Dynamics of Stellar Systems

Preface to the English Edition

Preface to the Russian Edition

Introduction


1. The Subject of Stellar Dynamics


2. A Brief Outline of the Historical Development of Stellar Dynamics


3. The Fundamentals of the Synthetic Method in Stellar Dynamics


4. The Practical Significance of Stellar Dynamics

I. The Fundamental Concepts of Stellar Statistics


1. Some Properties of Univariate Distribution Functions


2. Multivariate Distribution Functions


3. Statistical Properties of Stars

II. The Kinematics of Stellar Systems


1. The Macroscopic Volume Element and the Star Density Function


2. The Phase Density Function


3. The Velocity Distribution Function


4. Centroids


5. The Local Motion of the Sun in the Galaxy


6. The Velocity Ellipsoid and Its Determination from Observations


7. Results of Velocity Ellipsoid Determinations and Some Inferences therefrom


8. The Determination of the Actual Form of the Ellipsoidal Velocity Function


9. The Differential Field of Centroid Velocities. Helmholtz' Theorem for Stellar Systems


10. Determination of the Kinematic Parameters of the Differential Field ofCentroid Velocities from the Observed Velocities of Stars

III. TheE Elementary Theory of Galactic Rotation


1. General Formula of Galactic Rotation


2. The Local Field of Centroid Velocities. Generalization of Oort's Formula


3. Oort's Formula for an Arbitrary Plane-parallel Motion


4. The Physical Basis of the Theory of Galactic Rotation. The Nature of the K Term


5. Determination of the Parameters of Galactic Rotation from Observation


6. Determination of the Period of Rotation and Angular Velocity of the Galaxy


7. Determination of the Mass of the Galaxy


8. The Velocity of Escape and the Phenomenon of the High-velocity Stars


9. Kinematics of Centroids in the Metagalaxy


10. The Problem of Setting up a Fundamental Coordinate System

IV. Irregular Forces in Stellar Systems


1. The Fundamental Quantities which Characterize the State of a Stellar System


2. Star Encounters. Regular and Irregular Forces


3. The Effect of Irregular Forces: Individual Encounters


4. The Effect of Irregular Forces: The Cumulative Effect


5. Various Types of Equilibrium of Stellar Systems. The Quasi-steady State


6. The Relaxation Time and the Disintegration Half-life


7. The Fundamental Paradox in the Classical Dynamics of Stellar Systems


8. The Interaction of Stars with Dust Clouds


9. The Invariance of Maxwell's and Schwarzschild's Velocity Distribution Laws in Stellar Encounters

V. Statistical Stellar Dynamics Neglecting Encounters


1. The Fundamental Differential Equation of Stellar Dynamics


2. The Boltzmann Equation in Curvilinear Coordinates


3. Jeans' Theorem and Liouville's Theorem


4. The Integrals of the Motion in Some Typical Cases


5. One-valued and Many-valued Integrals. The Ergodic Hypothesis in Stellar Dynamics


6. Jeans' Problem. The Symmetry of the Distribution in Velocity Space


7. The Inverse Jeans' Problem


8. The Importance of Using One-valued Integrals of the Motion


9. Quasi-integrals of the Motion. Oort's Quasi-integral


10. The Problem of the Third Integral for Systems with Rotational Symmetry


11. The Potential Energy of Stellar Systems


12. The Virial Theorem. Poincare's Theorem on the Limiting Angular Velocity of Rotation

VI. Regular Orbits of Stars


1. Circular and Almost Circular Orbits in a Stellar System with Rotational Symmetry and a Plane of Symmetry


2. Determination of the Potential of the Galaxy


3. Some Properties of Regular Galactic Orbits


4. The Distribution of Mass in the Galaxy and Some Related Problems


5. Some Properties of Star Orbits in Spherical Systems

VII. The Problem of Local Dynamics


1. Statement of the Problem


2. The, Local Cluster and Its Motion in the Galaxy


3. Observed Anomalies of Stellar Motions in the Neighborhood of the Sun


4. The Linearized Equations of Motion in Lindblad's System of Rotating Coordinates


5. Conditions for the Dynamical Stability of Stellar Condensations


6. The Quasi-precession of the Velocity Ellipsoid


7. The Quasi-tidal Effect on the Velocity Ellipsoid


8. The Application of the Theory to the Observational Results


9. The Combined Quasi-precession and Quasi-tidal Effects


10. The K Effect as a Result of the Dissipation of the Local Cluster


11. The Dynamics of the Local Cluster

VIII. Dynamics of Centroids


1. Macroscopic Motions in Stellar Systems


2. Some Properties of the Kinematics of Centroids


3. Equations of Motion of Centroids in Rectangular Coordinates


4. The Dynamical Significance of the Velocity Moment Tensor


5. Equations of Motion of Centroids in Cylindrical and Spherical Coordinates


6. The Hydrodynamical Equations for a Rotationally Symmetrical System in a Steady State


7. The Explanation of the Asymmetry of Stellar Motions in the Galaxy

IX. Dynamics of Spherical Stellar Systems


1. The Basic Equations for Spherical Systems


2. The Use of the Theory of Polytropic Spheres


3. The Most Probable Phase Distribution


4. The Truncation of the Phase Distribution. Determination of the Star Density


5. Discussion of the Expression Obtained for the Phase Density


6. Determination of the Parameter h2 of the Phase Distribution


7. The Distribution of Star Orbits. Lindblad and Bottlinger Diagrams


8. Spherical Systems with an Inhomogeneous Star Population

X. Dynamic of Rotating Stellar Systems


1. The Masses and Rotation of Various Types of Galaxy


2. The Boundaries of the Galaxies


3. The Method of Additive Parameters


4. The Most Probable Phase Distribution for the Simplest Types of Galaxy


5. The Phase Distribution for Dynamically Determinate Galaxies


6. Equilibrium Figures of D Galaxies


7. The Formation of Sharp Edges in Elliptical Galaxies


8. The Formation of Central Nuclei and Ring Structure in Galaxies


9. The Existence of Needle-shaped and Pear-shaped Galaxies


10. Kapteyn-Lindblad Systems


11. The Fourth Additive Parameter for KL Systems


12. The Most Probable Phase Distribution for KL Systems


13. The Galaxy and Similar Spirals as Kapteyn-Lindblad Systems


14. Some Conclusions Regarding the Processes of Evolution of Stellar Systems

References

Indexes