Thermodynamics and Self-Gravitating Systems

Joseph Katz

doi:10.1023/a:1023776921610

Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · astro-ph/0212295

Thermodynamics and Self-Gravitating Systems

Joseph Katz

View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

This work assembles some basic theoretical elements on thermal equilibrium, stability conditions, and fluctuation theory in self-gravitating systems illustrated with a few examples. Thermodynamics deals with states that have settled down after sufficient time has gone by. Time dependent phenomena are beyond the scope of this paper. While thermodynamics is firmly rooted in statistical physics, equilibrium configurations, stability criteria and the destabilizing effect of fluctuations are all expressed in terms of thermodynamic functions. The work is not a review paper but a pedagogical introduction which may interest theoreticians in astronomy and astrophysicists. It contains sufficient mathematical details for the reader to redo all calculations. References are only to seminal works or readable reviews. (Except in the ultimate sub-section.) Delicate mathematical problems are mentioned but are not discussed in detail.

Explore related subjects

astro-ph cond-mat

Keep this discovery

BibTeX RIS

Joseph Katz. 2002-12-12. Thermodynamics and Self-Gravitating Systems. https://doi.org/10.1023/a%3A1023776921610

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2019

Classical analysis of the rotational dynamic of spiral galaxies: Quo Vadis Dark Matter?

In this paper we study a stellar dynamic model for the stars' rotational-dynamics, with a distribution of its own mass, rotating around its center with a higher density, like spiral galaxies happen, by means of a classical calculus of the rotation velocities of a particle around its rotational axis, inside a smoothed distribution of matter. The stars are supposed to be particles and their distribution in the galaxy is modelled as a matter distribution inversely proportional to its distance from its center. Two kinds of matter distribution are supposed: one with constant density, and other with radial distribution. Two types of galaxy symmetry are also considered: spherical and oblate ellipsoidal. Using only classical mechanics arguments it is shown that the calculated velocity distribution inside the galaxy is similar to that obtained from astronomical observations, without the necessity of suppose the existence of dark matter or other phenomena.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2019

AIRES: A system for air shower simulations

The AIRES (AIR-shower Extended Simulations) system is a set of programs and subroutines to realistically simulate particle showers produced after the incidence of high energy cosmic rays on the Earth's atmosphere, and to manage all the related output data. The current version includes a series of improvements with respect to previous releases that are explained in detail in this manual and/or the web site aires.fisica.unlp.edu.ar from where the software can be downloaded. Among such improvements, it is worth mentioning: (i) High energy hadronic collisions can be simulated usign the the well-known hadronic models EPOS, QGSJET, or SIBYLL, all of them in their LHC-tuned versions. (ii) Detailed simulation of unstable hadron decays. (iii) The inclusion of a series of pre-compiled, ready to use, external special particle modules, that are characteristic of AIRES since its early versions. Such modules allow, for example, to easily simulate multi-primary particle showers. (iv) An exhaustive revision of the atmospheric profile models, including annual average profiles for geographcal locations corresponding to currently in operation ultra-high energu shower observatories; and also the capability of accepting user-defined custom atmospheric profiles.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2019

A new paradigm for the universe

This book provides a completely new approach to understanding the universe. The main idea is that the principal objects in the universe form a spectrum unified by the presence of a massive or hypermassive black hole. These objects are variously called quasars, active galaxies and spiral galaxies. The key to understanding their dynamics is angular momentum and the key tool, and main innovative idea of this work, is a proper formulation of "Mach's principle" using Sciama's ideas. In essence, what is provided here is a totally new paradigm for the universe. In this paradigm, there is no big bang, and the universe is many orders of magnitude older than current estimates for its age. Indeed there is no natural limit for its age.

astro-ph↗