Self-similar collapse of collisional gas in an expanding Universe

May, 2000
Published in:
  • Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 319 (2000) 797
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Abstract: (arXiv)
Similarity solutions are found for the adiabatic collapse of density perturbations δM/Mrs\delta M/M \propto r^{-s} (s>0)(s>0) in a flat universe containing collisional gas only. The solutions are obtained for planar, cylindrical, and spherical perturbations with zero initial pressure. For adiabatic index γ4/3\gamma\ge 4/3, a shock develops at a fixed fraction of the current turnaround distance. Near the center of a spherical perturbations with γ>4/3\gamma>4/3 and s>1/2s>1/2, the gas is in quasi-hydrostatic equilibrium (pressure supported) and has an asymptotic power law density profile, ρr3s/(s+1)\rho\sim r^{-3s/(s+1)}, independent of γ\gamma. For s1/2s\le 1/2, the profile depends on γ\gamma, the pressure is finite, the temperature decreases inward, and gravity dominates pressure causing a continuous inward flow. Although for 1/2<s<21/2<s<2 the temperature decreases at the center, the gas is pressure supported. The pressure is finite in cylindrical perturbations for s2(γ1)/(3γ4)s\le 2(\gamma-1)/(3\gamma-4), and in planar perturbations for any s>0s>0. We also derive the asymptotic behaviour of the gas variables near the center in a universe dominated by collisionless matter. In such a universe, the gas in a spherical perturbation with s<2s<2 cannot be pressure supported and the temperature approaches a constant near the center. The solutions and the asymptotic behaviour are relevant for modelling the gas distribution in galaxy clusters and pancake-like superclusters, and determining the structure of haloes of self-interacting dark matter with large interaction cross section.
  • COSMOLOGY THEORY
  • GRAVITATION
  • DARK MATTER
  • BARYONS
  • IGM