as , verifying the total mass. It tends to zero at the center, so the cusp carries no extra point mass.
Spherical symmetry gives . Integrating with givesThis also directly satisfies the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity: differentiating gives . The circular speed isFor , is approximately constant. For , . Thus the finite-mass model has an inner nearly flat galaxy rotation curve and an outer Keplerian decline.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 iii Paper 71 4 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Set . The axisymmetric Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity integrates to . Regularity on the axis fixes the integration constant, so . Radial force balance in the rotating fluid givesWith the stated central pressure, , this is a perfect square:The free surface lies at the first zero of pressure. For the source's positive rotation parameter, ; allowing either rotation direction requires in the denominator. The inward effective gravity is , so . In particular . This is the critically rotating self-gravitating cylinder.
For a normal mode proportional to , the background material derivative becomes , where . Linearizing the centrifugal term gives in the radial equation. In the azimuthal equation the background velocity gradient and cylindrical geometric term together give . Since the interior mass density is constant, write . The two momentum equations and incompressible flow condition are consequentlyFor , the last two equations express the other amplitudes in terms of :Differentiate the second expression using and , then substitute into the radial momentum equation. Before any division by , the result isAway from corotation this gives the required ordinary differential equationAt corotation the original coupled equations, or the undivided equation, must be used. A regular axisymmetric radial velocity would vanish by the incompressible flow condition; the requested dipolar calculation has .
For , use the amplitude normalization , which remains useful when tends to zero. Substitution into the undivided equation gives zero identically. For nonzero this is the source's after choosing . The other amplitudes areThese formulas also satisfy the three original equations directly. By the regularity assumption in the question, this is the interior velocity family to which the free surface conditions must be applied.
The gravitational potential of a displaced cylindrical interface supplies an essential part of those conditions. For surface fluid displacement , the bulk mass density perturbation vanishes but the displaced mass density step contributes . The interior and exterior gravitational potential amplitudes solve Laplace's equation, are proportional to and for , and are continuous at the surface. Integrating the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity across the mass density step givesSince the two radial derivatives at the surface are and , respectively,It would be incorrect to set the entire potential perturbation to zero merely because the bulk mass density is unchanged.
Let , so . Zero fluid Lagrangian perturbation of surface pressure gives , hence . The surface momentum potential and kinematic condition for are thereforeIf , the kinematic condition fixes . The same value follows if the radial fluid Lagrangian displacement is required to extend continuously to the free surface, including a possible surface-corotation limit. Comparing the gravitational condition with the interior value of then givesfor a nontrivial perturbation. These dipolar perturbations of a critically rotating cylinder describe a displacement of the whole cylinder's axis. Translating an isolated self-gravitating system gives another equilibrium, so there is no external restoring force and the translation is neutral. A uniform drift of the centre also follows from invariance under a Galilean transformation, explaining the double zero of the frequency equation. The singular in the originally chosen velocity normalization does not obstruct the finite-amplitude limiting solution.
There is an admissibility qualification to the frequency conclusion as printed. Regular interior fluid Eulerian perturbation of velocity alone does not justify cancelling the surface factor . Eliminating without that cancellation instead givesThe additional surface-corotation case formally satisfies every displayed velocity equation and the usual linearized surface conditions withHere , and the velocity is finite on the axis. However, its interior radial fluid Lagrangian displacement tends to , whereas the undisplaced surface has . Thus a regular single-frequency fluid Lagrangian displacement continuous up to the surface excludes this degenerate branch. The intended conclusion holds with that regular-displacement condition, or with surface corotation excluded; the printed velocity regularity assumption by itself leaves this formal exception.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 iii Paper 72 1 1 Solution 2026-10-14
The Gaussian integral over the full vertical velocity line is . Thus the mass density of the self-gravitating isothermal slab isNeglecting radial derivatives makes the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity . Substituting and , with , givesMultiply by and integrate. The central value and symmetry under fix the constant of integration:On the positive- side, Newtonian gravity makes . Put ; then with . Integration gives , 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 , and the conventional slab scale height is ; the factor of two is only a definition of the length scale.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 iii Paper 72 1 2 Solution 2026-10-14
Use the relative potential and integrate the stated, untruncated Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution over . 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 , with . Differentiating the density relation yieldsAn ideal gas with constant temperature has . 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, and obey with 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 , where , 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 here is the error function. Finally, the half-line Gaussian integral printed in the note lacks a factor: the correct value is .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 iii Paper 72 1 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
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.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 73 4 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
First consider a genuinely one-dimensional, time-independent collisionless stellar system with Hamiltonian . Choose . For bound vertical oscillations, a phase-mixed population has equal occupations of the upward and downward branches of each orbit. By Jeans theorem, its stationary distribution is a function of the conserved vertical energy, . Equivalently, the one-dimensional Collisionless Boltzmann equation makes constant along the energy curves. Branch-dependent incoming and outgoing populations or time-dependent waves would not satisfy this assumption.
Integrate both signs of and change variable to :The density is thus an Abel transform of the vertical-energy distribution. To invert it without simply quoting an inversion rule, apply a second integral and exchange its order:The inner integral is , as follows by setting . Writing before differentiating avoids an artificial infinite endpoint term. Under sufficient differentiability and decay,The vertical-energy Abel inversion of a stellar distribution is thereforeThis proves the normalization, including the factor from the two velocity signs. The additive origin of merely changes the origin of energy.
For this expression to define a physical phase-space distribution function, must be expressible as a single-valued function of , the integrals and differentiated integral must converge, and the resulting must be nonnegative. Reflection symmetry and a potential increasing with provide the usual single-valued relation on either side of the disk. A sufficiently smooth decreasing is a sufficient condition for nonnegativity; it is not asserted to be necessary for every positive energy distribution. If there is a finite escape energy, replace the infinite limits by that energy and impose the appropriate cutoff and boundary conditions. The displayed infinite-limit formula presumes either a confining potential or a distribution extended by zero above its allowed energy, with no omitted boundary population.
A three-dimensional galactic disk does not automatically meet these hypotheses. Exact separation makes an integral of motion. If the full galactic distribution function factorizes into an in-plane factor and a vertical factor , integrating the in-plane velocities gives the required one-dimensional distribution after its normalization is absorbed into . More generally the vertical marginal must depend only on in the sample being analysed. Near the solar radius, approximate separation can be useful when the sampled heights and radial excursions are small relative to the scales over which the vertical force changes with . If only a slowly varying vertical action is conserved, replacing it by one fixed requires an additional controlled local approximation.
The population must be sufficiently stationary and phase mixed, with negligible mean vertical flow, and the data must measure a well-defined tracer population with a known selection function. Radial coupling and the tilted velocity ellipsoid must be negligible or modelled. In the full vertical Jeans equation, that coupling is ; it cannot generally be discarded merely because a mixed moment vanishes at the midplane. The tracer number density is not the mass density producing the potential.
To infer the local mass, measure the tracer density as a function of height and its vertical velocity distribution near the midplane. With , the latter directly samples . Insert that measured distribution into the forward integral for , and match it to the observed to infer . Equivalently, for trial potentials compute away from the plane, apply the inversion, and require agreement with the measured velocities. Density data alone do not determine both an unknown potential and an unknown energy distribution.
Once the vertical force is known, use the full axisymmetric Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity, rather than identifying every vertical derivative with density in isolation:At the midplane, , soIn terms of the circular-orbit Oort constants, and , the radial term equals . It vanishes for a locally flat rotation curve, not for an arbitrary rotating disk. An integrated version gives the dynamical surface density from vertical stellar motions:Here the actual vertical acceleration is . The sign of the radial correction follows directly from the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity.
For an illustrative isothermal tracer with constant vertical velocity dispersion , takeThe velocity integral gives , hence . For a locally flat rotation curve this yieldsThis example shows explicitly how a measured tracer scale and velocity scale constrain the gravitating density; using the tracer's own density as the mass source would instead impose an unjustified self-gravitating model.
The inferred density includes luminous and faint stars, gas and dark matter. Comparing it with an independently estimated baryonic census tests for extra gravitating mass. An excess need not be a dark disk: a dark matter halo also contributes to the local force. Conversely, agreement with the baryonic density locally does not exclude a halo at other radii or heights. Vertical disequilibrium, radial mixing, errors in selection or tracer populations, and neglected velocity tilt can mimic a mass discrepancy, so the one-dimensional equilibrium assumptions must be tested when interpreting such an inference.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 iii Paper 65 4 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Let denote the midplane mass density and choose the symmetry plane at . Isothermal hydrostatic equilibrium and the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity giveso . For , direct differentiation yieldsThus the profile is a self-gravitating isothermal slab when . Integrating over both sides gives , henceThe corresponding potential is , whose gradient vanishes at the midplane and tends to far from the slab. The profile parameter is not its asymptotic exponential mass density scale height: that is .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 iii Paper 65 4 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
To distinguish Eulerian and Lagrangian fluid perturbations, use for the fluid displacement, for the Eulerian potential perturbation, and for the Eulerian mass density perturbation. The equilibrium mass density is the profile from part (a); subscript below denotes differentiation. Linearized mass conservation and the isothermal equation of state giveThe velocity perturbation is . Linearized momentum initially has the formSince , the pressure and perturbed mass density gravity terms combine into . Define . The closed linearized system isThe component is a neutral transverse sector; it vanishes for nonzero-frequency modes.
To prove reality rather than assume it, multiply momentum by and integrate over . With , integration by parts and the conjugate continuity equation giveUsing the conjugate Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity in the last integral givesTake disturbances with finite , finite pressure and gravitational integrals, and vanishing pressure work and gravitational boundary terms. For , require the potential to decay at both infinities and the fluid displacement to make as well. In a source-free outer region the decaying potential is proportional to . The isothermal displacement energy of a self-gravitating slab then givesSince is strictly positive for a nonzero displacement, is real. Positive values describe oscillations; negative values give pure growth and decay. The result is the energy identity for the pressure-gravity displacement operator, a self-adjoint operator in the mass density-weighted inner product. The identity excludes an oscillatory growing eigenmode under these boundary conditions. At the same identity applies when its boundary terms vanish and its integrals remain finite, with the gravitational integral involving only .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 iii Paper 65 4 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Consider the nontrivial gravitational mode with . At , horizontal momentum requires , hence andSubstituting into the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity and using givesSet and . Since , this becomes the associated Legendre equation of degree one and order :
To verify the two explicit solutions, put and . They arebecause . Differentiating twice giveswhich cancels identically against . Reflection proves the same for . Their Wronskian is , evaluated at ; thus they are generally independent but coincide or become dependent at the exceptional orders .
Use to analyze decay, which is unaffected by the sign of . The solution decaying at is proportional to . At its leading term is , so it also decays there only if . At this valueTherefore the marginal fragmentation mode of an isothermal slab hasAt the second independent solution obtained by reduction of order grows at infinity, so the coincidence of the two explicit formulas does not supply an extra admissible mode. At a uniform vertical translation gives another neutral disturbance, and mass-preserving relabeling displacements can have . Neither is the nonzero-wavenumber fragmentation threshold just calculated.
The unstable fragmentation modes have wavelengths greater than . Gas-pressure support becomes less effective relative to self-gravity at long wavelength. The side of the threshold can also be checked from the energy identity: at the marginal mass density disturbance has zero quadratic energy. Keep that mass density disturbance and decrease ; the pressure integral stays fixed, while the gravitational term becomes more negative because the positive inverse operator increases as decreases. Thus the quadratic energy becomes negative, giving an unstable mode on the longer-wavelength side. This argument concerns the gravitational sector and its stated decay conditions.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 iii Paper 69 1 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
An integral of motion is a function of phase space that is constant along a trajectory. Put , so the stellar acceleration is . In a time-independent spherical Newtonian gravitational potential,The second equality uses the radial direction of . Thus both the binding energy and the full specific angular momentum vector are integrals of motion.
The Collisionless Boltzmann equation isFor a stationary galactic distribution function, this says on every characteristic, so is constant on each stellar orbit. Locally choose a complete set of orbit labels , themselves integrals of motion; constancy along the characteristic means . Conversely, for any such differentiable , the chain rule gives . This proves Jeans theorem in its orbit-invariance form. It does not claim that just two particular integrals classify every orbit in an arbitrary potential. For the specified spherical model, is a rotationally invariant stationary choice.
For the velocity integration, write , , , and set . At fixed position the velocity-dependent factor isUse and integrate over . The mass density isSince ,These integrals use the stated untruncated galactic distribution function over all velocities; an additional escape-energy cutoff would change the result.
In local orthogonal velocity components the same exponent is . Each component is a centred Gaussian distribution. The one-dimensional identity yieldsIn particular the velocity-anisotropy parameter is . This is Gaussian angular-momentum suppression in a stellar distribution.
The radial laws also require self-consistency through the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity:For , outside a sufficiently small core, the model is almost isotropic and isothermal. Seek its scale-free envelope with . Its distribution-density relation gives , and the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity gives . Thus the intended intermediate singular isothermal sphere behaviour iswhere a core scale is .
The stated law cannot be the actual central limit of a regular finite-density model. For finite and , regularity and the Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity instead giveand . A broad intermediate region exists only if ; the radius alone does not ensure it.
For the outer radially anisotropic isothermal halo asymptotics, put , and . At the density relation and Poisson equation becomeThe slow outer balance is , so , giving . Its consistency check is , for which . ThereforeThe reference radius changes only subleading logarithmic terms. The circular speed falls as , rather than remaining exactly flat.
Physically, the model has an almost isotropic central region and, if the scales separate, a flat-rotation isothermal envelope. Beyond , suppression of large specific angular momentum leaves predominantly radial orbits: radial velocity dispersion remains , while transverse dispersion falls as . The outer density acquires a logarithmic suppression and the galaxy rotation curve declines slowly. The enclosed mass still grows approximately as , so this untruncated model has infinite total mass.
