Physics – Condensed Matter – Statistical Mechanics
Scientific paper
Mar 1986
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1986mnras.219..285t&link_type=abstract
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (ISSN 0035-8711), vol. 219, March 15, 1986, p. 285-297.
Physics
Condensed Matter
Statistical Mechanics
157
Boltzmann Transport Equation, Celestial Mechanics, Galaxies, Gravitational Collapse, Entropy, Mixing, Space Density, Stellar Systems, Velocity Distribution
Scientific paper
Methods of statistical mechanics are used to help determine the properties of a galaxy after violent relaxation. The constraints which are placed on the direction of evolution (namely, the relation between initial and final states) by the principle of increase in entropy are asessed. The results, which are independent of the details of the violent relaxation process, are applicable to any dissipation evolution process. It is noted that an equilibrium stellar system can be described as a stationary point of an H-function in the Boltzmann form, if its distribution function in a decreasing function of energy alone. All such H-function increase during violent relaxation, and the distribution function becomes more mixed. A criterion is provided for determining whether a given distribution fucntion is more mixed than another. This criterion demonstrates that a violently relaxed galaxy resembles observed elliptical galaxies only if the initial state is cold or clumpy.
Hénon Michel
Lynden-Bell Donald
Tremaine Scott
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