Plasma-like "sausage" oscillations in astrophysical disks

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Most rotating astrophysical disks ranging from planetary rings to galaxies display graceful spiral (and circular) patterns. Yet, over almost 240 years after their first discovery in galaxies by Charles Messier in 1773, we still do not fully understand how they originate. In this paper, a modified theory of the Lin-Shu density waves (or "heavy sound") is presented in which both the axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric structures of astrophysical disks arise from the classical Jeans compression-type instability of small gravity perturbations (e.g. those produced by a spontaneous disturbance). A method is given for the analytical solution of the self-consistent system of the gasdynamic equations and the Poisson equation describing the stability of a given three-dimensional disk composed of gravitating particles, stars, or gaseous clouds. The obtained results for these unstable (that is to say, amplitude growing) even-parity "sausage" oscillations may be applicable to such phenomena as the appearance of the in-plane circular and/or spiral structures of various astrophysical disks. In neutral plasmas such stable collective oscillations correspond to the electrostatic plasma oscillations propagating in a free electron gas, also known as "Langmuir waves".

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationWaves and Instabilities in Space and Astrophysical Plasmas
Pages154-171
Number of pages18
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2012
EventWorkshop on Waves and Instabilities in Space and Astrophysical Plasmas - Eilat, Israel
Duration: 19 Jun 201124 Jun 2011

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume1439
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Conference

ConferenceWorkshop on Waves and Instabilities in Space and Astrophysical Plasmas
Country/TerritoryIsrael
CityEilat
Period19/06/1124/06/11

Keywords

  • Milky Way
  • Oscillations
  • Plasma waves
  • Saturn's rings
  • Self-gravitating systems

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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