The density and drag of the accretion wake of a massive body moving through a uniform stellar distribution
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Date
2004
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Open Access Location
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Massey University
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Abstract
We calculate the change in density within a uniform distribution of field
stars (point masses) caused by a single massive body passing through with
a constant velocity. Starting with the simplest case in which the field stars
are initially stationary this leads to an infinite density wake behind the body.
Introducing a small thermalisation within the field stars removes this infinity
whilst leading to similar results off the path of the massive body. Results are
in good agreement with those previously derived. An approximation can be
made for the density in the thermalised case and this can be used to deduce
the force exerted on the massive body due to the drag caused by the accretion
wake.
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Astrophysics
Citation
Sweatman, W.L. Heggie, D.C. (2004), The density and drag of the accretion wake of a massive body moving through a uniform stellar distribution, Research Letters in the Information and Mathematical Sciences, 6, 123-134