Boltzmann-Poisson equation with a central body: Analytical solutions in one and two dimensions.

Abstract

We consider an isothermal self-gravitating system surrounding a central body. This model can represent a galaxy or a globular cluster harboring a central black hole. It can also represent a gaseous atmosphere surrounding a protoplanet. In three dimensions, the Boltzmann-Poisson equation must be solved numerically to obtain the density profile of the gas [Chavanis et al., Phys. Rev. E 109, 014118 (2024)10.1103/PhysRevE.109.014118]. In one and two dimensions, we show that the Boltzmann-Poisson equation can be solved analytically. We obtain explicit analytical expressions of the density profile around a central body which generalize the analytical solutions found by Camm (1950) and Ostriker (1964) in the absence of a central body. Our results also have applications for self-gravitating Brownian particles (Smoluchowski-Poisson system), for the chemotaxis of bacterial populations in biology (Keller-Segel model), and for two-dimensional point vortices in hydrodynamics (Onsager's model). In the case of bacterial populations, the central body could represent a supply of "food" that attracts the bacteria (chemoattractant). In the case of two-dimensional vortices, the central body could be a central vortex.