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Jamipat
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This is regarding an accretion disc orbiting a star. In the z (vertical) direction there is a hydrostatic equilibrium.
[itex]\frac{1}{ρ}[/itex][itex]\frac{∂P}{∂z}[/itex] = -[itex]\frac{GMz}{(R^{2} + z^{2})^{3/2}}[/itex]
The right hand side of the expression is the Gravitational potential energy and the left side is the pressure gradient.
Can someone explain to me how the pressure gradient works in an accretion disc as I don't understand how the pressure gradient of an accretion disc is strong enough to equal the gravitational potential energy of the star?
http://www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/~rpn/ASTM735/lecture3.pdf
More information is on Section 3.3.1 in the lecture note.
[itex]\frac{1}{ρ}[/itex][itex]\frac{∂P}{∂z}[/itex] = -[itex]\frac{GMz}{(R^{2} + z^{2})^{3/2}}[/itex]
The right hand side of the expression is the Gravitational potential energy and the left side is the pressure gradient.
Can someone explain to me how the pressure gradient works in an accretion disc as I don't understand how the pressure gradient of an accretion disc is strong enough to equal the gravitational potential energy of the star?
http://www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/~rpn/ASTM735/lecture3.pdf
More information is on Section 3.3.1 in the lecture note.
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