In his chapter on correspondences between algebraic curves Prof. Baker has raised a problem concerning the possibility, when we are given the equations of Hurwitz for a correspondence between two algebraic curves, of obtaining therefrom a reduction of the everywhere finite integrals on either curve into complementary regular defective systems of integrals. The problem is stated as an unproved theorem, an exact formulation of which is given below. The object of the present note is to give a proof of this theorem on the lines of Prof. Baker's chapter.

In 1907 Enriques and Severi published an extensive and fascinating account of hyperelliptic surfaces. In general a hyperelliptic surface is that expressed by the necessary relation connecting three meromorphic functions of two variables which have four columns of periods. Such functions arise naturally by associating the two variables, in accordance with Jacobi's inversion problem for hyperelliptic integrals of genus 2, with a pair of points of a hyperelliptic curve. When the primitive periods of the functions are those arising for the curve, and the set of three functions chosen is representative, in the sense that only one pair of (incongruent) values of the variables arises for given values of the functions, the surface is called by Enriques and Severi a Jacobian surface; but, if several sets of (incongruent) values of the variables arise for given values of the functions, say r sets, the surface is said to be of rank r. For example, when the three functions are all even, to each set of values of these there belong not only the values u, v of the variables, but also the values −u, − v, and r is thus even, being 2 at least, as in the case of the Kummer surface. In the paper referred to, many cases in which r > 1, corresponding to particular hyperelliptic curves possessing involutions of order r, are worked out. In general the method followed consists in arguing, from the character of the associated group of order r, to the character and equation of the hyperelliptic surface Φ of rank r; and from this the Jacobian surface F is inferred upon which there exists an involution of sets of r points, the surface Φ being the representation of this involution. The argumentation is always beautiful, but often not very brief. The hyperelliptic surfaces for which the primitive periods of the functions are not those of a hyperelliptic curve are also shown in the paper to arise from involutions on the Jacobian surface; with these I am not here concerned.

In two previous notes I have given the various types of non-singular surfaces with sectional genera 4 and 5. In this paper the methods previously adopted are applied to the non-singular surfaces of sectional genus 6. For purposes of classification these may be divided into the four classes:

(1) Regular, non-rational.

(2) Rational.

(3) Irregular, non-referable.

(4) Referable.

1. In 1891, Castelnuovo suggested that there may exist canonical surfaces which consist of three sheets covering the same surface. In particular, he remarked that, if the canonical curves of a surface contain a then the canonical model of the surface is certainly a three-sheeted surface. An example is the quintic surface with a tacnode, in space of three dimensions; its canonical model is a triple plane, branching along a curve of order 12 with twenty-four cusps which lie on a quartic.

As particular cases of the general problem of finding the most general limiting tangential form of a degenerate manifold, we discuss here the degeneration of a curve on a surface into one or more multiple components, and the degeneration of a surface on a threefold into a single surface counting multiply, the method used consisting essentially in finding the approximate form of the curve or surface as the limit is approached. The approach system is supposed in all cases to be contained in a linear system of curves or surfaces, on the surface or threefold considered.

J. A. Todd has enunciated the following theorem:

“If the canonical adjoints ∑ of an irreducible curve Γ contain fixed parts, then, if Γ is not elliptic, all the fixed curves are simple, rational, determined uniquely by the base points, which present independent conditions for them, and have no free intersections with each other or with the variable part of the system ∑.”

In the general systems of vortices represented by (1) the mean variation in pressure is

where K is a number which varies between 1 and √2. When the vortices are confined to cubical partitions, the case most nearly analogous to that of free turbulence, K = 1·06, so that the conjecture which I made some years ago, that would be equal to is probably nearly correct.

1. The velocity distribution in fluid of small viscosity, or at large Reynolds number, in the laminar boundary layer associated with a thin flat plate along the main direction of flow, has been worked out by Blasius on the basis of the Prandtl theory. These original investigations covered the region from the forward edge of the plate to the downstream edge. In a recent paper Goldstein investigated the velocity distribution in the wake immediately behind the downstream edge over a region within about 0·5l from it, l being the length of the plate. Later

Tollmien obtained a first approximation to the flow at a great distance down-stream. Goldstein § extended Tollmien's solution by finding a second approximation and by joining it up with his previous work on the flow very near the plate.

When relative motion of a viscous incompressible fluid of constant density and an immersed solid body is started impulsively from rest, the initial motion of the fluid is irrotational, without circulation. This is shown by observation, and may be seen in many of the published photographs of fluid flow. The theoretical proof is exactly the same as that given, for inviscid fluids, in treatises on hydrodynamics; for it may be assumed that the viscous stresses remain finite. The fluid in contact with the solid body is, however, at rest relative to the boundary, whilst the adjacent layer of fluid is slipping past the boundary with a velocity determined from the theory of the velocity potential. There is thus initially a surface of slip, or vortex sheet, in the fluid, coincident with the surface of the solid body. In other words, there is a “boundary layer” of zero thickness. The vorticity in the sheet diffuses from the boundary further into the fluid, and is convected by the stream. The boundary layer grows in thickness. (The same results follow from a consideration of the equations for the vorticity components in a viscous incompressible fluid, or of the equation for the circulation in a circuit moving with the fluid.)

In a previous paper (2) by one of the authors some types of periodic potential functions were obtained and were applied to problems in which the boundaries were cylinders or spheres arranged at regular intervals in a row or ring. It is now our object to extend the methods of that paper to a number of other cases.

In a previous paper (afterwards referred to as Paper I) tests have been given for the significance of some quantities found statistically. The results are given in the form P(q | θh)/P (˜ q|θh); here h denotes the previous knowledge and θ the experimental evidence used, while q is the hypothesis that all the variations outstanding can be attributed to accidental error or random variation, and ˜q the hypothesis that at least part of them is systematic. It has been supposed in the analysis that q and ˜q are equally probable on the information h; but if they are not, the only alteration is that the ratios evaluated now represent

If successive batches of relevant information are available the total effect on the probability of q can therefore be got by multiplying the values of

given by the investigations separately. In each case the assumption that q has prior probability ½ is really a practical working rule rather than a statement of fact.

The paper first scrutinizes thoroughly the variety of compositions which lead to the same quantum-mechanical mixture (as opposed to state or pure state). With respect to a given mixture every state has a definite probability (or mixing fraction) between 0 and 1 (including the limits), which is calculated from the mixtures Statistical Operator and the wave function of the state in question.

A well-known example of mixtures occurs when a system consists of two separated parts. If the wave function of the whole system is known, either part is in the situation of a mixture, which is decomposed into definite constituents by a definite measuring programme to be carried out on the other part. All the conceivable decompositions (into linearly independent constituents) of the first system are just realized by all the possible measuring programmes that can be carried out on the second one. In general every state of the first system can be given a finite chance by a suitable choice of the programme.

It is suggested that these conclusions, unavoidable within the present theory but repugnant to some physicists including the author, are caused by applying non-relativistic quantum mechanics beyond its legitimate range. An alternative possibility is indicated.

Second order focusing can be obtained with an apparatus, which contains a circular magnetic field and differs little in its dimensions from the apparatus at present in use. The lay-out is shown to scale in Fig. 4: the essential data are collected at the end of Section V, and indications of the accuracy to be expected are given at the end of Section III.

The intensities of X-ray spectral lines resulting from transitions between the K, L and M shells have been calculated using screened relativistic wave functions. The relativistic modifications are shown to decrease the Lβ3β4 doublet ratio but do not alter the Kα1α2 and Kβ1β3 ratios, in agreement with experiment. The calculated intensities of the forbidden lines arising from quadrupole transitions are in good agreement with experiment. Lines due to transitions arising from the magnetic dipole moment of the electron are found to be very weak, but the LI → K transition might just be observable for heavy elements.

In a recent paper, Fowler discusses the adsorption isotherm for a monatomic layer, assuming an interaction between neighbouring atoms in this layer. In this paper we do not intend to give a contribution to the physical problem, but merely to show how the statistical problem involved can be solved by a method due to Bethe.

Ising discussed the following model of a ferromagnetic body: Assume N elementary magnets of moment μ to be arranged in a regular lattice; each of them is supposed to have only two possible orientations, which we call positive and negative. Assume further that there is an interaction energy U for each pair of neighbouring magnets of opposite direction. Further, there is an external magnetic field of magnitude H such as to produce an additional energy of − μH (+ μH) for each magnet with positive (negative) direction.

When an electron makes a transition from a continuous state to a bound state, for example in the case of neutralization of a positive ion or formation of a negative ion, its excess energy must be disposed of in some way. It is usually given off as radiation. In the case of neutralization of positive ions the radiation forms the well-known continuous spectrum. No such spectrum due to the direct formation of negative ions has, however, been observed. This process has been fully discussed in a recent paper by Massey and Smith. It is shown that in this case the spectrum would be difficult to observe.

Experiments are described in which observations were made of the motion of electrically charged cloud particles past a sphere. The cloud particles were moving vertically up in an air stream, and there was a vertical electric field. This gave conditions similar to those surrounding a falling rain drop in a thundercloud, and the observations are in accordance with the theory proposed by Wilson to account for the mechanism of thunderclouds.

The very small water drops which are considered in this note are as a rule met with in the form of clouds with a high numerical density of drops. The interior of such a cloud will never be in temperature equilibrium with the walls of a containing vessel, and under these conditions measurements of the rate of fall of the top of a cloud are not measures of the Stokes free fall of a single drop. Optical methods of measurement assume, therefore, a particular importance. The angular diameter of the diffraction halo has long been used as a measure of drop size in clouds; the applicability of this method for small drops will be considered. The criterion of “Rayleigh scattering” has also been employed as showing that the diameter of the drops in question was very much smaller than the wave length of light. A third method which may be applied to drops of diameter of the order of one wave-length will be discussed.

The magnetic susceptibility of antimony both parallel and perpendicular to the trigonal axis is independent of field down to 4° K. The numerical value of the susceptibility parallel to the trigonal axis decreases with increasing temperature, similarly to that of bismuth, but perpendicular to the trigonal axis there is no temperature dependence. The results at higher temperatures are compared with earlier measurements and the comparison suggests that the susceptibility of antimony, like that of bismuth, is very sensitive to addition of foreign elements.