SSCpt1/Virial

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Virial Equilibrium of Spherically Symmetric Configurations

Free-Energy
of
Spherical
Systems

Free Energy Expression

Review

As has been introduced elsewhere in a more general context, associated with any isolated, self-gravitating, gaseous configuration we can identify a total Gibbs-like free energy, 𝔊, given by the sum of the relevant contributions to the total energy of the configuration,

𝔊=Wgrav+𝔖therm+Tkin+PeV+

Here, we have explicitly included the gravitational potential energy, Wgrav, the ordered kinetic energy, Tkin, a term that accounts for surface effects if the configuration of volume V is embedded in an external medium of pressure Pe, and 𝔖therm, the reservoir of thermodynamic energy that is available to perform work as the system expands or contracts. A mathematical expression encapsulating the physical definition of each of these energy terms, in full three-dimensional generality, can be found in our introductory discussion of the scalar virial theorem and the free-energy function.

Expressions for Various Energy Terms

We begin, here, by deriving an expression for each of the terms in the free-energy function as appropriate for spherically symmetric systems. In deriving each expression, we keep in mind two issues: First, for a given size system a determination of each term's total contribution to the free energy generally will involve integration through the entire volume of the configuration, effectively "summing up" the differential mass in each radial shell,

dm=ρ(x)d3x=4πρ(r)r2dr,

weighted by some specific energy expression. Second, each term must be formulated in such a way that it is clear how the energy contribution depends on the overall system size.

Volume Integrals

We note, first, that the mass enclosed within each interior radius, r, is

Mr(r)=Vdm

=

0r4πr2ρdr.

Hence, if the volume of the configuration extends out to a radius denoted by Rlimit, the configuration mass is,

Mlimit

=

0Rlimit4πr2ρdr.

NOTE: The following considerations have led us to formally draw a distinction between Mlimit and the "total" mass, Mtot, that we use (see below) for normalization.

Isolated Polytropes: For isolated polytropes, the limit of integration, Rlimit, will be the natural edge of the configuration, where the pressure and mass-density drop to zero. In this case, Mlimit quite naturally corresponds to the total mass of the configuration.

Pressure-Truncated Polytropes: But, a configuration embedded in an external medium of pressure, Pe, will have a (pressure-truncated) surface whose radius, Rlimit, corresponds to the radial location at which the configuration's internal pressure drops to a value that equals Pe. In this case as well, one might choose to refer to Mlimit as the total mass; on the other hand, it might be more useful to distinguish Mlimit from Mtot, continuing to rely on Mtot to represent the mass of the corresponding isolated polytrope.

BiPolytropes: When discussing bipolytropes, the limit of integration, Rlimit, will naturally refer to the radial location that defines the outer edge of the configuration's "core" and, at the same time, identifies the radial "interface" between the bipolytrope's core and its envelope. In this case, Mlimit corresponds to the mass of the core rather than to the total mass of the bipolytropic configuration.

Confinement by External Pressure: For spherically symmetric configurations, the energy term due to confinement by an external pressure can be expressed, simply, in terms of the configuration's radius, Rlimit, as,

PeV

=

Pe0Rlimit4πr2dr=4π3PeRlimit3.

Gravitational Potential Energy: From our discussion of the scalar virial theorem — see, specifically, the reference to Equation (18), on p. 18 of [EFE] — the gravitational potential energy is given by the expression,

Wgrav=VρxiΦxid3x=VrΦdm=0Rlimit(rdΦdr)dm.

For spherically symmetric systems, the

Poisson Equation

2Φ=4πGρ

becomes,

1r2ddr(r2dΦdr)

=

4πGρ(r),

which implies,

r2dΦdr

=

0r4πGρ(r)r2dr=GMr(r).

Hence — see, also, p. 64, Equation (12) of [C67] — the desired expression for the gravitational potential energy is,

Wgrav

=

0Rlimit(GMrr)dm=0RlimitGr[0r4πr2ρdr]4πr2ρdr.


Also, as pointed out by [C67] — see p. 64, Equation (16) — it may sometimes prove advantageous to recognize that, if a spherically symmetric system is in hydrostatic balance, an alternate expression for the total gravitational potential energy is,

Wgrav

=

+120RlimitΦ(r)dm.

Rotational Kinetic Energy: We will also consider a system that is rotating with a specified simple angular velocity profile, φ˙(ϖ), in which case, from our discussion of the scalar virial theorem — see, specifically, the reference to Equation (8), on p. 16 of [EFE] — the (ordered) kinetic energy,

Tkin

=

12Vρ|v|2d3x=12V|v|2dm,

is entirely rotational kinetic energy, specifically,

Tkin=Trot

=

12φ˙2ϖ2dm=120Rlimitφ˙2ϖ2Rlimit2ϖ2Rlimit2ϖ2ρ(r(ϖ,z))2πϖdϖdz.

Reservoir of Thermodynamic Energy: As has been explained in our introductory discussion of the Gibbs-like free energy, formulation of an expression for the reservoir of thermodynamic energy, 𝔖therm, depends on whether the system is expected to evolve adiabatically or isothermally. For isothermal systems,

𝔖therm𝔖I=+Vcs2ln(ρρnorm)dm=cs20Rlimitln(ρρnorm)4πr2ρdr,

where, cs is the isothermal sound speed and ρnorm is a (as yet unspecified) reference mass density; while, for adiabatic systems,

𝔖therm𝔖A=+V1(γg1)(Pρ)dm=1(γg1)0Rlimit4πr2Pdr,

where, P(r) is the system's pressure distribution and γg is the specified adiabatic index.

Normalizations

Our Choices

It is appropriate for us to define some characteristic scales against which various physical parameters can be normalized — and, hence, their relative significance can be specified or measured — as the free energy of various systems is examined. As the system size is varied in search of extrema in the free energy, we generally will hold constant the total system mass and the specific entropy of each fluid element. (When isothermal rather than adiabatic variations are considered, the sound speed rather than the specific entropy will be held constant.) Hence, following the lead of both 📚 Gp. Horedt (1970, MNRAS, Vol. 151, pp. 81 - 86) and 📚 A. Whitworth (1981, MNRAS, Vol. 195, pp. 967 - 977), we will express the various characteristic scales in terms of the constants, G,Mtot, and the polytropic constant, K. Specifically, we will normalize all length scales, pressures, energies, mass densities, and the square of the speed of sound by, respectively,

Adopted Normalizations

Adiabatic Cases

Isothermal Case (γ=1;K=cs2)

Rnorm

[(GK)Mtot2γ]1/(43γ)

Pnorm

[K4G3γMtot2γ]1/(43γ)


Enorm

PnormRnorm3=[KG3(1γ)Mtot65γ]1/(43γ)

ρnorm

3Mtot4πRnorm3=34π[K3G3Mtot2]1/(43γ)

cnorm2

Pnormρnorm=4π3[K(G3Mtot2)γ1]1/(43γ)

Rnorm

GMtotcs2

Pnorm

cs8G3Mtot2


Enorm

Mtotcs2

ρnorm

34π[cs6G3Mtot2]

cnorm2

(4π3)cs2

Note that, given the above definitions, the following relations hold:

Enorm=PnormRnorm3=GMtot2Rnorm=(34π)Mtotcnorm2

It should be emphasized that, as we discuss how a configuration's free energy varies with its size, the variable Rlimit will be used to identify the configuration's size whether or not the system is in equilibrium, and the parameter,

χRlimitRnorm,

will be used to identify the size as referenced to Rnorm. When an equilibrium configuration is identified (RlimitReq), we will affix the subscript "eq," specifically,

χeqReqRnorm.

Choices Made by Other Researchers

As is detailed in a related discussion, our definitions of Rnorm and Pnorm are close, but not identical, to the scalings adopted by 📚 Horedt (1970) and by 📚 Whitworth (1981). The following relations can be used to switch from our normalizations to theirs:

Hoerdt's (1970) Normalization

(RHoerdtRnorm)43γ

=

(γ1)γ(4π)γ1

(PHoerdtPnorm)43γ

=

[γ(γ1)]3γ(14π)γ

     

Whitworth's (1981) Normalization

(RrfRnorm)43γ

=

15π(4π3)γ

(PrfPnorm)43γ

=

22(4+γ)(3453π)γ

It is also worth noting how the length-scale normalization that we are adopting here relates to the characteristic length scale,

an[14πG(Hcρc)]1/2,

that has classically been adopted in the context of the Lane-Emden equation, the solution of which provides a detailed description of the internal structure of spherical polytropes for a wide range of values of the polytropic index, n. Recognizing that, via the polytropic equation of state, the pressure, density, and enthalpy of every element of fluid are related to one another via the expressions,

Hρ=(n+1)P     … and …      P=Knρ1+1/n,

the specific enthalpy at the center of a polytropic sphere, Hc/ρc, can be rewritten in terms of Kn and ρc to give,

an=[(n+1)Kn4πGρc(1/n)1]1/2,

which is the definition of this classical length scale introduced by [C67] (see, specifically, his equation 10 on p. 87). Switching from n to the associated adiabatic exponent via the relation, γ=1+1/nn=1/(γ1), we see that,

(anRnorm)2

=

(γγ1)Knρc(γ2)4πG1Rnorm2

 

=

14π(γγ1)KnG(ρcρ¯)(γ2)(3Mtot4πReq3)(γ2)1Rnorm2

 

=

14π(γγ1)(34πρcρ¯)γ2[KnMtotγ2G](RnormReq)3(γ2)1Rnorm3γ4

 

=

14π(γγ1)(34πρcρ¯)2γχeq63γ[KnMtotγ2G][(GK)Mtot2γ]

 

=

14π(γγ1)(34πρcρ¯)2γχeq63γ.

Notice that, written in this manner, the scale length, an, cannot actually be determined unless the normalized equilibrium radius, χeq, is known. We will encounter analogous situations whenever the free energy function is used to identify the physical parameters that define equilibrium configurations — key attributes of a system that should be held fixed as the system size (or some other order parameter) is varied cannot actually be evaluated until an extremum in the free energy is identified and the corresponding value of χeq is known. Because solutions of the Lane-Emden equation directly provide detailed force-balance models of polytropic spheres, [C67] did not encounter this issue. As we have discussed elsewhere, the equilibrium radius of a polytropic sphere is identified as the radial location,

ξ1=Reqan,

at which the Lane-Emden function, ΘH(ξ), first goes to zero. Bypassing the free-energy analysis and using knowledge of ξ1 to identify the equilibrium radius — specifically, setting,

χeq

=

ReqRnorm=ξ1(anRnorm),

we can extend the above analysis to obtain,

(anRnorm)2

=

14π(γγ1)(4π3ρcρ¯)2γ[ξ1(anRnorm)]63γ

(anRnorm)43γ

=

4π(γ1γ)(4π3ρcρ¯ξ13)γ2.

Implementation

Normalize

We will now judiciously introduce our adopted normalizations into the above-defined free-energy term expressions, using asterisks to denote dimensionless variables that have been accordingly normalized; for example,

r*rRnorm,P*PPnorm,         and       ρ*ρρnorm.

Normalized Mass:

Mr(r*)

=

Rnorm3ρnorm0r*4π(r*)2ρ*dr*=Mtot0r*3(r*)2ρ*dr*.

Confinement by External Pressure (Normalized Volume):

PeV

=

Enorm[4π3(PePnorm)(RlimitRnorm)3].

Normalized Gravitational Potential Energy:

Wgrav

=

4πGMtotRnorm2ρnorm0χ=Rlimit*[Mr(r*)Mtot]r*ρ*dr*

 

=

Enorm0χ=Rlimit*3[Mr(r*)Mtot]r*ρ*dr*.

Normalized Reservoir of Thermodynamic Energy:

𝔖I

=

Enorm0χ=Rlimit*3ln(ρ*)(r*)2ρ*dr*,

and,

𝔖A

=

Enorm(γg1)0χ=Rlimit*4π(r*)2P*dr*.

Normalized Rotational Kinetic Energy:

Trot

=

πφ˙c2Rnorm5ρnorm0χ=Rlimit*[φ˙2φ˙c2](ϖ*)3dϖ*χ2(ϖ*)2χ2(ϖ*)2(ρ*)dz*

 

=

(52π22)[J2RnormρnormMtot2]χeq40χ=Rlimit*[φ˙2φ˙c2](ϖ*)3dϖ*χ2(ϖ*)2χ2(ϖ*)2(ρ*)dz*

 

=

(35224)[J2Mtot(EnormGMtot2)2]χeq40χ=Rlimit*[φ˙2φ˙c2](ϖ*)3dϖ*χ2(ϖ*)2χ2(ϖ*)2(ρ*)dz*

 

=

Enorm(325226π)[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4]χeq40χ=Rlimit*[φ˙2φ˙c2](ϖ*)3dϖ*χ2(ϖ*)2χ2(ϖ*)2(ρ*)dz*,

where,

φ˙c5J2MtotReq2=52[JMtotRnorm2]χeq2,

is a characteristic rotation frequency in the equilibrium configuration whose value is set once the system's total angular momentum, J, is specified.

Separate Time & Space

Our intent is to vary the size of the configuration (Rlimit) while holding the (properly normalized) internal structural profile fixed, so let's separate the spatial integral over the (fixed) structural profile from the time-varying configuration size. Making use of the dimensionless internal coordinates,

xrRlimit,wϖRlimit,ζzRlimit,

that always run from zero to one, we have,

r*

x(RlimitRnorm)=xχ;    and, likewise,     ϖ*wχ;z*ζχ;

ρ*

[ρ(x)ρ¯](ρ¯ρnorm)=[ρ(x)ρ¯](Mlimit/Rlimit3Mtot/Rnorm3)=[ρ(x)ρ¯](MlimitMtot)χ3=ρcρ¯[ρ(x)ρc](MlimitMtot)χ3;

P*

[P(x)Pc](PcPnorm)=[P(x)Pc](KρcγPnorm)=[P(x)Pc](ρcρ¯)γ[(3Mlimit/4πRlimit3)γK1Pnorm]

 

    

=[P(x)Pc][(34π)ρcρ¯]γ[KMtotγPnormRnorm3γ](MlimitMtot)γ(RlimitRnorm)3γ=[P(x)Pc][(34π)ρcρ¯]γ(MlimitMtot)γχ3γ,

φ˙φ˙c

[φ˙(w)φ˙limit](φ˙limitφ˙c)=[φ˙(w)φ˙limit](RlimitReq)2=[φ˙(w)φ˙limit]χeq2χ2.

Summary of Normalized Expressions

Hence, our normalized expressions become,

Normalized Expressions

Mr(x)Mtot

=

(ρcρ¯)eq(MlimitMtot)0x3x2[ρ(x)ρc]dx,

PeVEnorm

=

4π3(PePnorm)χ3,

WgravEnorm

=

χ1(ρcρ¯)eq(MlimitMtot)013x[Mr(x)Mtot][ρ(x)ρc]dx

 

=

35χ1(ρcρ¯)eq2(MlimitMtot)2015x{0x3x2[ρ(x)ρc]dx}[ρ(x)ρc]dx,

𝔖AEnorm

=

4π3(γg1)χ33γ{[(34π)ρcρ¯]eqγ(MlimitMtot)γ013x2[P(x)Pc]dx},

𝔖IEnorm

=

01{ln[ρ(x)ρ¯]3ln[RedgeRnorm]}3x2[ρ(x)ρ¯]dx

 

=

3lnχ+constant,

TrotEnorm

=

χ2(325226π)[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4](ρcρ¯)eq01[φ˙(w)φ˙edge]2w3dw1w21w2[ρ(w,ζ)ρc]dζ.

NOTE to self (21 September 2014): The expressions for 𝔖I and Trot may not properly account for the ratio, Mlimit/Mtot.


It should be emphasized that the coefficient involving the density ratio, (ρc/ρ¯), that lies outside of the integral in most of these expressions depends only on the internal structure, and not the overall size, of the configuration. It can therefore be evaluated at any time. We usually will choose to evaluate this coefficient in an equilibrium state, that is, when RlimitReq. Accordingly, the subscript "eq" has been attached to this coefficient. The inverse of this density ratio can be obtained from the integral expression for Mr by recognizing that MrMlimit when the upper limit on the integral x1. Hence,

(ρcρ¯)eq1

=

013x2[ρ(x)ρc]eqdx.

This coefficient also may be rewritten in terms of the central pressure in the equilibrium state; specifically, using a sequence of steps similar to the ones that were used, above, in rewriting P*, we can write,

[(34π)ρcρ¯]eqγ(MlimitMtot)γ

=

[(PcPnorm)χ3γ]eq.

Looking Ahead to Bipolytropes

ASIDE: When we discuss the free energy of bipolytropic configurations, we will need to divide the expression for 𝔖A/Enorm into two parts — one accounting for the reservoir of thermodynamic energy in the bipolytrope's "core" and one accounting for the reservoir of thermodynamic energy in the bipolytrope's "envelope." It is useful to develop this two-part expression here, while the definition of 𝔖A is fresh in our minds and to show how the two-part expression reduces to the simpler expression for 𝔖A/Enorm, just derived, when there is no distinction drawn between the properties of the core and the envelope.

In what follows, we will use the subscript core (or "c") when referencing physical properties of the bipolytrope's core and the subscript env (or "e") for the envelope; and, as above, we will use xr/Redge to denote the dimensionless radial location within a configuration of radius, Redge. The dimensionless radial coordinate, qxi=ri/Redge, will identify the radial interface where the core meets the envelope; that is, q will identify both the outer edge of the core and the inner edge of the envelope. In general, separate expressions will define the run of pressure through the core and through the envelope. We can assume that, for the core, the pressure drops monotonically from a value of P0 at the center of the configuration according to an expression of the form,

Pcore(x)=P0[1pc(x)]      for      0xq,

and that, for the envelope, the pressure drops monotonically from a value of Pie at the interface according to an expression of the form,

Penv(x)=Pie[1pe(x)]      for      qx1,

where pc(x) and pe(x) are both dimensionless functions that will depend on the equations of state that are chosen for the core and envelope, respectively. By prescription, the pressure in the envelope must drop to zero at the surface of the bipolytropic configuration, hence, we should expect that pe(1)=1. Furthermore, by prescription, the pressure in the core will drop to a value, Pic, at the interface, so we can write,

Pic=P0[1pc(q)].

In equilibrium — that is, when Redge=Req — we will demand that the pressure at the interface be the same, whether it is referenced in the core or in the envelope, that is, we will demand that Pic=Pie. It will therefore prove to be strategically advantageous to rewrite the expression for the run of pressure through the core in terms of the pressure at the interface rather than in terms of the central pressure; specifically,

Pcore(x)=Pic[1pc(x)1pc(q)].

Referencing these prescriptions for Pcore(x) and Penv(x), the two-part expression for the reservoir of thermodynamic energy is,

𝔖AEnorm

=

1(γc1)0ri/Rnorm4π(r*)2Pcore*dr*+1(γe1)ri/Rnormχ4π(r*)2Penv*dr*

 

=

4πχ3(γc1)[PicPnorm]0q[1pc(x)1pc(q)]x2dx+4πχ3(γe1)[PiePnorm]q1[1pe(x)]x2dx.

As is implied by the subscripts on the adiabatic exponents that appear in the leading factor of each of the two terms, we are assuming that, as the bipolytropic system expands or contracts, the thermodynamic properties of the material in the envelope will vary as prescribed by an adiabat of index, γe, while the thermodynamic properties of material in the core will vary as prescribed by a, generally different, adiabat of index, γc. Therefore, as the radius of the bipolytropic configuration, Redge, is varied, the density of each fluid element will vary and, in the core, the pressure of each fluid element will vary as Pργc while, in the envelope, the pressure of each fluid element will vary as Pργe. If we furthermore assume that the mass in the core and the mass in the envelope remain constant during a phase of contraction or expansion, the density of each fluid element will vary as Redge3, whether the material is associated with the core or with the envelope. Therefore, using the subscript, "eq," to identify the value of thermodynamic quantities when the system is in an equilibrium state and, accordingly, Redge=Req, we can write,

[PPeq]core

=

(ρρeq)γc=(RedgeReq)3γc,

and,

[PPeq]env

=

(ρρeq)γe=(RedgeReq)3γe.

In particular, for any Redge, material associated with the core that lies at the interface will have a pressure given by the relation,

Pic

=

(Pic)eq(RedgeReq)3γc=(Pic)eq(ReqRnorm)+3γc(RedgeRnorm)3γc=(Pic)eqχeq+3γcχ3γc,

while material associated with the envelope that lies at the interface will have a pressure given by the relation,

Pie

=

(Pie)eq(RedgeReq)3γe=(Pie)eq(ReqRnorm)+3γe(RedgeRnorm)3γe=(Pie)eqχeq+3γeχ3γe.

Hence,

𝔖AEnorm

=

4π(γc1)[Picχ3γcPnorm]eqχ33γc0q[1pc(x)1pc(q)]x2dx

 

 

+4π(γe1)[Pieχ3γePnorm]eqχ33γeq1[1pe(x)]x2dx.



Now, let's see how this expression simplifies if Pie=Pic and γe=γc and, hence, the properties of the envelope are indistinguishable from the properties of the core. We note, first, that in this limit, Pcore(x) and Penv(x) must be identical functions of x, that is, it must be the case that pe(x) is related to pc(x) via the relation,

1pe(x)

=

1pc(x)1pc(q).

We therefore obtain,

𝔖AEnorm

=

4π(γc1)[Picχ3γcPnorm]eqχ33γc{0q[1pc(x)1pc(q)]x2dx+q1[1pc(x)1pc(q)]x2dx}

 

=

4π(γc1)[P0χ3γcPnorm]eqχ33γc{01[1pc(x)]x2dx}

 

=

4π(γg1)χ33γ{[(34π)ρcρ¯]eqγ01[P(x)Pc]x2dx},

as desired.

Idealized Configuration

(For simplicity throughout this subsection, we will assume that the mass enclosed within the configuration's limiting radius, Mlimit, equals the normalization mass, Mtot.) In the idealized situation of a configuration that has uniform density, ρ(x)=ρc — and, hence, the density ratio ρc/ρ¯=1 — the mass interior to each radius is,

Mr(x)Mtot

=

0x3x2dx=x3,

and the normalized gravitational potential energy is,

WgravEnorm

=

35χ1015x{x3}dx=35χ1.

If, in addition, the configuration is uniformly rotating with angular velocity, φ˙=φ˙edge, and has uniform pressure, Pc, evaluation of the ordered kinetic energy and thermodynamic energy integrals yields,

TrotEnorm

=

2χ2(325226π)[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4]01w3dw01w2dζ

 

=

χ2(325225π)[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4]01w3(1w2)1/2dw

 

=

χ2(325225π)[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4][115(1w2)3/2(3w2+2)]01

 

=

χ2(3524π)[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4],

𝔖AEnorm

=

4π3(γg1)χ33γ{(34π)γ013x2dx}=1(γg1)(34π)γ1χ33γ,

𝔖IEnorm

=

3lnχ+constant,

where the various dimensionless integration variables are, x(r/R), ζ(z/R), and w(ϖ/R).

Structural Form Factors

Keeping in mind the expressions that arise in the case of our just-defined, idealized configuration, in more realistic cases we generally will write each energy term as follows:

WgravEnorm

=

35χ1(MlimitMtot)2𝔣W𝔣M2,

TrotEnorm

=

(3524π)χ2[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4](ρcρ¯)eq𝔣T𝔣M,

𝔖AEnorm

=

4π3(γg1)χ33γ[34π(MlimitMtot)]eqγ𝔣A𝔣Mγ

 

=

4π3(γg1)χ33γ[(PcPnorm)χ3γ]eq𝔣A,

where the dimensionless form factors, 𝔣i, which are assumed to be independent of the overall configuration size and will each usually of order unity, are,

𝔣M

013[ρ(x)ρc]x2dx=(ρ¯ρc)eq,

𝔣W

3501{0x[ρ(x)ρc]x2dx}[ρ(x)ρc]xdx,

𝔣T

15201[φ˙(w)φ˙edge]2w3dw01w2[ρ(w,ζ)ρc]dζ,

𝔣A

013[P(x)Pc]x2dx.

In each case, the "idealized" energy expression is retrieved if/when the relevant form factor, 𝔣i, is set to unity.

Some Detailed Examples

In an accompanying discussion, we derive detailed expressions for a selected subset of the above structural form factors and corresponding energy terms in the case of spherically symmetric configurations that obey an n = 5 or an n = 1 polytropic equation of state. The hope is that this will illustrate, in a clear and helpful manner, how the task of calculating form factors is to be carried out, in practice; and, in particular, to provide one nontrivial example for which analytic expressions are derivable. This should help with the task of debugging numerical algorithms that are designed to calculate structural form factors for more general cases, which cannot be derived analytically. The limits of integration will be specified in a general enough fashion that the resulting expressions can be applied, not only to the structures of isolated polytropes, but to pressure-truncated polytropes that are embedded in a hot, tenuous external medium and to the cores of bipolytropes.

Gathering it All Together

Gathering all of the terms together we find that, to within an additive constant, the expression for the normalized free energy is,

𝔊*𝔊Enorm=3Aχ1(1δ1γg)(1γg)Bχ33γgδ1γg3lnχ+Cχ2+Dχ3,

where,

A

15[(MlimitMtot)1𝔣M]2𝔣W,

B

4π3[34π(MlimitMtot)1𝔣M]eqγ𝔣A

 

=

4π3[(PcPnorm)χ3γ]eq𝔣A,

C

3524π[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4]𝔣T𝔣M,

D

(4π3)PePnorm.

Once the pressure exerted by the external medium (Pe), and the configuration's mass (Mtot), angular momentum (J), and specific entropy (via Kn) — or, in the isothermal case, sound speed (cs) — have been specified, the values of all of the coefficients are known and the above algebraic expression for 𝔊* describes how the free energy of the configuration will vary with the configuration's size (χ) for a given choice of γg.

Visual Representation

Figure 1: Free Energy Surface

This segment of the free energy "surface" shows how the free energy varies as the size of the configuration and the applied external pressure are varied, while all other relevant physical attributes are held fixed.

The plotted function — derived from the above expression for 𝔊*, with γg=1 and C=0 (see further discussion, below) — is, specifically,

𝔊*=3000[1χlnχ+Π3χ3+0.9558].

As shown, the size of the configuration (χ) increases to the right from 1.2 to 1.51; the dimensionless external pressure (Π) increases into the screen from 0.103 to 0.104; and the dimensionless free energy, 𝔊*, increases upward.

Free Energy Surface
Free Energy Surface

Energy Extrema

As is illustrated in Figure 1, the free energy surface generally will exhibit multiple local minima and local maxima, and may also possess one or more points of inflection. The locations along the energy surface where these special points arise identify equilibrium states, and the associated values of (R/R0)eq give the radii of the equilibrium configurations.

For a given choice of the set of physical parameters M, Kn, J, Pe, and γg, extrema occur wherever,

d𝔊*dχ=0.

For the free energy function identified above,

d𝔊*dχ=3Aχ2(1δ1γg)3Bχ23γgδ1γg3χ12Cχ3+3Dχ2,

so χeqReq/Rnorm is obtained from the real root(s) of the equation,

2Cχeq2+(1δ1γg)3Bχeq33γg+δ1γg33Aχeq13Dχeq3=0.

ASIDE: When we discuss the equilibrium of isothermal, rotating configurations that are immersed in an external medium, we will draw on the work of 📚 S. V. Weber (1976, ApJ, Vol. 208, pp. 113 - 126) and the work of 📚 J. E. Tohline (1985, ApJ, Vol. 292, pp. 181 - 187) which, in turn, draws upon 📚 J. E. Tohline (1981, ApJ, Vol. 248, pp. 717 - 726). In preparation for that discussion, we will go ahead and show how the 📚 Tohline (1985) statement of virial equilibrium — his equation (9) — is the same as the equation that defines free energy extrema that has been derived here; and we will show how the 📚 Weber (1976) "energy integral" — his equation (B3) — relates to our dimensionless free-energy function.



J. E. Tohline (1985)
Star Formation: Phase Transition Not Jeans Instability
The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 292, pp. 181 - 187
 
β(sin1e/e)2[12β]+kV*Fs*=0.       (9)


First, in order to match sign conventions, we need to multiply our "free energy extrema" equation through by minus one; second, we should set δ1γg=1 because 📚 Tohline (1985) was only concerned with isothermal systems; then, because 📚 Tohline (1985) normalizes each energy term by

E*(223253)G2Mtot5J2,

instead of by our Enorm, we need to multiply our equation through by the ratio,

EnormE*=(53243π)J2cnorm2G2Mtot4.

With these three modifications, our "free energy extrema" relation becomes,

0

=

3EnormE*[Aχeq1(2C3)χeq2+Dχeq3BI].

Next, because 📚 Tohline (1985) considered only uniform-density configurations, all of the dimensionless filling factors can be set to unity in the definitions of the leading coefficients of all of our energy terms; but, following 📚 Tohline (1981), the leading coefficients of two of our energy terms should be modified to include a factor involving the configuration's eccentricity,

e(1Zeq2Req2)1/2,

in order to account for rotational flattening. Properly adjusted, the four coefficients are,

A

15(sin1ee),

BI

1,

C

3524π[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4]=(3252)EnormE*,

D

(4π3)PePnorm(1e2)1/2.

Inserting these coefficient definitions, our "free energy extrema" relation becomes,

0

=

3EnormE*[15(sin1ee)χeq1EnormE*(2352)χeq2+(4π3)PePnorm(1e2)1/2χeq31].

Next we need to appreciate that 📚 Tohline (1985) adopted the dimensionless parameter, βTrot/|Wgrav|, instead of the normalized radius, χ, as the order parameter that is varied when searching for extrema in the free-energy function. So, in our equation that defines "free energy extrema" we need to replace χeq with βeq, using the relation,

βTrot|Wgrav|

=

Cχ23Aχ1=(35)EnormE*(sin1ee)1χ1

χeq1

=

(53)E*Enorm(sin1ee)βeq.

Hence, our expression for the "free energy extrema" becomes,

0

=

(sin1ee)2βeq2(sin1ee)2βeq2+4πPePnorm(1e2)1/2[(3353)(EnormE*)4(sin1ee)3]βeq33EnormE*

 

=

2{βeq(sin1ee)2(12βeq)+2π3353(PePnorm)(EnormE*)4[βeq3(sin1ee)3(1e2)1/2](32)53243π[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4]}.

Now,

2π3353(PePnorm)(EnormE*)4

=

2π3353[Pe(E*)4](GMtot2)3

 

=

2π3353[(223253)G2Mtot5J2]4(PeG3Mtot6)

 

=

π(592735)J8PeG5Mtot14=10π3(52223)4J8PeG5Mtot14,

which is the definition of the coefficient "k" that is provided as equation (7) of 📚 Tohline (1985). Hence, dropping the factor of two out front, our expression for "free energy extrema" becomes,

βeq(sin1ee)2(12βeq)+10π3(52223)4J8PeG5Mtot14[βeq3(sin1ee)3(1e2)1/2]34π(53233)[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4]

=

0.

Finally, realizing that the square of the sound speed is related to our cnorm2 via the relation [note that 📚 Tohline (1985) uses a2 in place of cs2],

cs2=(34π)cnorm2,

it is clear that this last form of our "free energy extrema" expression is identical to the 📚 Tohline (1985) virial equilibrium equation (9), which appears in print in a simpler but also more cryptic form as,

βeq(sin1ee)2(12βeq)+kV*Fs*

=

0.




S. V. Weber (1976)
Oscillation and Collapse of Interstellar Clouds
The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 208, pp. 113 - 126
 
E=a˙2+γ˙2/2+J2/α243logα2γ+13α2γPext{(3αe)sin1e,e>0,(32αe)logQ,e<0.       (B3)


Plugging the same set of modified leading coefficients into our derived expression for the free energy gives,

𝔊*=3524π[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4]χ23lnχ+(4π3)PePnorm(1e2)1/2χ335(sin1ee)χ1.

Now, recognize that,

χ

=

α(R0Rnorm)=(2235)α,

(1e2)1/2

=

ZR=γα,

PePnorm

=

PeP0P0Pnorm=3453210π[Pext]Weber,

3524π[J2cnorm2G2Mtot4]

=

13(25JWeber)2,

where, for axisymmetric configurations (set β=α in equation 12 of 📚 Weber (1976)),

JWeberα2Ω=(RR0)2(φ˙ct0)2.

Hence, our expression for the free energy may be written as,

𝔊*

=

13(25JWeber)2(3522)2α23lnχ+(4π3)3453210π[Pext]Weber(2235)3α2γ35(sin1ee)(3522)α1

 

=

(322)JWeber2α2lnχ3+122α2γ[Pext]Weber3222(sin1ee)α1.

43𝔊*

=

JWeber2α243lnχ3+13α2γ[Pext]Weber3(sin1ee)α1.

The right-hand-side of this expression exactly matches the 📚 Weber (1976) "energy integral" for oblate-spheroidal configurations — see his equation (B3) for the case, e>0 — except that Weber's energy integral includes an additional pair of terms (α˙2+γ˙2/2) to account for kinetic energy associated with the overall collapse or expansion of the configuration. [NOTE: The logarithmic term ultimately needs to be lnα2γ instead of lnχ3 in order to reflect an oblate-spheroidal, rather than spherical, volume. This term also needs to be fixed in the above discussion of Tohline's work.]

Examples



Material that appears after this point in our presentation is under development and therefore
may contain incorrect mathematical equations and/or physical misinterpretations.
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BiPolytrope

[Following a discussion that Tohline had with Kundan Kadam on 3 July 2013, we have decided to carry out a virial equilibrium and stability analysis of nonrotating bipolytropes.]

We will adopt the following approach:

  • Properties of the core
    • Uniform density, ρc;
    • Polytropic constant, Kc, and polytropic index, nc;
    • Surface of the core at ri;
  • Properties of the envelope
    • Uniform density, ρe;
    • Polytropic constant, Ke, and polytropic index, ne;
    • Base of the core at ri and surface at R.

Use the dimensionless radius,

ξrri.

Then, ξi=1 and ξsR/ri.

Expressions for Mass

Inside the core, the expression for the mass interior to any radius, 0ξ1, is,

Mξ=4π3ρcri3ξ3 .

The expression for the mass interior to any position within the envelope, 1ξξs, is,

Mξ=4π3ri3[ρc+ρe(ξ31)] .

Hence, in terms of a reference mass, M04πρ0R03/3, the mass of the core, the mass of the envelope, and the total mass are, respectively,

Mcore

=

4π3ρcri3=M0[ρcρ0(riR0)3]ρcρ0=McoreM0(riR0)3;

Menv

=

4π3ri3[ρe(ξs31)]=M0(ξs31)[ρeρ0(riR0)3]ρeρ0=MenvM0(riR0)3(ξs31)1;

Mtot

=

4π3ri3[ρc+ρe(ξs31)]=M0(ρcρ0)(riR0)3[1+ρeρc(ξs31)].

Following the work of Schönberg & Chandrasekhar (1942, ApJ, 96, 1615) — see our accompanying discussion — we will discuss bipolytropic equilibrium configurations in the context of a νq plane where,

ν

McoreMtot,

q

riR=1ξs.

With this in mind we can write,

ρeρc=MenvMcore(ξs31)1=q3(1ν)ν(1q3) ,

and,

ν(1q3q3)(ρeρc)=(1ν)ν=[1+(ρeρc)(1q3q3)]1.

Energy Expressions

The gravitational potential energy of the bipolytropic configuration is obtained by integrating over the following differential energy contribution,

dWgrav=(GMrr)dm .

Hence,

Wgrav=Wcore+Wenv

=G{0ri(Mrr)4πr2ρcdr+riR(Mrr)4πr2ρedr}

 

=G{01(4π3ρcri3ξ3)4πri2ρcξdξ+1ξs4π3ρcri3[1+ρeρc(ξ31)]4πri2ρeξdξ}

 

=3GMcore2ri{01ξ4dξ+1ξs[1+ρeρc(ξ31)](ρeρc)ξdξ}

 

=3GMcore2ri{15+(ρeρc)1ξsξdξ+(ρeρc)21ξs(ξ31)ξdξ}

 

=3GMtot2R(McoreMtot)2ξs{15+12(ρeρc)(ξs21)+(ρeρc)2[15(ξs51)12(ξs21)]}

I like the form of this expression. The leading term, which scales as R1, encapsulates the behavior of the gravitational potential energy for a given choice of the internal structure, namely, a given choice of ξs, ν, and density ratio (ρe/ρc). Actually, only two internal structural parameters need to be specified — ξs and fc; from these two, the expressions shown above allow the determination of both (ρe/ρc) and ν. Keeping in mind our desire to discuss the properties of bipolytropes in the context of the νq plane introduced by Schönberg & Chandrasekhar (1942, ApJ, 96, 1615), we will rewrite this expression for the gravitational potential energy as,

Wgrav

=

35(GMtot2R)ν2qf(q,ρeρc),

where,

f(q,ρeρc)

1+52(ρeρc)(1q21)+(ρeρc)2[(1q51)52(1q21)]

 

=

1+52(ρeρc)1q5[(q3q5)+(ρeρc)(25q3+35q5)].

See Also


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