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Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences
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additional terms in the current and charge-density equations proportional to the vector and
scalar potentials.When applied to a spherically symmetrical smoothed-out universe, the revised
equations establish almost rigorously that electrical requirements imply a strict velocitydistance law for the mass motion of expansion. For agreement with observation, the
requisite charge on the proton would be (1 + y) e where y 2 x 10-18, or, if the charges are
strictly equal in magnitude, it requires 1 + y protons for every electron, with the same value
of y. The value of the Hubble constant alnd of the smoothed-out density of matter in the
universe are shown to be simply related by the theory to the rate of creation.
The same solution is shown. to hold equally in de Sitter space-time, and the principle of
are expelled with energies corresponding to the highest energy cosmic rays.
These units will take part in the general expansion, not under the direct action of the
electric repulsion, but because they form and grow from the expanding background material.
Any small departure in velocity of a unit from the local value would be quickly removed
through the gravitational braking action associated with accretion of further material. The
gravitational potential at the surface of a unit is such that infalling hydrogen atoms will have
energy of motion corresponding to temperature of the order of a million degrees, and the outer
parts of the units at least will be at high temperature.
1. INTRODUCTION
as integer multiples of e. If therefore we write for the charges of the proton and
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It may be remarked that both classical electron theory and quantum theory as
they stand are imperfect to the extent that they contain this tacit postulate of
precise equality, which is as yet unjustified, so that in any event it is an outstanding
requirement for these theories, and one that it is our purpose to discuss, to settle to
what degree y could differ from zero without upsetting established results. So far as
this concept is entirely adequate for the reason that only very large numbers of
electrons and protons are involved in the macroscopic phenomena to which classical
theory refers.
In the more general case here to be investigated, if equations (1) hold, then a
completely neutral body (if such exists) would contain a slight excess of free electrons
to about 1 in every 1018, but this would not render it appreciably conducting, since in
good conductors something of the order of 1 in 100 electrons are free. Accordingly,
nothing in ordinary electrical theory is likely to need reconsideration if the proton
and electron charges differ slightly in magnitude.
On the other hand, the value of e enters several important quantities (for example,
the Rydberg constant, and the fine-structure constant), and since in their present
forms the definitions of these do not discriminate between the electron and
proton charges, some redefinition might be required if the present hypothesis were
established.
atom (consisting of proton and electron) will at large distance no longer behave as if
way, will also possess a charge ye. And for other elements, the conservation postulate
will mean that the total charge is always the sum of the individual charges.
On the other hand, the hypothesis of the continual creation of both charge and
matter simultaneously will be introduced later, and in this sense charge will come
to be no longer strictly conserved. But charge once it has come into existence will be
exactly equal and opposite to that of the electron, and so differs slightly from
that of the proton.)
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The mass 1 of a body containing N protons and N' electrons will accordingly
order of 10-5 to 10-4 CM in radius, and were assumed to be spherical. Thus, with a
density of order u.nity for the oil, the mass of the droplets would have been in the
range of about 4 x 10-15 to 4 x 10-12 g. Hence, since the mass of the proton is
1 66 x 10-24 g, the number N of protons in such a body would lie in the range from
roughly 109 to 1012. These experiments were considered to establish integral jumps
in e with an accuracy of about 1 part in 103, but if we suppose the experiments to be
capable of accuracy to 1 part in 105, this would require the non-integral part of the
charge, namely Nye, to amount to less than 10-5e. Accordingly, for the largest of the
oil drops this would require 1012ye < 10-5e, or y < 10-17. Thus the oil-drop experiments certainly require that y should be exceedingly small, but it will be seen in
what follows that a value of y, even of the order of 10-18, could have important
consequences for distributions of hydrogen having dimensions of the order of
intergalactic distances and larger.
Even for so apparently small a value of y, however, it is clear that for masses
containing a number of protons of the order of 1018 or more, the excess charge Nye
could amount to a quantity of order e itself, though not in general any integral
multiple of it. Any integral part of Ny could be counteracted by electrons, so that
on this basis small bodies could exist with non-vanishing charge of magnitude
less than e, but in general bearing no rational or integral relation to e. For example,
if N should equal the integral part of (2y)-1, which will be a large number 0(1018),
the least residual charge would be + Se. The smallest bodies for which the accuracy
of 1 in 103 claimed for the oil-drop experiments would begin to fail would contain
N-1 0-3 X 1018 protons in order of magnitude, and so have mass exceeding 10-9 g and
radius about 10-3 cm. Outstanding charge of order e itself would result for a mass of
order 1018 protons, or 106 g and radius 10-2 cm. If some means of detection were to
require the field to give a force comparable with the weight of the particle, this would
be a strength approacliing Mg/e e.s.u. For M 1 10-6 g this would mean a field of at
least some 108 V/cm, which is so strong that it is doubtful if any direct test on the
lines of the original oil-drop experiment could be successfully made, though it
remains possible that some ingenious indirect test could be devised. The importance
of such measures to the modern notion of strict quantization of charge is clear.
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Although the hypothesis of charge excess will be discussed here on the basis of
equations (1), it is plain that an exactly equal volume charge-density could be
achieved if the number of protons exceeded the number of electrons everywhere in
the ratio 1 + y: 1 throughout the universe, but now with the two charges precisely
equal in magnitude. On this basis, any mass of material could have zero total charge,
and the experiment just proposed would accordingly enable a decision to be made
between the two forms of the charge-excess hypothesis. Clearly, any theoretical
basis for such a hypothesis must eventually be found in that of the process of
creation of matter itself, as to which almost nothing is known at present.
Some of the results here to be obtained would follow on either form of the hypothesis, but the later results involving a state of ionization would appear to require
more intricate consideration if treated on the basis of a numerical excess of protons.
We shall proceed therefore to conduct the investigation on the basis of the form (1).
and will show to begin with that if y has a value greater than about 10-Is a uniform
expansion will result in any large-scale smoothed-out distribution of material as
a result of the action of ordinary electrostatic forces. In this way the hypothesis
appears to be immediately capable of explaining the expansion of the universe within
of any mystical additional force, suc:h as the cosmical repulsion, to existing theory.
It is necessary, however, to deal with the problem stage by stage, so that although
we shall begin by considering how a smoothed-out distribution would behave, we
shall later consider how creation of matter, and with it of charge, will affect this
situation, and later still consider the possibility of local irregularities of distribution
coming to exist within the smoothed-out background distribution.
The possible consequences of such universal forces in Newtonian theory were first
investigated by Milne and McCrea, regardless of their source, and McCrea has since
placed the whole derivation on a rigorous basis. However, their discussion was
Here, on the other hand, we arrive at a universal inverse-square repulsionl, but the
McCrea model would be readily adaptable to this, and for it expansion inevitably
results, not simply through special initial conditions involving rapid speeds of
separation, but because of the ubiquitous repulsion.
4. EXPANSION PRODUCED BY THE CHARGE EXCESS ye IN A UNIFORM
DISTRIBUTION OF UN-IONIZED HYDROGEN
R and containing total mass 111. The number of protons within it will be M/mp, and
each has excess charge ye, so the electrostatic repulsion on an atom of hydrogen
(itself having charge ye) at the surface of the sphere R is radially outwards and
equal to M y2e2
MP
R2
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(5)
density of charge and therefore exerting no electric force at interior points. The
same will also hold for gravitational effects on the hydrogen atom, and so the
gravitational attraction of M on the hydrogen atom at its surface is equcal to
GMm,/R2.
(6)
y2e2 (ye \2
charge distribution. We are for the moment concerned simply with establishing the
origin of the force; the avoiding of any special centre of expansion and of boundary
effects is taken up later.
It is evident that the form (9) for the repulsion is consistent with a linear velocitydistance law in a homogeneous universe as far as the dynamics of such a motion is
concerned. It may also be remarked that the law of repulsion is such that it will
otherwise implied by expansion. Moreover, any such creation of matter mriust on the
present basis also inmply creation of charge, the ratio of the latter rate to the former
necessarily being ye/mp. Exactly the same would hold on the secoid form of the
hypothesis in which an excess proportion y of protons is created everywhere.
Now if the value of y is such that expansion does occur, which of course is what we
shall suppose, the radial streaming of material will imply a radial electric current,
since charge is carried with it, and this in turn may imply electric and magnetic fields.
But it is important to realize that it will not be possible to examine the nature of such
fields on the basis purely of Maxwell's equations as they stand because these involve
strict conservation of charge, whereas creation on the present basis must involve
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of the Maxwell equations, and there is precisely one four-vector available within
the theory that we can adopt for this purpose, namely, the potential fourvector. Accordingly, modified equations of the simplest form that can be constructed
are as follows:
C ~~~~~~~~~~~~~(10)
The newly introduced terms are simply The factor A must have dimensions (length)
constant. It seems reasonable to expect even at this stage that A4 will be of the
order of the radius of the universe, as an obvious length associated with the problem,
and by analogy with earlier interpretations of the cosmical constant introduced into
invariance has been lost, for the potential four-vector now has direct physical
significance, since its actual components enter the equations determining j and p.
The need for the new termns can be made clear at once if we attempt to apply the
unmodified equations to an expanding spherically symmetrical system that is
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spherical symmetry, so that all quantities depend on r and t only. If the creation rate
is denoted by q electrostatic units of charge per unit volume per unit time, the
equation of continuity of charge will be replaced by
divj+p
q.
(12)
Now in (10), taking the divergence of (iii) and using (iv), we have
0 = divcurHl = = divj + - div E-A div A
Let us now apply these modified equations to a system having complete spherical
symmetry about a point 0 from which we measure distance r and the position
vector r. Then the forms of the potentials must be
H=0O,
wherein
dot
-rc+
(15)
represents
alat
The values of the current-vector and charge-density for a solution of this type are
then obtained from (iii) and (iv) of (10) as
we observe to begin with from (17) that p will become very large for small r unless
* This section is intermediate in character between ? 4, where the repulsive force occurs
explicitly but no account is taken of uniformity, and ? 8, where uniformity is explicit but
the repulsive force is hidden in the formalism.
2I
Vol.
252.
A.
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arrive at on the basis of g = const. automatically leads tof = const., with the result
that this second requirement in (17) is fulfilled satisfactorily.
On this basis then, the equations reduce in the first place to
47r 47Tq
-47j=Afr=
r,
(21)
(f
/g)
r.
(23)
It therefore follows that the solution arrived at from consideration of the modified
electromagnetic equations, including the creation terms, is entirely consistent with
p=3qT.
(25)
qTmr
3ye
(6
(26)
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3
If,
for
3QT.
(27)
example,
we
su
estimates, and T - 1010 years 3 x 1017 s, then the corresponding rate of c reation is
found to be Q 10-46gcm-351
while q 6 x 10-50 e.s.u. cm-3 s-.
expansion, with the consequence that ' remains constant with time and is the same
everywhere in space. Hitherto, the steady state has been an assumption of cosmology,
but the present analysis supplies an almost rigorous proof of it. We are still considering a smoothed-out distribution: the question of condensations (to be identified
later as related to galaxies and clusters of galaxies) within this continuum will be
discussed in due course in this paper.
v=
dt
(28)
dt2
(29)
dt-T2
10-18.
(31)
Exact balance between the gravitational attraction and the electrostatic repulsion,
according to (7) and (8), would be given by ,u = 1, or y = 9 x 10-19. On the other
hand, we have seen that existing experimental evidence at its severest interpretation
probably places an upper limit on y of about 10-17, so that a value of ,u approaching
even 102 would not be inconsistent with it. The foregoing numerical values show,
however, that such a value would imply a far stronger repulsive force than is needed
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have
and
-{4
GQQ}-,
y={Q2/127T(ta-
1)
(32)
G}-1-.
(33)
K,1 = four-potential,
Then Maxwell's equations, modified in exactly the same way as before to make nonconservation of charge possible, are
from
(36)
J,
AK,.
(39)
A=K#/ = 4_gay#gv-gK,)
- 1/z
1 xA (1Kvlgz)
a / au l
~~~-3- E B3~~~ P-2V2U ~(40)
at at/
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term-s would then have to be some non-singular solution of the modified wave
equation
82U
R'U
at2 Rk at 112
and it seems )probable that no such solutions exist.
If now R(t) exp (t/T) and U depends on t only, then (40) becomes
d2U 3dU q
dt2+Tdt
=A'
(42)
space components of J, arises here from the choice of a co-moving system of coordinates that partakes of the general expansion and renders all points equivalent.
The general validity of the former solution is thus demonstrated.
We m-ay conclude therefore that the earlier solution would in fact be valid for any
observer wherever situated and regarding himself as at the origin 0, and would
imply that the velocity-distance law would hold for every such observer out to
distances at which the speed attained to that of light. The well-known cosmological
principle of equivalence of observers is thus shown to be a property of the simple
solution derived on a Newtonian basis.
9. THE STRESS-ENERGY TENSOR APPROPRIATE TO THE MODIFIED
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
It is of interest to follow up the modification of the Maxwell equations by considering the corresponding modifications that will enter the stress-energy tensor. It
will be recalled that the symmetrical stress-energy tensor E/v of ordinary theory is
expression for the current in terms of the field variables will be changed to
JI- _F Xv; v + AKI,(
a rate (electrostatically regarded) equal to the product of the rate of creation with
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differences are physically significant, for a creation process the absolute value of
whereas the second term is precisely of the form to be expected for the energy due to
creation. It may also be noted that this new energy tensor is the only one that can be
reasonably constructed solely from the four-potential and its first derivatives. Let us
now apply this modified tensor to the cosmological system as developed here. For
the de Sitter representation already given the scalar potential Ko is constant, and
the remaining components K4 (i = 1, 2, 3) = 0, owing to the spatial homogeneity.
Hence,
by
(35)
0
(0)
e2
Y2mc2
(54)
= nGmp/e2 by (7)
iCyj/c2
3jIt I
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The introduction of the small terms in A into the Maxwell equations can readily
shown to involve that the speed of propagation of radiation depends on the wavelength, and it is therefore necessary to demonstrate that the effect is too small to
produce detectable dispersion. To establish this, let us consider a plane wave
propagated in empty space, so that (jp) = 0, for which the potentials are
a32A 1 a2A
-c
Thus
two
waves
+2
2.
differing
(56)
in
frequ
___2 21 27r2(1/A)
cA wavelength(
Since the electric repulsive force given by (9) is proportional to y, it follows that
any irregularity of density above or below the average will tend to be smoothed out
at once to restore uniform space distribution. This indeed is what the solution of the
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the general distribution of hydrogen as being un-ionized and therefore non-conducting, and the suggestion of the theory is that this state describes the background,
intergalactic, and intercluster (of galaxies) material.
tion now to be explained. It has latterly been becoming clear from various observational considerations that each individual galaxy appears to be embedded in a far
larger gaseous halo, probably more or less spherical in shape and at high temperature,
and we shall suppose the term 'galaxy' to refer to the whole system including this
halo. Similarly, for a cluster of galaxies, there is likely to be a surrounding general
halo incorporating the entire system. To save having to keep making the distinction
(if any exists) between single galaxy systems and those involving clusters of
galaxies, we shall refer to either kind of system and its halo as a unit. Thus henceforth the term unit will refer to an ionized region within the general universal
background distribution.
For any galaxy, or cluster of galaxies, the total emitted radiation will be capable
of ionizing surrounding material out to a certain distance. It is known that within
the galaxy highly luminous stars do this where hydrogen clouds happen to surround
them, while there is also the evidence of interstellar lines generally, and of absorption
lines in the spectra of remote galaxies. We shall suppose that the radius of any unit
is such that all ionizing radiation has already been absorbed within it, and that the
sizes of the units are small, say of the order of a tenth, compared with the distances
separating them. Such a view is entirely in accord with observation, but it would be
necessary for completeness that the correctness of this should eventually be
established also theoretically, though this would appear to require far more
definite knowledge of the nature and state of the intergalactic medium than is yet
available.
density in every element of volume within the conducting region. Thus even if at
any stage a positive charge density exists at some place, protons will be displaced
outwards from it till zero density is reached. Similarly, if negative charge density
should occur, protons would be displaced in, or electrons out, until zero density is
material within the conducting units will necessarily on the whole remain electrically
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Moreover, the positive charge thereby brought to the surface of a unit cannot be
held there, since there are no restraining forces possible in gaseous ionized material
(of the kind that restrain charge from leaving the surface of ordinary metallic conductors). The protons wili simply flow off into the surrounding non-conducting
space (with what speed is a question considered later), and go to augment slightly the
positive charge density already existing there. Since the charge excess of one
hydrogen atom is ye, it follows that the expulsion of 2 protons in 1018 from a con-
ducting unit can render it everywhere neutral. Since the amount of material con-
densed into units (galaxies and clusters and their haloes) is likely to be only a small
fraction of the whole, the infusion of such a small proportion of protons in the
surrounding non-conductinig continuum will not make it seriously conducting, but
only serve to raise its charge density slightly. Any interaction between these
expelled protons and the hydrogen of the background distribution will (lepend on
their cross-section for collision, and this in turn will depend on their speed. It will
appear later that these speeds are so great that no interaction can occur.
Since a unit is neutral, any element of volume of its material will be unaffected by
electrical forces. Unlike the background material, it will therefore not be subject to
any electrostatic pressure tending to make it expand, and on the large scale it will
thus be subject only to gravitational forces (apart from internal stress effects). For
the same reason, interaction between a unit and the surrounding positively charged
of the unit can be taken as the centre of expansion, and then locally at distance r
there is expansion speed vr = r/T, and each element of interunitary material will
have energy Ivr2 per unit mass tending to make it escape from the attraction of the
unit. The condition for the latter to prevail and the unit therefore to go on growing
by radial accretion is
2GM
R > VR,
(58)
where M and R are the mass and radius of the unit. This means, denoting the density
of the unit by u, 2 R2
4 ?r/UR3 R > T2 > (59)
is,
since
1a
5,
Yu
>
2y.
(61)
It follows therefore that once a unit exists at such a density, it can go on growing by
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means
ju
>
203y.
(64)
Hence for a factor of, say, 104 in density ratio as between unit and continuum,
control would be exercised out to a distance of nearly 20R.
unit, since this is the background density that creation maintains. Hence the total
charge maintained on the surface of a unit is AgR3y ye/me, and the repulsive force
this exerts on a proton at the surface (because of its charge e) is 3rgRl ye2 /mn. On the
other hand, the gravitational attraction that the unit exerts on the proton is
GMmp/R2 = 7TRju Gmp. The proton will escape into the surrounding medi
latter force is the weaker, and that is so long as
ye2 4U
Hence until the density of a unit came to exceed this exceptionally, if not im
high amount (galactic densities are < 10 20 g/cm3), the protons could readily escape,
and the excess charge be carried away perfectly freely by protons to maintain the
unit electrically neutral everywhere within it.
The actual speeds the protons would attain under the actioni of this electric
repulsion will be considered later, but it is first necessary to consider how the electrostatic potential of a unit is to be calculated in view of the additional terms in A in the
Maxwell equations.
It will now be shown that the presence of the terms in A in the revised Maxwell
equations makes only negllgible difference to the potential that would be obtained
by elementary electrostatic theory, and therefore that this latter provides an entirely
adequate approximation.
Let us consider then the solution of (10) and (11) appropriate to a spherical conductor of radius a bearing a total surface charge S. Creation of charge must be
regarded as occurring now, and we must therefore allow for the possibility of a
volume charge outside the sphere. The same will hold for inside, but the physical
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'
(67)
~4ir
It now follows that Er - db/dr and that 05 is therefore constant within the
ducting sphere. Also equation (66) in terms of 0 becomes
requires
that
S
(70)
condition (70), gives C = S/(1 + ka), and so the potential functions are
))i = k2 Ia + ka' I
= 47rpo S e-k(r-d) (72)
Aex k2~- + lk
It is of interest to notice, from (69), that the internal volume density is given by
k1 2 P+k2S 1 (3
k 5int. Po4a 1 + ka(
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probably at most, while k is of order 10-28 cM-l, it follows that the potential differe
can be taken as S/a with error at most about 1 part in 104. This then establishes that
the error introduced is O(ka), as would have been expected, and accordingly it will
be permissible to apply elementary theory to find potential differences from this
point onwards.
The arguments of the preceding sections show that the potential at the surface of
a unit, and hence also of its interior, as a result of continiual creation within it, must
be maintained at a value given by
Supposing
V-4
Since,
for
units
of
1018
other
in
volts.
(76)
dimensions,
We are thus led to the interesting conclusion that the expelled particles will have
high cosmic-ray energies, and will evidently consist chiefly of protons, though it is
possible that nuclei of heavier elements could also be expelled to a limited extent
conisistent with the composition of the unit as a whole. Such particles as are expelled
from a uniit at say potential V, will be able to enter another uinit in its path provided
that it is at lower potential V2, say, and if the circumstances of its motion are such as
to bring this about, it would arrive at the lower potential unit with energy V1 - V2.
Since values of R miay perhaps range over a factor of 10, it is plain that this potenitial
difference may be of the same order as V for at least some units, and possibly our
own system among them. Thus the energies of particles received in tlis way from
other external units may be expected to take all values up to possibly even 1019 volts.
The identification of these particles with the hardest high-energy cosmic rays can
scarcely be resisted in view of the obvious agreement of energy, and is particularly
inviting owing to the well-known difficulties there have been in assigning any
suitable origin to them within our own galactic system. The limit of energy is
certainlly of the right order, and it is also known experimentally that protons
constitute by far the greatest part of primary cosmic rays. It has been found by
Fermi that the collision cross-sectioni for the particles of very high energy is about
2*5 x 10-26 cm2, and the length of path L required for their absorption in hydrogen at
density 10-29 g/cM3 will have to be such that
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of the flux of this hardest component of cosmic radiation at a general point of space.
For in a shell at distance between r and r + dr from the point concerned, there will be
4mTr2 drN units. If the total flux from each unit, supposed the same, is E ergs per
second then, allowing for the recession effect, the received energy at the point will be
As to the number density, if it may be supposed that units are separated by say
20 times their own radius on the average, then each one may be regarded as associated with a volume (IOR)3, and so N -(1OR)-3 in order of magnitude. If we insert
these values for E and N, expression (78) becomes, with the value of q given by (26),
electric force making them take part in the expansion, it is necessary to s:how that
other effects occur that maintain the units at rest, or almost so, relative to the local
continuum where it is situated. Such effects are not difficult to point out.
In the first place, the fact that the units condense out of the background continuum
will give them zero speed relative to it. For, because of the linearity of the expansion
law, the centre of the condensing unit can be taken as origin, and the velocity of
every element of mass will initially be radially outwards from it and proportional to
the distance. Any symmetrical condensation will therefore have zero velocity
relative to the centre.
Secondly, since each unit is continually gathering in material from the surroundin
background continuum by gravitational action, even if at any stage it is not at rest
relative to the continuum it will tend to become so not only from the momentum of
the material actually captured, but also from the reaction of the uncaptured materia
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of adjacent units. The standard length associated with a mass 1 moving with
speed V through a gaseous medium is GH/ V2, and if the cut-off distance is denoted
dM 4igG2H2y8
dt
V3
is
readily
(82)
J2(83)
found
V(8+3x)/=2+a)
and
hence
any
from
-21T
random
about the mass of the galaxy, and VO = 105 Cm, then t = 3 x 104 ye
are utterly negligible. This, incidentally, justifies the adoption above of a value of VO
as small as 1 km/s in estimating a time for braking to take effect.
It would appear therefore that single galaxy systems grow practically by means
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The surface charge maintained at the outer boundary of a unit follows at once
will be of order 1m,(GX/R), and equating this to the thermal energy 3kE) associated
with temperature 0, where k is here the Boltzmann constant, the resulting tem-
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