The Virial Theorem

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Virial Theorem AY202a Galaxies & Dynamics Lecture 7: Jeans’ Law, Virial Theorem Structure of E Galaxies Jean’s Law Star/Galaxy Formation is most simply defined as the process of going from hydrostatic equilibrium to gravitational collapse. There are a host of complicating factors --- left for a graduate course: Rotation Cooling Magnetic Fields Fragmentation …………… The Simple Model Mc Assume a spherical, isothermal gas cloud that starts near Rc hydrostatic ρo Rc equlibrium: T 2K + U = 0 c (constant density) Spherical Gas Cloud Rc U = ∫ -4πG M(r) ρ(r) r dr 0 3 GM 2 ~ − c Potential 5 R c Energy Mc = Cloud Mass Rc = Cloud Radius Mc ρ = constant density = 0 3 4/3 π Rc The Kinetic Energy, K, is just K = 3/2 N k T where N is the total number of particles, N = MC /(µ mH) where µ is the mean molecular weight and mH is the mass of Hydrogen The condition for collapse from the Virial theorem (more later) is 2 K < |U| So collapse occurs if 2 3 MC kT 3G MC < µ mH 5 RC and substituting for the cloud radius, 1/3 3 MC RC = ( ) 4πρ0 We can find the critical mass for collapse: 5 k T 3/2 3 1/2 MC > MJ ~ ( ) ( ) G µ mH 4 πρ0 If the cloud’s mass is greater than MJ it will collapse. Similarly, we can define a critical radius, RJ, such that if a cloud is larger than that radius it will collapse: 15 k T 1/2 RC > RJ ~ ( ) 4 π G µ mH ρ0 and note that these are of course for ideal conditions. Rotation, B, etc. count. Mass Estimators: The simplest case = zero energy bound orbit. Test particle in orbit, mass m, velocity v, radius R, around a body of mass M E = K + U = 1/2 mv2 - GmM/R = 0 1/2 mv2 = GmM/R M = 1/2 v2 R /G This formula gets modified for other orbits (i.e. not zero energy) e.g. for circular orbits 2K + U = 0 so M = v2 R /G What about complex systems of particles? The Virial Theorem Consider a moment of inertia for a system of N particles and its derivatives: N I = ½ Σ m r . r (moment of inertia) i=1 i i i . I = dI/dt = Σ mi ri ri .. .. 2 2 . I = d I/dt = Σ mi (ri ri + ri ri ) Assume that the N particles have mi and ri and are self gravitating --- their mass forms the overall potential. We ..can use the equation of motion to elimiate ri : .. Gmimj miri = −Σ 3 ( ri - rj ) j = i |ri –rj| and note that . Σ miri ri = 2T (twice the Kinetic Energy) Then we can write (after substitution) .. Gm m i j . I – 2T = − Σ Σ 3 ri (ri – rj) i j=i |ri - rj| Gmi mj . reversing = − Σ Σ 3 rj (rj – ri) labels j i=j |rj - ri| Gmi mj . = − ½ Σ Σ 3 (ri - rj) (ri – rj) adding i j=i |ri - rj| Gmi mj = − ½ Σ Σ = U the potential energy |ri - rj| .. I = 2T + U If we have a relaxed (or statistically steady) system which is.. not changing shape or size, d2I/dt2 = I = 0 2T + U = 0; U = -2T; E = T+U = ½ U conversely, for a slowly changing or periodic system 2 <T> + <U> = 0 Virial Equilibrium Virial Mass Estimator We use the Virial Theorem to estimate masses of astrophysical systems (e.g. Zwicky and Smith and the discovery of Dark Matter) Go back to: N N 2 1 Σ mi<vi > = ΣΣ Gmimj < > i=1 i=1 j<i |ri – rj| where < > denotes the time average, and we have N point masses of mass mi, position ri and velocity vi Assume the system is spherical. The observables are (1) the l.o.s. time average velocity: 2 2 < v R,i> Ω = 1/3 vi projected radial v averaged over solid angle i.e. we only see the radial component of motion & vi ~ √3 vr Ditto for position, we see projected radii R, R = θ d , d = distance, θ = angular separation So taking the average projection, 1 1 1 = < >Ω |r – r | < sin θ >Ω |Ri – Rj| i j ij and π ∫ dθ 1 ∫ (sinθ)-1dΩ 0 = = 0 = π/2 < sin θij >Ω dΩ ∫ π sinθ dθ Remember we only see 2 of the 3 dimensions with R Thus after taking into account all the projection effects, and if we assume masses are the same so that Msys = Σ mi = N mi we have 2 3π Σ vi M = N VT 2G Σ (1/R ) i<j ij this is the Virial Theorem Mass Estimator 2 Σ vi = Velocity dispersion -1 [ Σ (1/Rij)] = Harmonic Radius i<j This is a good estimator but it is unstable if there exist objects in the system with very small projected separations: x x x x x xx all the potential x x x x x energy is in this x x x x pair! x x x x x Projected Mass Estimator In the 1980’s, the search for a stable mass estimator led Bahcall & Tremaine and eventually Heisler, Bahcall & Tremaine to posit a new estimator with the form ~ [dispersion x size ] Derived PM Mass estimator checked against simulations: f M = p Σ v 2 R where P GN i i,c Ri,c = Projected distance from the center vi = l.o.s. difference from the center fp = Projection factor which depends on (includes) orbital eccentricities The projection factor depends fairly strongly on the average eccentricities of the orbits of the objects (galaxies, stars, clusters) in the system: fp = 64/π for primarily Radial Orbits = 32/π for primarily Isotropic Orbits = 16/π for primarily Circular Orbits (Heisler, Bahcall & Tremaine 1985) Richstone and Tremaine plotted the effect of eccentricity vs radius on the velocity dispersion profile: Expected projected l.o.s. sigmas Richstone & Tremaine Applications: Coma Cluster (PS2) M31 Globular Cluster System 11 σ ~ 155 km/s MPM = 3.1+/−0.5 x 10 MSun Virgo Cluster (core only!) 14 σ ~ 620 km/s MVT = 7.9 x 10 MSun 14 MPM = 8.9 x 10 MSun Etc. M31 G1 = Mayall II M31 Globular Clusters (Perrett et al.) The Structure of Elliptical Galaxies Main questions 1. Why do elliptical galaxies have the shapes they do? 2. What is the connection between light & mass & kinematics? = How do stars move in galaxies? Basic physical description: star piles. For each star we have (r, θ, ϕ) or (x,y,z) and (dx/dt, dy/dt, dz/dt) = (vx,vy,vz) the six dimensional kinematical phase space Generally treat this problem as the motion of stars (test particles) in smooth gravitational potentials For the system as a whole, we have the density, ρ(x,y,z) or ρ(r,θ,ϕ) The Mass M = ∫ ρ dV ρ(x’) The Gravitational Φ(x) = -G ∫ d3x’ |x’-x| Potential Force on unit mass at x F(x) = - ∇Φ(x) plus Energy Conservation Angular Momentum Conservation Mass Conservation (orthogonally) Plus Poisson’s Equation: ∇2Φ = 4 πGρ (divergence of the gradient) Gauss’s Theorem 4 π G ∫ ρ dV = ∫ ∇Φ d2S enclose mass surface integral For spherical systems we also have Newton’s theorems: 1. A body inside a spherical shell sees no net force 2. A body outside a closed spherical shell sees a force = all the mass at a point in the center. The potential Φ = -GM/r The circular speed is then 2 G M(r) vc = r dΦ/dr = r and the escape velocity from such a potential is ve = √ 2 | Φ(r) | ~ √ 2 vc For homogeneous spheres with ρ = const r ≤ rs = 0 r > rs 4πGρ 1/2 v = r c ( 3 ) We can also ask what is the “dynamical time” of such a system ≡ the Free Fall Time from the surface to the center. Consider the equation of motion 2 d r = - G M ( r ) = - 4 π G ρ r dt2 r2 3 Which is a harmonic oscillator with frequency 2π/T where T is the orbital peiod of a mass on a 1/2 circular orbit T = 2πr/vc = (3π/Gρ) Thus the free fall time is ¼ of the period 3π ½ td = ( 1 6 G ρ ) The problem for most astrophysical systems reduces to describing the mass density distribution which defines the potential. E.g. for a Hubble Law, if M/L is constant 2 -2 2 I(r) = I0/(a + r) = I0a /(1 + r/a) 2 -3/2 2 -3/2 so ρ(r) ∝ [(1 + r/a) ] ∝ ρ0 [(1 + r/a) ] A distributions like this is called a Plummer model --- density roughly constant near the center and falling to zero at large radii For this model Φ = - GM √r2 + a2 By definition, there are many other possible spherical potentials, one that is nicely integrable is the isochrone potential - GM Φ(r) = b + √b2 +r2 Today there are a variety of “two power” density distributions in use ρ0 ρ(r) = (r/a)α (1 – r/a)β-α With β = 4 these are called Dehnen models β = 4, α = 1 is the Hernquist model β = 4, α = 2 is the Jaffe model β = 3, α = 1 is the NFW model Circular velocities versus radius Mod Hubble law Dehnen like laws Theory’s End There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizzare and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.
Recommended publications
  • Dark Matter 1 Introduction 2 Evidence of Dark Matter
    Proceedings Astronomy from 4 perspectives 1. Cosmology Dark matter Marlene G¨otz (Jena) Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter. It has to be postulated to describe phenomenons, which could not be explained by known forms of matter. It has to be assumed that the largest part of dark matter is made out of heavy, slow moving, electric and color uncharged, weakly interacting particles. Such a particle does not exist within the standard model of particle physics. Dark matter makes up 25 % of the energy density of the universe. The true nature of dark matter is still unknown. 1 Introduction Due to the cosmic background radiation the matter budget of the universe can be divided into a pie chart. Only 5% of the energy density of the universe is made of baryonic matter, which means stars and planets. Visible matter makes up only 0,5 %. The influence of dark matter of 26,8 % is much larger. The largest part of about 70% is made of dark energy. Figure 1: The universe in a pie chart [1] But this knowledge was obtained not too long ago. At the beginning of the 20th century the distribution of luminous matter in the universe was assumed to correspond precisely to the universal mass distribution. In the 1920s the Caltech professor Fritz Zwicky observed something different by looking at the neighbouring Coma Cluster of galaxies. When he measured what the motions were within the cluster, he got an estimate for how much mass there was. Then he compared it to how much mass he could actually see by looking at the galaxies.
    [Show full text]
  • S Chandrasekhar: His Life and Science
    REFLECTIONS S Chandrasekhar: His Life and Science Virendra Singh 1. Introduction Subramanyan Chandrasekhar (or `Chandra' as he was generally known) was born at Lahore, the capital of the Punjab Province, in undivided India (and now in Pakistan) on 19th October, 1910. He was a nephew of Sir C V Raman, who was the ¯rst Asian to get a science Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. Chandra also went on to win the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983 for his early work \theoretical studies of physical processes of importance to the structure and evolution of the stars". Chandra discovered that there is a maximum mass limit, now called `Chandrasekhar limit', for the white dwarf stars around 1.4 times the solar mass. This work was started during his sea voyage from Madras on his way to Cambridge (1930) and carried out to completion during his Cambridge period (1930{1937). This early work of Chandra had revolutionary consequences for the understanding of the evolution of stars which were not palatable to the leading astronomers, such as Eddington or Milne. As a result of controversy with Eddington, Chandra decided to shift base to Yerkes in 1937 and quit the ¯eld of stellar structure. Chandra's work in the US was in a di®erent mode than his initial work on white dwarf stars and other stellar-structure work, which was on the frontier of the ¯eld with Chandra as a discoverer. In the US, Chandra's work was in the mode of a `scholar' who systematically explores a given ¯eld. As Chandra has said: \There is a complementarity between a systematic way of working and being on the frontier.
    [Show full text]
  • Virial Theorem and Gravitational Equilibrium with a Cosmological Constant
    21 VIRIAL THEOREM AND GRAVITATIONAL EQUILIBRIUM WITH A COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT Marek N owakowski, Juan Carlos Sanabria and Alejandro García Departamento de Física, Universidad de los Andes A. A. 4976, Bogotá, Colombia Starting from the Newtonian limit of Einstein's equations in the presence of a positive cosmological constant, we obtain a new version of the virial theorem and a condition for gravitational equi­ librium. Such a condition takes the form P > APvac, where P is the mean density of an astrophysical system (e.g. galaxy, galaxy cluster or supercluster), A is a quantity which depends only on the shape of the system, and Pvac is the vacuum density. We conclude that gravitational stability might be infiuenced by the presence of A depending strongly on the shape of the system. 1. Introd uction Around 1998 two teams (the Supernova Cosmology Project [1] and the High- Z Supernova Search Team [2]), by measuring distant type la Supernovae (SNla), obtained evidence of an accelerated ex­ panding universe. Such evidence brought back into physics Ein­ stein's "biggest blunder", namely, a positive cosmological constant A, which would be responsible for speeding-up the expansion of the universe. However, as will be explained in the text below, the A term is not only of cosmological relevance but can enter also the do­ main of astrophysics. Regarding the application of A in astrophysics we note that, due to the small values that A can assume, i s "repul­ sive" effect can only be appreciable at distances larger than about 22 1 Mpc. This is of importance if one considers the gravitational force between two bodies.
    [Show full text]
  • Scientometric Portrait of Nobel Laureate S. Chandrasekhar
    :, Scientometric Portrait of Nobel Laureate S. Chandrasekhar B.S. Kademani, V. L. Kalyane and A. B. Kademani S. ChandntS.ekhar, the well Imown Astrophysicist is wide!)' recognised as a ver:' successful Scientist. His publications \\'ere analysed by year"domain, collaboration pattern, d:lannels of commWtications used, keywords etc. The results indicate that the temporaJ ,'ari;.&-tjon of his productivit." and of the t."pes of papers p,ublished by him is of sudt a nature that he is eminent!)' qualified to be a role model for die y6J;mf;ergene-ration to emulate. By the end of 1990, he had to his credit 91 papers in StelJJlrSlructllre and Stellar atmosphere,f. 80 papers in Radiative transfer and negative ion of hydrogen, 71 papers in Stochastic, ,ftatisticql hydromagnetic problems in ph}'sics and a,ftrono"9., 11 papers in Pla.fma Physics, 43 papers in Hydromagnetic and ~}.droa:rnamic ,S"tabiJjty,42 papers in Tensor-virial theorem, 83 papers in Relativi,ftic a.ftrophy,fic.f, 61 papers in Malhematical theory. of Black hole,f and coUoiding waves, and 19 papers of genual interest. The higb~t Collaboration Coefficient \\'as 0.5 during 1983-87. Producti"it." coefficient ,,.as 0.46. The mean Synchronous self citation rate in his publications \\.as 24.44. Publication densi~. \\.as 7.37 and Publication concentration \\.as 4.34. Ke.}.word.f/De,fcriptors: Biobibliometrics; Scientometrics; Bibliome'trics; Collaboration; lndn.idual Scientist; Scientometric portrait; Sociolo~' of Science, Histor:. of St.-iencc. 1. Introduction his three undergraduate years at the Institute for Subrahmanvan Chandrasekhar ,,.as born in Theoretisk Fysik in Copenhagen.
    [Show full text]
  • Equipartition Theorem - Wikipedia 1 of 32
    Equipartition theorem - Wikipedia 1 of 32 Equipartition theorem In classical statistical mechanics, the equipartition theorem relates the temperature of a system to its average energies. The equipartition theorem is also known as the law of equipartition, equipartition of energy, or simply equipartition. The original idea of equipartition was that, in thermal equilibrium, energy is shared equally among all of its various forms; for example, the average kinetic energy per degree of freedom in translational motion of a molecule should equal that in rotational motion. The equipartition theorem makes quantitative Thermal motion of an α-helical predictions. Like the virial theorem, it gives the total peptide. The jittery motion is random average kinetic and potential energies for a system at a and complex, and the energy of any given temperature, from which the system's heat particular atom can fluctuate wildly. capacity can be computed. However, equipartition also Nevertheless, the equipartition theorem allows the average kinetic gives the average values of individual components of the energy of each atom to be energy, such as the kinetic energy of a particular particle computed, as well as the average or the potential energy of a single spring. For example, potential energies of many it predicts that every atom in a monatomic ideal gas has vibrational modes. The grey, red an average kinetic energy of (3/2)kBT in thermal and blue spheres represent atoms of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, equilibrium, where kB is the Boltzmann constant and T respectively; the smaller white is the (thermodynamic) temperature. More generally, spheres represent atoms of equipartition can be applied to any classical system in hydrogen.
    [Show full text]
  • Astronomy Astrophysics
    A&A 470, 449–466 (2007) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20077443 & c ESO 2007 Astrophysics A CFH12k lensing survey of X-ray luminous galaxy clusters II. Weak lensing analysis and global correlations S. Bardeau1,2,G.Soucail1,J.-P.Kneib3,4, O. Czoske5,6,H.Ebeling7,P.Hudelot1,5,I.Smail8, and G. P. Smith4,9 1 Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Toulouse-Tarbes, CNRS-UMR 5572 and Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, 14 avenue Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France e-mail: [email protected] 2 Laboratoire d’Astrodynamique, d’Astrophysique et d’Aéronomie de Bordeaux, CNRS-UMR 5804 and Université de Bordeaux I, 2 rue de l’Observatoire, BP 89, 33270 Floirac, France 3 Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, OAMP, CNRS-UMR 6110, Traverse du Siphon, BP 8, 13376 Marseille Cedex 12, France 4 Department of Astronomy, California Institute of Technology, Mail Code 105-24, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA 5 Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Universität Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 71, 53121 Bonn, Germany 6 Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, PO Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands 7 Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, 2680 Woodlawn Dr, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA 8 Institute for Computational Cosmology, Department of Physics, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK 9 School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK Received 9 March 2007 / Accepted 9 May 2007 ABSTRACT Aims. We present a wide-field multi-color survey of a homogeneous sample of eleven clusters of galaxies for which we measure total masses and mass distributions from weak lensing.
    [Show full text]
  • Virial Theorem for a Molecule Approved
    VIRIAL THEOREM FOR A MOLECULE APPROVED: (A- /*/• Major Professor Minor Professor Chairman' lof the Physics Department Dean 6f the Graduate School Ranade, Manjula A., Virial Theorem For A Molecule. Master of Science (Physics), May, 1972, 120 pp., bibliog- raphy, 36 titles. The usual virial theorem, relating kinetic and potential energy, is extended to a molecule by the use of the true wave function. The virial theorem is also obtained for a molecule from a trial wave function which is scaled separately for electronic and nuclear coordinates. A transformation to the body fixed system is made to separate the center of mass motion exactly. The virial theorems are then obtained for the electronic and nuclear motions, using exact as well as trial electronic and nuclear wave functions. If only a single scaling parameter is used for the electronic and the nuclear coordinates, an extraneous term is obtained in the virial theorem for the electronic motion. This extra term is not present if the electronic and nuclear coordinates are scaled differently. Further, the relation- ship between the virial theorems for the electronic and nuclear motion to the virial theorem for the whole molecule is shown. In the nonstationary state the virial theorem relates the time average of the quantum mechanical average of the kinetic energy to the radius vector dotted into the force. VIRIAL THEOREM FOR A MOLECULE THESIS Presented to the Graduate Council of the North Texas State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE By Manjula A. Ranade Denton, Texas May, 1972 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I.
    [Show full text]
  • 8.901 Lecture Notes Astrophysics I, Spring 2019
    8.901 Lecture Notes Astrophysics I, Spring 2019 I.J.M. Crossfield (with S. Hughes and E. Mills)* MIT 6th February, 2019 – 15th May, 2019 Contents 1 Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics 6 2 The Two-Body Problem and Kepler’s Laws 10 3 The Two-Body Problem, Continued 14 4 Binary Systems 21 4.1 Empirical Facts about binaries................... 21 4.2 Parameterization of Binary Orbits................. 21 4.3 Binary Observations......................... 22 5 Gravitational Waves 25 5.1 Gravitational Radiation........................ 27 5.2 Practical Effects............................ 28 6 Radiation 30 6.1 Radiation from Space......................... 30 6.2 Conservation of Specific Intensity................. 33 6.3 Blackbody Radiation......................... 36 6.4 Radiation, Luminosity, and Temperature............. 37 7 Radiative Transfer 38 7.1 The Equation of Radiative Transfer................. 38 7.2 Solutions to the Radiative Transfer Equation........... 40 7.3 Kirchhoff’s Laws........................... 41 8 Stellar Classification, Spectra, and Some Thermodynamics 44 8.1 Classification.............................. 44 8.2 Thermodynamic Equilibrium.................... 46 8.3 Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium................ 47 8.4 Stellar Lines and Atomic Populations............... 48 *[email protected] 1 Contents 8.5 The Saha Equation.......................... 48 9 Stellar Atmospheres 54 9.1 The Plane-parallel Approximation................. 54 9.2 Gray Atmosphere........................... 56 9.3 The Eddington Approximation................... 59 9.4 Frequency-Dependent Quantities.................. 61 9.5 Opacities................................ 62 10 Timescales in Stellar Interiors 67 10.1 Photon collisions with matter.................... 67 10.2 Gravity and the free-fall timescale................. 68 10.3 The sound-crossing time....................... 71 10.4 Radiation transport.......................... 72 10.5 Thermal (Kelvin-Helmholtz) timescale............... 72 10.6 Nuclear timescale..........................
    [Show full text]
  • 1. Hydrostatic Equilibrium and Virial Theorem Textbook: 10.1, 2.4 § Assumed Known: 2.1–2.3 §
    1. Hydrostatic equilibrium and virial theorem Textbook: 10.1, 2.4 § Assumed known: 2.1–2.3 § Equation of motion in spherical symmetry d2r GM ρ dP ρ = r (1.1) dt2 − r2 − dr Hydrostatic equilibrium dP GM ρ = r (1.2) dr − r2 Mass conservation dM r =4πr2ρ (1.3) dr Virial Theorem 1 E = 2E or E = E (1.4) pot − kin tot 2 pot Derivation for gaseous spheres: multiply equation of hydrostatic equilibrium by r on both sides, integrate over sphere, and relate pressure to kinetic energy (easiest to verify for ideal gas). For next time – Read derivation of virial theorem for set of particles ( 2.4). – Remind yourself of interstellar dust and gas, and extinction§ ( 12.1). – Remind yourself about thermodynamics, in particular adiabatic§ processes (bottom of p. 317 to p. 321). Fig. 1.1. The HRD of nearby stars, with colours and distances measured by the Hipparcos satellite. Taken from Verbunt (2000, first-year lecture notes, Utrecht University). Fig. 1.2. Observed HRD of the stars in NGC 6397. Taken from D’Antona (1999, in “The Galactic Halo: from Globular Clusters to Field Stars”, 35th Liege Int. Astroph. Colloquium). Fig. 1.3. HRD of the brightest stars in the LMC, with observed spectral types and magnitudes transformed to temperatures and luminosities. Overdrawn is the empirical upper limit to the luminosity, as well as a theoretical main sequence. Taken from Humphreys & Davidson (1979, ApJ 232, 409). 2. Star formation Textbook: 12.2 § Jeans Mass and Radius 1/2 3/2 3/2 3/2 1/2 3 5k T 2 T n − MJ = 1/2 = 29 M µ− 4 3 , (2.1) 4π GµmH ρ ⊙ 10K 10 cm− 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 3 5k T 1 T n − RJ = 1/2 =0.30pc µ− 4 3 .
    [Show full text]
  • Principle of Equipartition of Energy -Dr S P Singh (Dept of Chemistry, a N College, Patna)
    Principle of Equipartition of Energy -Dr S P Singh (Dept of Chemistry, A N College, Patna) Historical Background 1843: The equipartition of kinetic energy was proposed by John James Waterston. 1845: more correctly proposed by John James Waterston. 1859: James Clerk Maxwell argued that the kinetic heat energy of a gas is equally divided between linear and rotational energy. ∑ Experimental observations of the specific heat capacities of gases also raised concerns about the validity of the equipartition theorem. ∑ Several explanations of equipartition's failure to account for molar heat capacities were proposed. 1876: Ludwig Boltzmann expanded this principle by showing that the average energy was divided equally among all the independent components of motion in a system. ∑ Boltzmann applied the equipartition theorem to provide a theoretical explanation of the Dulong-Petit Law for the specific heat capacities of solids. 1900: Lord Rayleigh instead put forward a more radical view that the equipartition theorem and the experimental assumption of thermal equilibrium were both correct; to reconcile them, he noted the need for a new principle that would provide an "escape from the destructive simplicity" of the equipartition theorem. 1906: Albert Einstein provided that escape, by showing that these anomalies in the specific heat were due to quantum effects, specifically the quantization of energy in the elastic modes of the solid. 1910: W H Nernst’s measurements of specific heats at low temperatures supported Einstein's theory, and led to the widespread acceptance of quantum theory among physicists. Under the head we deal with the contributions of translational and vibrational motions to the energy and heat capacity of a molecule.
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:2006.01326V1 [Astro-Ph.GA] 2 Jun 2020 58090 Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico
    Noname manuscript No. (will be inserted by the editor) From diffuse gas to dense molecular cloud cores Javier Ballesteros-Paredes · Philippe Andre,´ · Patrick Hennebelle, · Ralf S. Klessen, · Shu-ichiro Inutsuka, · J. M. Diederik Kruijssen, · Melanie´ Chevance, · Fumitaka Nakamura, · Angela Adamo · Enrique Vazquez-Semadeni Received: 2020-01-31 / Accepted: 2020-05-17 Abstract Molecular clouds are a fundamental ingredient of galaxies: they are the channels that transform the diffuse gas into stars. The detailed process of how they Javier Ballesteros-Paredes Instituto de Radioastronom´ıa y Astrof´ısica, UNAM, Campus Morelia, Antigua Carretera a Patzcuaro 8701. 58090 Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. E-mail: [email protected] Philippe Andre´ Laboratoire d’Astrophysique (AIM), CEA/DRF, CNRS, Universite´ Paris-Saclay, Universite´ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cite,91191´ Gif-sur-Yvette, France Patrick Hennebelle AIM, CEA, CNRS, Universite´ Paris-Saclay, Universite´ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cite,´ 91191, Gif- sur-Yvette, France Ralf S. Klessen Universitat¨ Heidelberg, Zentrum fur¨ Astronomie, Institut fur¨ Theoretische Astrophysik, Albert-Ueberle- Str. 2, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany, Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan J. M. Diederik Kruijssen Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, Zentrum fur¨ Astronomie der Universitat¨ Heidelberg, Monchhofstraße¨ 12- 14, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany, Melanie´ Chevance Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, Zentrum fur¨ Astronomie der Universitat¨ Heidelberg,
    [Show full text]
  • 10. Timescales in Stellar Interiors This Separation Is Pleasant Because It
    10.Timescales inStellarInteriors This separation is pleasant because it means whenever we consider one timescale, we can assume that the faster processes are in equilibrium while the slower processes are static. Much excitement ensues when this hierarchy breaks down. For example, we see convection occur onτ dyn which then fundamentally changes the ther- mal transport. Or in the cores of stars near the end of their life,τ nuc becomes much shorter. If it gets shorter thanτ dyn, then the star has no time to settle into equilibrium – it may collapse. 10.8 The Virial Theorem In considering complex systems as a whole, it becomes easier to describe im- portant properties of a system in equilibrium in terms of its energy balance rather than its force balance. For systems in equilibrium– not just a star now, or even particles in a gas, but systems as complicated as planets in orbit, or clusters of stars and galaxies– there is a fundamental relationship between the internal, kinetic energy of the system and its gravitational binding energy. This relationship can be derived in a fairly complicated way by taking several time derivatives of the moment of inertia of a system, and applying the equations of motion and Newton’s laws. We will skip this derivation, the result of which can be expressed as: d2 I (208) = 2 K + U , dt2 � � � � where K is the time-averaged kinetic energy, and U is the time-averaged � � � � 2 gravitational potential energy. For a system in equilibrium, d I is zero, yielding dt2 the form more traditionally used in astronomy: 1 (209) K = U � � − 2 � � The relationship Eq.
    [Show full text]