Constant-anisotropy distribution function 2026-09-28
A spherical constant-anisotropy distribution function hasIts velocity moments have the radius-independent velocity-anisotropy parameter .
Hypervirial distribution function 2026-09-28
The hypervirial model is generated self-consistently by a constant-anisotropy distribution function proportional toIts velocity-anisotropy parameter is .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 iii Paper 320 3 a Solution 2026-09-28
At fixed radius, use spherical coordinates in velocity space with polar angle measured from the radial direction:The galactic distribution function and volume element give angular weightAll dependence on , , and cancels from ratios of second moments. Symmetry in the tangential plane givesWriting the angular integrals as beta function integrals and using the Gamma function recurrence,Therefore, for every admissible energy factor ,Equivalently, the velocity-anisotropy parameter is the constant .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 iii Paper 349 1 Solution 2026-09-28
With the convention in the question, the constant velocity-anisotropy parameter is . Since , the Spherical Jeans equation becomesFor and , its general integrating factor solution isThe homogeneous term represents a boundary pressure. For an extended scale-free system the physical boundary condition normally removes it, leavingPositivity requires . A complete physical model must also have a nonnegative galactic distribution function and sensible inner and outer boundary behaviour; for example, strong radial anisotropy is restricted by density-slope--anisotropy inequalities.
Observationally, the tracer density can be estimated from star counts only after correcting distances, extinction, survey selection, and incompleteness. Spectroscopy supplies mainly line-of-sight velocities; proper motions add transverse information but become less precise for distant halo stars. The equation shows the mass--anisotropy--density degeneracy directly: the same measured can result from a larger , a steeper tracer slope , or a different . Even globally constant power laws therefore do not determine the galactic mass profile unless some of these quantities are independently constrained.
If , , or changes near a break radius, the solution at one radius also depends on the outer boundary integral. A break in observed dispersion may be attributed to a mass-profile feature, a tracer-density break, or a change in orbital anisotropy. Separate tracer populations, full three-dimensional velocities, higher velocity moments, and measurements over a wide radial range help break this degeneracy.
More flexible alternatives model a nonnegative solution of the Collisionless Boltzmann equation itself. An action-based galactic distribution function gives an analytic or parametrized ; a Schwarzschild orbit-superposition model assigns nonnegative weights to an orbit library; and a made-to-measure stellar-dynamical model adjusts particle weights to reproduce observations. These methods retain more phase-space information than Jeans moments, although their flexibility introduces model choices and regularization.