Stability theory of the orbit-averaged Boltzmann equation

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (22) References (6) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Stability theory of the orbit-averaged Boltzmann equation Ipser, J. R. ; Kandrup, H. E. Abstract Consideration is given to the relation between the thermal runaway predicted in models of the collisional evolution of stellar systems and the onset of linear instability in equilibrium solutions of the Boltzmann equation obtained by averaging over the stellar orbits. The orbit-averaged Boltzmann equation is obtained by instantaneously averaging, over orbits of fixed energy and angular momentum, the Boltzmann equation in six-dimensional phase space. The linear stability of the equation is analyzed for the case of isothermal equilibrium, and it is found that spherical equilibrium configurations confined in a box become unstable to spherical perturbations of the Boltzmann equation at the critical point for the initiation of the thermal runaway where the Boltzmann entropy ceases to be a local maximum. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: November 1980 DOI: 10.1086/158429 Bibcode: 1980ApJ...241.1141I Keywords: Boltzmann Transport Equation; Dynamic Stability; Stellar Evolution; Stellar Motions; Stellar Systems; Angular Momentum; Equilibrium Equations; Fokker-Planck Equation; Linear Equations; Perturbation Theory; Stellar Orbits; Astrophysics full text sources ADS |