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C L Pekeris

Publications and source records attributed to C L Pekeris.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Note on the form of the metric for an isolated vortex in general relativity.

Calling a metric semidiagonal if it has a single off-diagonal element g t, we show that the stationary interior solution for a cylindrically symmetrical perfect fluid possessing an angular momentum cannot have a semidiagonal metric, unless the motion of the fluid particles is purely rotational around the axis of symmetry. A discussion is given of the relativistic spherical vortex in flat space, with a view of seeking a solution for such an isolated vortex in which gravitation is not neglected.

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Solution of the coupled Einstein-Maxwell equations in oblate spheroidal coordinates.

Using Ernst's theory of complex potentials, a solution of the coupled Einstein-Maxwell equations in oblate spheroidal coordinates is obtained for a source possessing mass, electric charge, and angular momentum. The density of the electromagnetic energy is evaluated. Explicit expressions are derived for the components of the Ricci tensor Rmunu, and of the electromagnetic energy momentum tensor Emunu, as well as for Enumu.

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Solution of Dirac's equation in Reissner-Nordström geometry.

The nature of the singularity at the origin of the solution of Dirac's equation in Reissner-Nordström geometry is different from that in flat space. Here, both independent solutions are regular at the origin, and both give a convergent normalization integral. The choice between the two solutions is made by requiring that the variational integral, from which the differential equation can be derived, be convergent. The gravitational shift of the ground state of hydrogen in Reissner-Nordström geometry is estimated to be only of order 10(-36) MH.

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Note on four-particle wave functions.

Dougall's expansion is used in the expression for the volume element in tetrahedral coordinates, thereby lifting the spherical triangle restriction on the angles at the tetrahedral vertex. Application is made to the evaluation of matrix elements for the ground state of three-electron atoms.

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Gravitational field of a charged mass point.

Adopting, with Schwarzschild, the Einstein gauge ((munu) = -1), a solution of Einstein's field equations for a charged mass point of mass M and charge Q is derived, which differs from the Reissner-Nordstrøm solution only in that the variable r is replaced by R = (r(3) + a(3))((1/3)), where a is a constant. The Newtonian gravitational potential psi identical with (2/c(2))(1 - g(00)) obeys exactly the Poisson equation (in the R variable), with the mass density equal to (E(2)/4pic(2)), E denoting the electric field. psi also obeys a second linear equation in which the operator on psi is the square root of the Laplacian operator. The electrostatic potential Phi (= Q/R), psi, and all the components of the curvature tensor remain finite at the origin of coordinates. The electromagnetic energy of the point charge is finite and equal to (Q(2)/a). The charge Q defines a pivotal mass M(*) = (Q/G((1/2))). If M < M(*), then the whole mass is electromagnetic. If M > M(*), the electromagnetic part of the mass M(em) equals [M - (M(2) - M(*2))((1/2))], whereas the material part of the mass M(mat) equals (M(2) - M(*2))((1/2)). When M > M(*), the constant a is determined, following Schwarzschild, by shrinking the "Schwarzschild radius" to zero. When M < M(*), a is determined so as to make the gravitational acceleration vanish at the origin.

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Stationary spiral flow in polytropic stellar models.

It is shown that, in addition to the static Emden solution, a self-gravitating polytropic gas has a dynamic option in which there is stationary flow along spiral trajectories wound around the surfaces of concentric tori. The motion is obtained as a solution of a partial differential equation which is satisfied by the meridional stream function, coupled with Poisson's equation and a Bernoulli-type equation for the pressure (density). The pressure is affected by the whole of the Bernoulli term rather than by the centrifugal part only, which acts for a rotating model, and it may be reduced down to zero at the center. The spiral type of flow is illustrated for an incompressible fluid (n = 0), for which an exact solution is obtained. The features of the dynamic constant-density model are discussed as a basis for future comparison with the solution for compressible models.

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A relativistic spherical vortex.

This investigation is concerned with stationary relativistic flows of an inviscid and incompressible fluid. In choosing a density-pressure relation to represent relativistic "incompressibility," it is found that a fluid in which the velocity of sound equals the velocity of light is to be preferred for reasons of mathematical simplicity. In the case of axially symmetric flows, the velocity field can be derived from a stream function obeying a partial differential equation which is nonlinear. A transformation of variables is found which makes the relativistic differential equation linear. An exact solution is obtained for the case of a vortex confined to a stationary sphere. One can make all three of the components of velocity vanish on the surface of the sphere, as in the nonrelativistic Hicks spherical vortex. In the case of an isolated vortex on whose surface the pressure is made to vanish, it is found that the pressure at the center of the sphere becomes negative, as in the nonrelativistic case.A solution is also obtained for a relativistic vortex advancing in a fluid. The sphere is distorted into an oblate spheroid. The maximum possible velocity of advance of the vortex is (2/3) c.

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Theory of homogeneous dynamos in a rotating liquid sphere.

A spherical harmonic analysis is made of the hydrodynamic equation governing the flow of an incompressible liquid in a rotating sphere in the presence of the magnetic Lorentz force. Nonlinear partial differential equations are derived for the functions S(n)(r,t) and T(n)(r,t) entering the spherical harmonic representation of the velocity field.

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On the possibility of a hydrodynamic model of the electron.

We explore the possibility that the mutual repulsive forces of a uniformly charged sphere could be kept in balance dynamically by a steady circulation of the material, which is assumed to be a nonconducting perfect fluid of uniform density. An exact solution is obtained of Maxwell's equations and of the hydrodynamic equations in the nonrelativistic approximation, which satisfies the boundary conditions on the surface of the sphere. In this solution all the components of the velocity and of the magnetic field are found to vanish on the surface, but not the electric field. The pressure can also be made to vanish on the surface, but in the interior it turns out to be negative, which makes the present solution unacceptable.

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Stationary spherical vortices in a perfect fluid.

Necessary conditions are derived for a spherical vortex in a perfect fluid to be stationary in the case when the velocities depend on a single surface harmonic. The motion is indeterminate unless an additional condition is imposed. In the case when this condition is incompressibility, the equations are solved, yielding a class of stationary spherical vortices.

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Stability of Plane Poiseuille Flow to Periodic Disturbances of Finite Amplitude, II.

The stability of plane Poiseuille flow to periodic disturbances of finite amplitude was investigated by expanding each harmonic of the solution in terms of the Orr-Sommerfeld eigenfunctions with coefficients which are functions of time. The system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations for the coefficients was solved, and the number of harmonics N was extended from 3, of the previous investigation, to 5. The shift in the neutral curve in going from N = 3 to N = 5 is considerable, indicating insufficient convergence. The higher-order harmonics are effective because the zone of mode-coalescence rises with increasing N.

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The magnetic field induced by the bodily tide in the core of the Earth.

The motion in the liquid core of the earth due to the bodily tide can induce a periodic magnetic field having the frequency sigma of the tide as well as multiple frequencies, including a steady term. The coupling coefficient for the steady term between the convectively inducing and induced fields is estimated to be of the order of sigmaH(2)/lambda, where H denotes the height of the equilibrium tide, and lambda = 1/4pikappa, kappa denoting the electrical conductivity of the core. With sigma = 1.4 x 10(-4) sec(-1), H = 20 cm, and kappa = 3 x 10(-6) emu, the coupling coefficient comes out only of the order of 10(-6), as against unity in the case of the dynamo theory.

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Stability of Plane Poiseuille Flow to Periodic Disturbances of Finite Amplitude, III.

The stability of plane Poiseuille flow to periodic disturbances of finite amplitude was reinvestigated by the use of 55 harmonics instead of five in the Orr-Sommerfeld expansion, but all the (20) overtones in each harmonic were dropped. The fundamental mode was chosen as the one of lowest phase velocity c(r), so as to enhance the wall effects. The neutral curve obtained gives values of the critical amplitude lambda(c) that are considerably higher than in the previous calculation. Near the critical Reynolds number, the neutral curve approaches the values derived previously by an analytical method.

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