Open AccessKinetic theory viscosity
Author(s) -
Clarke C. J.,
Pringle J. E.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.07847.x
Subject(s) - physics , kinetic energy , isotropy , classical mechanics , kinetic theory , shear flow , simple (philosophy) , flow (mathematics) , theoretical physics , viscosity , mechanics , statistical physics , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics , philosophy , epistemology
We show how the viscous evolution of Keplerian accretion discs can be understood in terms of simple kinetic theory. Although standard physics texts give a simple derivation of momentum transfer in a linear shear flow using kinetic theory, many authors, as detailed by Hayashi & Matsuda, have had difficulties applying the same considerations to a circular shear flow. We show here how this may be done, and note that the essential ingredients are to take proper account of, first, isotropy locally in the frame of the fluid and, secondly, the geometry of the mean flow.