Selected Papers, Volume 3
Stochastic, Statistical, and Hydromagnetic Problems in Physics and Astronomy
9780226100951
Selected Papers, Volume 3
Stochastic, Statistical, and Hydromagnetic Problems in Physics and Astronomy
This is the third of six volumes collecting significant papers of the distinguished astrophysicist and Nobel laureate S. Chandrasekhar. His work is notable for its breadth as well as for its brilliance; his practice has been to change his focus from time to time to pursue new areas of research. The result has been a prolific career full of discoveries and insights, some of which are only now being fully appreciated.
Chandrasekhar has selected papers that trace the development of his ideas and that present aspects of his work not fully covered in the books he has periodically published to summarize his research in each area.
This volume is divided into four sections. The first, on dynamical friction and Brownian motion, includes papers written after Chandrasekhar published his 1942 monograph Principles of Stellar Dynamics. Also in this section is "Stochastic Problems in Physics and Astronomy," one of the most cited papers in the physics literature, as well as papers written jointly with John von Neumann that have been given impetus to recent research. As Chandrasekhar notes, the papers in the second section, on statistical problems in astronomy, were influenced by Ambartsumian’s analysis of brightness in the Milky Way. A third section on the statistical theory of turbulence addresses issues still unresolved in fluid dynamics, and the last section is devoted to hydromagnetic problems in astrophysics that are not discussed in Chandrasekhar’s monographs.
Chandrasekhar has selected papers that trace the development of his ideas and that present aspects of his work not fully covered in the books he has periodically published to summarize his research in each area.
This volume is divided into four sections. The first, on dynamical friction and Brownian motion, includes papers written after Chandrasekhar published his 1942 monograph Principles of Stellar Dynamics. Also in this section is "Stochastic Problems in Physics and Astronomy," one of the most cited papers in the physics literature, as well as papers written jointly with John von Neumann that have been given impetus to recent research. As Chandrasekhar notes, the papers in the second section, on statistical problems in astronomy, were influenced by Ambartsumian’s analysis of brightness in the Milky Way. A third section on the statistical theory of turbulence addresses issues still unresolved in fluid dynamics, and the last section is devoted to hydromagnetic problems in astrophysics that are not discussed in Chandrasekhar’s monographs.
656 pages | 1 halftone, frontispiece | 6.75 x 9.50 | © 1989
Physical Sciences: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Physics and Astronomy, Theoretical Physics
Table of Contents
Foreword by Norman R. Lebovitz
Author’s Note
Part One - Dynamical Friction and Brownian Motion
1. A Statistical Theory of Stellar Encounters
The Astrophysical Journal 94, no. 3 (1941): 511-25
2. The Statistics of the Gravitational Field Arising From a Random Distribution of Stars. I, The Speed of Fluctuations, with J. von Neumann
The Astrophysical Journal 95, no. 3 (1942): 489-531
3. The Statistics of the Gravitational Field Arising From a Random Distribution of Stars. II, The Speed of Fluctuations; Dynamical Friction; Spatial Correlations, with J. von Neumann
The Astrophysical Journal 97, no. 1 (1943): 1-27
4. The Statistics of the Gravitational Field Arising From a Random Distribution of Stars. III, The Correlations in the Forces Acting at Two Points Separated by a Finite Distance
The Astrophysical Journal 99, no. 1 (1944): 25-46
5. The Statistics of the Gravitational Field Arising From a Random Distribution of Stars. IV, The Stochastic Variation of the Force Acting on a Star
The Astrophysical Journal 99, no. 1 (1944): 47-53
6. On the Stability of Binary Systems
The Astrophysical Journal 99, no. 1 (1944): 54-58
7. Dynamical Friction. I, General Considerations: The Coefficient of Dynamical Friction
The Astrophysical Journal 97, no. 2 (1943): 255-62
8. Dynamical Friction. II, The Rate of Escape of Stars From Clusters and the Evidence for the Operation of Dynamical Friction
The Astrophysical Journal 97, no. 2 (1943): 263-73
9. Dynamical Friction. III, A More Exact Theory of the Rate of Escape of Stars From Clusters
The Astrophysical Journal 98, no. 1 (1943): 54-60
10. New Methods in Stellar Dynamics
Annals of The New York Academy of Sciences 45, art. 3 (1943): 131-62
11. Galactic Evidences for the Time-Scale of the Universe
Science 99, no. 2564 (1944): 133-36
12. Stochastic Problems in Physics and Astronomy
Reviews of Modern Physics 15, no. 1 (1943): 1-89
13. Brownian Motion, Dynamical Friction and Stellar Dynamics
Reviews of Modern Physics 21, no. 3 (1949): 383-88
14. Marian Smoluchowski as the Founder of the Physics of Stochastic Phenomena
R. S. Ingarden, ed., Polish Men of Science: Marian Smoluchowski; His Life and Scientific Work, 21-28. Polish Scientific Publishers, 1986
15. On a Class of Probability Distributions
Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 45, Pt. 2, (1948): 219-24
Part Two - Statistical Problems in Astronomy
16. The Theory of the Fluctuations in Brightness of the Milky Way, I.
With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 112, no. 3 (1950): 380-92
17. The Theory of the Fluctuations in Brightness of the Milky Way, II. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 112, no. 3 (1950): 393-98
18. The Theory of the Fluctuations in Brightness of the Milky Way, III. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 114, no. 1 (1951): 110-22
19. The Theory of the Fluctuations in Brightness of the Milky Way, IV. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 115, no. 1 (1952): 94-102
20. The Theory of the Fluctuations in Brightness of the Milky Way, V. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 115, no. 1 (1952): 103-23
21. On Stellar Statistics. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 113, no. 1 (1951): 150-65
22. A Statistical Basis for the Theory of Stellar Scintillation
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 112, no. 5 (1952): 475-83
23. On the Integral Equation Governing the Distribution of the True and the Apparent Rotational Velocities of Stars. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 111, no. 1 (1950): 142-56
Part Three - Statistical Theory of Hydromagnetic Turbulence
24. On Heisenberg’s Elementary Theory of Turbulence
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 200 (1949): 20-33
25. The Invariant Theory of Isotropic Turbulence in Magneto-Hydrodynamics
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 204 (1951): 435-49
26. The Invariant Theory of Isotropic Turbulence in Magneto-Hydrodynamics, II
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 207 (1951): 301-6
27. The Fluctuations of Density in Isotropic Turbulence
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 210 (1951): 18-25
28. The Gravitational Instability of an Infinite Homogeneous Turbulent Medium
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 210 (1951): 26-29
29. The Theory of Axisymmetric Turbulence
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, A, 242, no. 855 (1950): 557-77
30. The Decay of Axisymmetric Turbulence
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 203 (1950): 358-64
31. On Turbulence Caused by Thermal Instability
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, A, 244, no. 884 (1952): 357-84
32. Some Aspects of the Statistical Theory of Turbulence
Proceedings of the 4th Symposium of the American Mathematical Society: Fluid Dynamics, 1-17. University of Maryland, 1951
33. Turbulence--A Physical Theory of Astrophysical Interest (Henry Norris Russell Lecture)
The Astrophysical Journal 110, no. 3 (1949): 329-39
Part Four - Hydromagnetic Problems in Astrophysics
34. Magnetic Fields in Spiral Arms. With E. Fermi
The Astrophysical Journal 118, no. 1 (1953): 113-15
35. Problems of Gravitational Stability in the Presence of a Magnetic Field. With E. Fermi
The Astrophysical Journal 118, no. 1 (1953): 116-41
36. On the Pulsation of a Star in Which There is a Prevalent Magnetic Field. With D. Nelson Limber
The Astrophysical Journal 119, no. 1 (1954): 10-13
37. The Equilibrium of Magnetic Stars. With Kevin H. Prendergast
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 42, no. 1 (1956): 5-9
38. On Cowling’s Theorem on the Impossibility of Self-Maintained Axisymmetric Homogeneous Dynamos. With G. E. Backus
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 42, no. 3 (1956): 105-9
39. Axisymmetric Magnetic Fields and Fluid Motions
The Astrophysical Journal 124, no. 1 (1956): 232-43
40. Effect of Internal Motions on the Decay of a Magnetic Field in a Fluid Conductor
The Astrophysical Journal 124, no. 1 (1956): 244-65
41. Hydromagnetic Oscillations of a Fluid Sphere with Internal Motions
The Astrophysical Journal 124, no. 3 (1956): 571-79
42. On Force-Free Magnetic Fields
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 42, no. 1 (1956): 1-5
43. On Force-Free Magnetic Fields, With P. C. Kendall
The Astrophysical Journal 126, no. 2 (1957): 457-60
44. On Force-Free Magnetic Fields, With L. Woltjer
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 44, no. 4 (1958): 285-89
45. On the Equilibrium Configurations of an Incompressible Fluid with Axisymmetric Motions and Magnetic Fields
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 44, no. 9 (1958): 842-47
46. On Cosmic Magnetic Fields
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 43, no. 1 (1957): 24-27
Author’s Note
Part One - Dynamical Friction and Brownian Motion
1. A Statistical Theory of Stellar Encounters
The Astrophysical Journal 94, no. 3 (1941): 511-25
2. The Statistics of the Gravitational Field Arising From a Random Distribution of Stars. I, The Speed of Fluctuations, with J. von Neumann
The Astrophysical Journal 95, no. 3 (1942): 489-531
3. The Statistics of the Gravitational Field Arising From a Random Distribution of Stars. II, The Speed of Fluctuations; Dynamical Friction; Spatial Correlations, with J. von Neumann
The Astrophysical Journal 97, no. 1 (1943): 1-27
4. The Statistics of the Gravitational Field Arising From a Random Distribution of Stars. III, The Correlations in the Forces Acting at Two Points Separated by a Finite Distance
The Astrophysical Journal 99, no. 1 (1944): 25-46
5. The Statistics of the Gravitational Field Arising From a Random Distribution of Stars. IV, The Stochastic Variation of the Force Acting on a Star
The Astrophysical Journal 99, no. 1 (1944): 47-53
6. On the Stability of Binary Systems
The Astrophysical Journal 99, no. 1 (1944): 54-58
7. Dynamical Friction. I, General Considerations: The Coefficient of Dynamical Friction
The Astrophysical Journal 97, no. 2 (1943): 255-62
8. Dynamical Friction. II, The Rate of Escape of Stars From Clusters and the Evidence for the Operation of Dynamical Friction
The Astrophysical Journal 97, no. 2 (1943): 263-73
9. Dynamical Friction. III, A More Exact Theory of the Rate of Escape of Stars From Clusters
The Astrophysical Journal 98, no. 1 (1943): 54-60
10. New Methods in Stellar Dynamics
Annals of The New York Academy of Sciences 45, art. 3 (1943): 131-62
11. Galactic Evidences for the Time-Scale of the Universe
Science 99, no. 2564 (1944): 133-36
12. Stochastic Problems in Physics and Astronomy
Reviews of Modern Physics 15, no. 1 (1943): 1-89
13. Brownian Motion, Dynamical Friction and Stellar Dynamics
Reviews of Modern Physics 21, no. 3 (1949): 383-88
14. Marian Smoluchowski as the Founder of the Physics of Stochastic Phenomena
R. S. Ingarden, ed., Polish Men of Science: Marian Smoluchowski; His Life and Scientific Work, 21-28. Polish Scientific Publishers, 1986
15. On a Class of Probability Distributions
Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 45, Pt. 2, (1948): 219-24
Part Two - Statistical Problems in Astronomy
16. The Theory of the Fluctuations in Brightness of the Milky Way, I.
With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 112, no. 3 (1950): 380-92
17. The Theory of the Fluctuations in Brightness of the Milky Way, II. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 112, no. 3 (1950): 393-98
18. The Theory of the Fluctuations in Brightness of the Milky Way, III. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 114, no. 1 (1951): 110-22
19. The Theory of the Fluctuations in Brightness of the Milky Way, IV. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 115, no. 1 (1952): 94-102
20. The Theory of the Fluctuations in Brightness of the Milky Way, V. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 115, no. 1 (1952): 103-23
21. On Stellar Statistics. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 113, no. 1 (1951): 150-65
22. A Statistical Basis for the Theory of Stellar Scintillation
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 112, no. 5 (1952): 475-83
23. On the Integral Equation Governing the Distribution of the True and the Apparent Rotational Velocities of Stars. With G. Münch
The Astrophysical Journal 111, no. 1 (1950): 142-56
Part Three - Statistical Theory of Hydromagnetic Turbulence
24. On Heisenberg’s Elementary Theory of Turbulence
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 200 (1949): 20-33
25. The Invariant Theory of Isotropic Turbulence in Magneto-Hydrodynamics
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 204 (1951): 435-49
26. The Invariant Theory of Isotropic Turbulence in Magneto-Hydrodynamics, II
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 207 (1951): 301-6
27. The Fluctuations of Density in Isotropic Turbulence
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 210 (1951): 18-25
28. The Gravitational Instability of an Infinite Homogeneous Turbulent Medium
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 210 (1951): 26-29
29. The Theory of Axisymmetric Turbulence
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, A, 242, no. 855 (1950): 557-77
30. The Decay of Axisymmetric Turbulence
Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 203 (1950): 358-64
31. On Turbulence Caused by Thermal Instability
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, A, 244, no. 884 (1952): 357-84
32. Some Aspects of the Statistical Theory of Turbulence
Proceedings of the 4th Symposium of the American Mathematical Society: Fluid Dynamics, 1-17. University of Maryland, 1951
33. Turbulence--A Physical Theory of Astrophysical Interest (Henry Norris Russell Lecture)
The Astrophysical Journal 110, no. 3 (1949): 329-39
Part Four - Hydromagnetic Problems in Astrophysics
34. Magnetic Fields in Spiral Arms. With E. Fermi
The Astrophysical Journal 118, no. 1 (1953): 113-15
35. Problems of Gravitational Stability in the Presence of a Magnetic Field. With E. Fermi
The Astrophysical Journal 118, no. 1 (1953): 116-41
36. On the Pulsation of a Star in Which There is a Prevalent Magnetic Field. With D. Nelson Limber
The Astrophysical Journal 119, no. 1 (1954): 10-13
37. The Equilibrium of Magnetic Stars. With Kevin H. Prendergast
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 42, no. 1 (1956): 5-9
38. On Cowling’s Theorem on the Impossibility of Self-Maintained Axisymmetric Homogeneous Dynamos. With G. E. Backus
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 42, no. 3 (1956): 105-9
39. Axisymmetric Magnetic Fields and Fluid Motions
The Astrophysical Journal 124, no. 1 (1956): 232-43
40. Effect of Internal Motions on the Decay of a Magnetic Field in a Fluid Conductor
The Astrophysical Journal 124, no. 1 (1956): 244-65
41. Hydromagnetic Oscillations of a Fluid Sphere with Internal Motions
The Astrophysical Journal 124, no. 3 (1956): 571-79
42. On Force-Free Magnetic Fields
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 42, no. 1 (1956): 1-5
43. On Force-Free Magnetic Fields, With P. C. Kendall
The Astrophysical Journal 126, no. 2 (1957): 457-60
44. On Force-Free Magnetic Fields, With L. Woltjer
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 44, no. 4 (1958): 285-89
45. On the Equilibrium Configurations of an Incompressible Fluid with Axisymmetric Motions and Magnetic Fields
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 44, no. 9 (1958): 842-47
46. On Cosmic Magnetic Fields
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 43, no. 1 (1957): 24-27