A self-gravitating fluid with density ρ, pressure P(ρ) and velocity v in a gravitational potential Φ obeys the equations
∂t∂ρ+∇⋅(ρv)∂t∂v+(v⋅∇)v+ρ∇P+∇Φ∇2Φ=0=0=4πGρ
Assume that there exists a static constant solution of these equations with v=0,ρ=ρ0 and Φ=Φ0, for which ∇Φ0 can be neglected. This solution is perturbed. Show that, to first order in the perturbed quantities, the density perturbations satisfy
∂t2∂2ρ1=cs2∇2ρ1+4πGρ0ρ1
where ρ=ρ0+ρ1(x,t) and cs2=dP/dρ. Show that there are solutions to this equation of the form
ρ1(x,t)=Aexp[−ik⋅x+iωt]
where A,ω and k are constants and
ω2=cs2k⋅k−4πGρ0
Interpret these solutions physically in the limits of small and large ∣k∣, explaining what happens to density perturbations on large and small scales, and determine the critical wavenumber that divides the two distinct behaviours of the perturbation.