Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Mar 1983
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1983apj...266..831l&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 266, Mar. 15, 1983, p. 831-840.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
1
Galactic Clusters, Hydrodynamics, Maxwell Bodies, Molecular Relaxation, Stellar Motions, Stellar Systems, Chandrasekhar Equation, Mass Transfer, Maxwell Equation, Relaxation Time, Temperature Gradients
Scientific paper
The definition of the relaxation time of a stellar system in two closely related ways is considered, and the use of the term 'relaxation' by Maxwell (1867) is discussed. Maxwell's theory applies only to gases whose molecules obey an inverse-fifth-power law of interaction. The present investigation is only concerned with two normal modes of relaxation, associated with the mean relative velocity and temperature difference between two interpenetrating streams. The first kind of decay occurs through dynamical friction, and the corresponding decay time as given by the present theory is identical with that calculated by Chandrasekhar (1943). It is shown that for a gas composed of gravitating particles, equations of the form considered by Maxwell can be obtained by restricting the form of the velocity distribution.
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