Overview: Marginally Unstable Pressure-Truncated Configurations

Additional details may be found here.

Isothermal

Structure

Once a central density, <math>~\rho_c</math>, and constituent fluid sound speed, <math>~c_s</math>, have been specified, the internal structure of an equilibrium, isothermal sphere can be completely described in terms of the function, <math>~\psi(\xi) \equiv \ln(\rho_c/\rho)</math>, which is a solution of the,

Isothermal Lane-Emden Equation

<math>~\frac{1}{\xi^2} \frac{d}{d\xi}\biggl( \xi^2 \frac{d\psi}{d\xi} \biggr) = e^{-\psi}</math>

subject to the boundary conditions, <math>~ \psi = 0</math> and <math>~d\psi/d\xi = 0</math> at <math>~\xi = 0</math>. In isolation, the isothermal sphere extends to infinity. But configurations of finite extent can be constructed by truncating the function, <math>~\psi</math>, at some radius, <math>~0 < \xi_e < \infty</math> — such that the surface density is finite and set by the value of <math>~\psi_e \equiv \psi(\xi_e)</math> — and embedding the configuration in a hot, tenuous medium that exerts an "external" pressure, <math>~P_e = c_s^2 \rho_c e^{-\psi_e}</math>, uniformly across the surface of the — now, truncated — sphere. The internal structure of such a "pressure-truncated" isothermal sphere is completely describable in terms of the same function, <math>~\psi(\xi)</math>, that describes the structure of the isolated isothermal sphere, except that beyond <math>~\xi_e</math> the function becomes irrelevant.

A sequence of equilibrium, pressure-truncated isothermal spheres is readily defined by varying the value of <math>~\xi_e</math>. Figure 1 displays the behavior of such an equilibrium sequence, as viewed from three different astrophysical perspectives (in all cases, <math>~c_s</math> is held fixed while <math>~\xi_e</math> is varied monotonically along the sequence): Left panel — A diagram showing how the truncated configuration's equilibrium volume varies with the externally applied pressure, if the configuration's mass is held fixed. Center panel — A diagram showing how the truncated configuration's mass varies with the equilibrium radius, if the external pressure is held fixed. Right panel — A diagram that shows how the configuration's mass varies with central density, if the external pressure is held fixed.

Figure 1: Equilibrium Sequences of Pressure-Truncated Isothermal Spheres (viewed from three different astrophysical perspectives)
●	<math>~\xi_e</math>	^†External Pressure vs. Volume (Fixed Mass)	Mass vs. Radius (Fixed External Pressure)	^‡Mass vs. Central Density (Fixed External Pressure)
●	4.05
●	6.45
●	9.00
●	67.00
●	98.50
●	735.00
●	1060.00
^†This is the classic P-V diagram that shows up in most discussions of Bonnor-Ebert spheres. ^‡In a similar diagram in which the radius (rather than external pressure) is held fixed, the purple (rather than green) markers identify mass extrema.

In Figure 1, the small, yellow circular marker identifies the configuration along each equilibrium sequence for which <math>~\xi_e = 4.05</math>. In the center panel it marks the approximate location of a "turning point" along the mass-radius equilibrium sequence; specifically, it identifies the configuration along the sequence that exhibits the maximum equilibrium radius. This yellow marker does not appear to be associated with any particularly special feature of the equilibrium sequence displayed in the left figure panel or the one displayed in the panel on the right. Moving along each of the displayed sequences, past the yellow marker, one encounters a small, green circular marker that identifies the configuration for which <math>~\xi_e = 6.45</math>. In the left panel, it marks the approximate location of another "turning point"; specifically, the turning point that identifies the external pressure above which no equilibrium configurations exist. This will hereafter be referred to as the <math>~P_e</math>-max turning point. It is clear that, in both the center panel and the right panel, this green marker is also associated with a turning point — the so-called Bonnor-Ebert limiting mass.

As we have reviewed in a separate chapter, Bonnor was the first to point out, in the context of the <math>~P-V</math> diagram (left panel of Figure 1), that the precise location of the <math>~P_e</math>-max turning point is given by the configuration for which,

<math>~\biggl[e^{\psi} \biggl( \frac{d\psi}{d\xi}\biggr)^2\biggr]_{\xi_e} = 2 \, .</math>

We (and others before us) have determined numerically that this condition is satisfied for <math>~\xi_e \approx 6.451053</math>.

Moving still further along each Figure 1 equilibrium sequence, one encounters in succession: a purple marker <math>~(\xi_e = 9)</math>; a green marker <math>~(\xi_e = 67)</math>; a purple marker <math>~(\xi_e = 98.5)</math>; a green marker <math>~(\xi_e = 735)</math>; and, finally, a purple marker <math>~(\xi_e = 1060)</math>. The two additional green markers were specifically put in place in the left panel of Figure 1 to identify the approximate locations of additional local extrema in the external pressure; and the three purple markers were put in place to identify the approximate locations of local extrema in the configuration volume. We see from the center and right panels that the configurations identified by the green markers are also associated with additional local extrema in the mass, but the purple markers do not appear to be associated with any particularly special feature of these two equilibrium sequences.

Stability

For any individual model along the equilibrium sequences depicted in Figure 1 — more specifically, for any choice of the truncation radius, <math>~\xi_e</math> — we can call upon traditional radial pulsation theory to determine the eigenvectors associated with that configuration's natural modes of radial oscillation. The determination of an eigenvector for a particular mode in a particular equilibrium model requires the simultaneous determination of how the fractional displacement, <math>~x \equiv \delta r/r</math>, varies with radial location throughout the configuration <math>~(0 < \xi \le \xi_e)</math>, and the associated (square of the) frequency of oscillation, <math>~\sigma_c^2 \equiv 3\omega^2/(2\pi G\rho_c)</math>, of that mode. Formally, in the context of pressure-truncated isothermal spheres, this is accomplished by solving the eigenvalue problem that is defined mathematically by the,

Isothermal LAWE (linear adiabatic wave equation)

	<math>~0 = \frac{d^2x}{d\xi^2} + \biggl[4 - \xi \biggl( \frac{d\psi}{d\xi} \biggr) \biggr] \frac{1}{\xi} \cdot \frac{dx}{d\xi} + \biggl[ \biggl( \frac{\sigma_c^2}{6\gamma_\mathrm{g}}\biggr)\xi^2 - \alpha \xi \biggl( \frac{d\psi}{d\xi} \biggr) \biggr] \frac{x}{\xi^2} </math>
where: <math>~\sigma_c^2 \equiv \frac{3\omega^2}{2\pi G\rho_c}</math> and, <math>~\alpha \equiv \biggl(3 - \frac{4}{\gamma_\mathrm{g}}\biggr)</math>

subject to the boundary conditions,

and

<math>~\frac{d\ln x}{d\ln\xi} = -3</math> at <math>~\xi = \xi_e</math>.

When pursuing this type of analysis, it is broadly appreciated that a stable mode of radial oscillation will exhibit an eigenvector with a positive value of <math>~\sigma_c^2</math>, while an eigenvector for which <math>~\sigma_c^2</math> is negative identifies a dynamically unstable mode of oscillation.

In an accompanying discussion, we review and replicate many aspects of the computational analysis presented by Taff & Van Horn (1974) of radial modes of oscillation in pressure-truncated isothermal spheres. They restricted their analysis to models having <math>~2 \le \xi_e \le 10</math>, that is, to models in the vicinity of the <math>~P_e</math>-max turning point; see the left panel of our Figure 1, above. While focusing specifically on the fundamental mode of oscillation, Taff and Van Horn showed — as had Yabushita (1968) before them — that <math>~\sigma_c^2</math> is positive for configurations that lie to the right of the <math>~P_e</math>-max turning point, while it is negative for configurations that lie to the left of this turning point. This result supported the astrophysics community's widely held expectation that the <math>~P_e</math>-max turning point is associated with the onset of a dynamical instability in pressure-truncated isothermal spheres.

In a pair of papers that, to date, have not been widely cited, Yabushita (1974, 1975) provided solid proof that the <math>~P_e</math>-max turning point precisely marks the onset of dynamical instability in pressure-truncated isothermal spheres. Specifically, he showed that, if the adiabatic exponent is assigned the value, <math>~\gamma_g = 1</math>, in which case the parameter, <math>~\alpha = -1</math>, the following analytically defined eigenvector provides an

Exact Solution to the Isothermal LAWE
<math>~\sigma_c^2 = 0</math>	and	<math>~x = 1 - \biggl( \frac{1}{\xi e^{-\psi}}\biggr) \frac{d\psi}{d\xi} \, .</math>

(Note that, because <math>~\sigma_c^2 = 0</math>, this eigenvector must be associated with a configuration that is marginally [dynamically] unstable.) In an accompanying discussion, we have demonstrated explicitly that this eigenvector is a solution to the isothermal LAWE. Along the way, we have also shown that the first logarithmic derivative of Yabushita's eigenfunction is given by the expression,

<math>~\frac{1}{x}\biggl[ \biggl(\frac{d\psi }{d\xi} \biggr)^2 e^\psi + 3x-2\biggr] \, .</math>

Hence, if at the surface we impose the above-specified boundary condition, namely, <math>~d\ln x/d\ln\xi = -3</math>, then this also means that, at the surface,

<math>~\biggl[ e^\psi \biggl(\frac{d\psi }{d\xi} \biggr)^2 \biggr]_{\xi_e} </math>

And this is precisely the condition, highlighted above, that Bonnor showed was associated with the critical <math>~P_e</math>-max turning point along the equilibrium sequence. Hence, as Yabushita (1975) recognized, we can precisely associate the configuration at the turning point with the marginally [dynamically] unstable configuration.

Elaboration

Figure 2: Yabushita Displacement Function

The curve drawn in all three panels of Figure 2, shown here on the right, are identical. They each trace on a semi-log plot the behavior of, what we will henceforth refer to as, the Yabushita displacement function,

<math>~\equiv</math>

<math>~1 - \biggl( \frac{1}{\xi e^{-\psi}}\biggr) \frac{d\psi}{d\xi} \, ,</math>

over the radial coordinate range, <math>~\xi = 0.1</math> to <math>~\xi = 1830</math>. The function is formally valid over the entire coordinate range, <math>~0 \le \xi \le \infty</math>; for practical purposes, only a segment of it is being displayed here.

The solid, blue portion of the curve that appears in the top panel of Figure 2 extends from (near) the center of the isothermal sphere, out to the radial-coordinate location where the logarithmic derivative of the Yabushita displacement function first presents the value,

If we truncate the isothermal sphere at this radius and, accordingly, truncate <math>~x_Y</math> at this radius as well (a short, blue vertical line segment has been drawn at this radial location to emphasize the truncation), then the (truncated) Yabushita displacement function not only satisfies the isothermal LAWE, but it also satisfies the desired "surface" boundary condition. We can conclude, therefore, that in tandem with the value of the eigenfrequency that accompanies Yabushita's solution — namely, <math>~\sigma_c^2 = 0</math> — the blue curve segment in the top panel of Figure 2 represents a true eigenfunction. Because it exhibits no radial nodes, we conclude that it is the eigenfunction associated with a fundamental mode oscillation.

A small, green circular marker also appears in the top panel of Figure 2. It has been placed on the Yabashita displacement function curve at the radial-coordinate location, <math>~\xi_e = 6.45</math>, corresponding to the truncation radius of the equilibrium configuration that sits at the first pressure-extremum in the left panel of Figure 1. The fact that the location of this green marker coincides with the truncation radius that naturally attends the Yabushita analysis provides a graphical illustration of the key point made above: a precise association can be made between the configuration at the <math>~P_e</math>-max turning point and the configuration along the equilibrium sequence whose fundamental, radial mode of oscillation has an oscillation frequency of zero and, therefore, is marginally [dynamically] unstable.

Because the Yabushita displacement function undulates back and forth between positive and negative values, we were not surprised to find that there are additional radial-coordinate locations (besides the first one, <math>~\xi_e \approx 6.45</math>) at which the function's logarithmic derivative equals negative three. In the middle panel of Figure 2, the blue curve segment has been extended to, and truncated at, the point along the Yabushita displacement function where the function presents, for the second time, the value,

If we truncate the isothermal sphere at this radius then, as before, the (truncated) Yabushita displacement function not only satisfies the isothermal LAWE, but it also satisfies the desired "surface" boundary condition. We can conclude, therefore, that the blue curve segment in the middle panel of Figure 2 represents another true eigenfunction. Because this eigenfunction exhibits one radial node, we conclude that it is the eigenfunction associated with a first harmonic mode of oscillation; and because the (square of the) eigenfrequency that accompanies the Yabushita displacement function is, <math>~\sigma_c^2 = 0</math>, we conclude that the blue curve segment in the middle panel of Figure 2 is an eigenfunction of the configuration in which the first harmonic, rather than the fundamental, mode is marginally [dynamically] unstable.

But where, along the equilibrium sequence, does this configuration lie? The small, green circular marker that appears in the middle panel of Figure 2 has been placed on the Yabashita displacement function curve at the radial-coordinate location, <math>~\xi_e = 67</math>, that corresponds to the truncation radius of the equilibrium configuration that sits at the second pressure-extremum in the left panel of Figure 1. This graphically illustrates that a direct association can be made between the configuration that sits at the second pressure extremum along the equilibrium curve and the configuration along the sequence that is marginally [dynamically] unstable to the first harmonic mode of oscillation. This is not simply a graphically approximate association but, rather, a precise one because the parameters that define both the configuration at the relevant turning point in Figure 1 and the configuration whose first harmonic mode of oscillation is displayed in the middle panel of Figure 2, satisfy the condition,

<math>~\biggl[e^{\psi} \biggl( \frac{d\psi}{d\xi}\biggr)^2\biggr]_{\xi_e} = 2 \, .</math>

In the bottom panel of Figure 2, the blue curve segment has been extended to, and truncated at, the point along the Yabushita displacement function where the function presents, for the third time, the value,

Following a line of reasoning that is analogous to the others, just presented, we conclude that this blue curve segment represents a third true eigenfunction. This time, because the eigenfunction exhibits two radial nodes, we conclude that it is the eigenfunction associated with a second harmonic mode of oscillation; and because the (square of the) eigenfrequency that accompanies the Yabushita displacement function is, <math>~\sigma_c^2 = 0</math>, we conclude that the blue curve segment in the bottom panel of Figure 2 is an eigenfunction of the configuration in which the second harmonic mode is marginally [dynamically] unstable. Finally, as the placement of the small, green circular dot in the bottom panel of Figure 2 illustrates, we find that there is a precise association between the configuration that sits at the third pressure extremum along the equilibrium curve and the configuration along the sequence that is marginally [dynamically] unstable to the second harmonic mode of oscillation.

Presumably many more associations of this type can be made, with the configuration located at successive pressure-extrema being identified as a configuration that is marginally unstable to the next higher harmonic, radial mode of oscillation. We note, also, that although we have focused on drawing an association between configurations marginally unstable pressure extrema

Final Thought

In the above elaborative discussion, we have demonstrated that a direct association can be drawn between configurations that sit at specific equilibrium-sequence turning points and the onset of dynamical instabilities. It is important to emphasize that each such association is precise only because we have assumed that,

is the appropriate surface boundary condition to impose on the radial oscillations of pressure-truncated isothermal spheres. This precise association will break down if the discussion of turning points and dynamical instabilities is carried out within the context of a different physical scenario that argues for the imposition of a quantitatively different surface boundary condition.

Polytropic

Given a value of the polytropic index, <math>~n</math>, the internal structure of a detailed force-balance model is provided via the function, <math>~\theta(\xi)</math>, which is a solution of the,

Polytropic Lane-Emden Equation

<math>~\frac{1}{\xi^2} \frac{d}{d\xi}\biggl( \xi^2 \frac{d\Theta_H}{d\xi} \biggr) = - \Theta_H^n</math>

subject to the boundary conditions, <math>~\Theta_H = 1</math> and <math>~d\Theta_H/d\xi = 0</math> at <math>~\xi = 0</math>.

To identify pure radial oscillation modes, we seek solutions to the,

Polytropic LAWE

	<math>~0 = \frac{d^2x}{d\xi^2} + \biggl[ 4 - (n+1) Q \biggr] \frac{1}{\xi} \cdot \frac{dx}{d\xi} + (n+1) \biggl[ \biggl( \frac{\sigma_c^2}{6\gamma_g } \biggr) \frac{\xi^2}{\theta} - \alpha Q\biggr] \frac{x}{\xi^2} </math>
where: <math>~Q(\xi) \equiv - \frac{d\ln\theta}{d\ln\xi} \, ,</math> <math>~\sigma_c^2 \equiv \frac{3\omega^2}{2\pi G\rho_c} \, ,</math> and, <math>~\alpha \equiv \biggl(3 - \frac{4}{\gamma_\mathrm{g}}\biggr)</math>

We have discovered that, for any value of the polytropic index in the range, <math>~3 \le n < \infty</math>, the following eigenvector specification provides a

Precise Solution to the Polytropic LAWE
<math>~\sigma_c^2 = 0</math>	and	<math>~x = 1 + \biggl(\frac{n-3}{n-1}\biggr) \biggl( \frac{1}{\xi \theta^{n}}\biggr) \frac{d\theta}{d\xi} </math>

if the adiabatic exponent is assigned the value, <math>~\gamma_g = (n+1)/n</math>, in which case the parameter, <math>~\alpha = (3-n)/(n+1)</math>.

References

User:Tohline/SSC/Stability/InstabilityOnsetOverview

Contents