Physics – Condensed Matter – Statistical Mechanics
Scientific paper
Dec 1976
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1976ap%26ss..45..287s&link_type=abstract
Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 45, Dec. 1976, p. 287-302. Research supported by the Welch Foundation.
Physics
Condensed Matter
Statistical Mechanics
11
Astronomical Models, Gravitational Effects, Kinetic Theory, Stellar Motions, Two Body Problem, Approximation, Distribution Functions, Fokker-Planck Equation, Particle Interactions, Statistical Mechanics
Scientific paper
Chandrasekhar's (1942) kinetic theory of binary encounters in an infinite homogeneous gravitational system is extended to a finite isolated nonrotating stable inhomogeneous system of gravitating point particles. Proceeding from a systematic approximation based on the BBGKY hierarchy of equations for the reduced distribution functions, a description of encounters is obtained which corresponds to two-particle scattering in a strong quasi-steady mean field. A proximate-encounter approximation is formulated so that the mean field can be considered as uniform, and a collision integral is found whose form does not depend on field effects but retains nonlocal effects associated with the system's inhomogeneity. A kinetic equation is derived which contains corrective terms allowing for delocalization of the encountering particles. It is shown that the classical encounter description based on the standard Fokker-Planck kinetic equation is valid in the limit where log N is much greater than unity (N being the population of the system).
Haggerty M. J.
Severne George
No associations
LandOfFree
Kinetic theory for finite inhomogeneous gravitational systems does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Kinetic theory for finite inhomogeneous gravitational systems, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Kinetic theory for finite inhomogeneous gravitational systems will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1048343