The Feynman probability amplitudes for interactions between spin ½ fields and fields of integral spin quantized according to the generalized method of Green are investigated. It is shown that the scattering amplitudes are independent of the method of quantization though the amplitudes of the vacuum fluctuations are not. The question of distinguishing particles satisfying the generalized statistics, if they exist in nature, from Fermi or Bose particles is considered. It is shown that the statistical thermodynamics of the particles depends on the statistics, but as this requires a large number of particles in thermodynamical equilibrium, it offers no means of distinction for particles with short lifetimes. In practice, an examination of particles in bound states would identify particles obeying generalized statistics.

Z(nl; r) is the contribution to Z(r) from an electron in the (nl) wave function. The Z(nl; r) vary systematically with atomic number and, as N becomes large, tend to the corresponding hydrogen-like functions, ZH(nl; r). A two-parameter method of fitting the Z(nl; r) to the ZH(nl; r) is described. This involves a ‘screening constant’ and a ‘slope constant’, both of which are defined. From published data, the two parameters have been obtained as functions of atomic number. The parameters for an unsolved atom can then be found by interpolation and approximate Z(nl; r) derived by appropriate adjustment of the functions for the nearest atom in the periodic table for which they are known. The method has been tested by interpolating for the (3d) function between Cu+ and Rb+ and by preparing estimates of the Z(nl; r) for the unknown structure Mo+. The results were good for all but Z(4d; r) for Mo+, where the number of values of the screening and slope constants already known was insufficient for reliable interpolation.

The consideration of the statistical aspect of the second law of thermodynamics of a previous paper is extended. The influence of fluctuations in the wind-wood model of the Ehrenfests is investigated, and the relative occurrence, mean life and time of recurrence of such fluctuations are calculated. These are found to agree with the results obtained for the simpler models considered previously.

The results of a self-consistent field calculation without exchange for Mo+ are presented.

To obtain certain results of their perfect cosmological principle, Bondi and Gold made use of a part of the theory of kinematic relativity. The same results are here deduced directly from the perfect cosmological principle.

The behaviour of the conduction electrons in a vibrating metallic lattice is treated by the Born-Oppenheimer method. Non-adiabatic processes, due to certain terms usually neglected, are shown to correspond to scattering of electrons by the lattice vibrations, as in Bloch's theory of electrical resistivity, but the matrix elements are not the same as Bloch's except when energy is conserved in the process. This may have important consequences in Fröhlich's theory of superconductivity.

In 1897 Rayleigh(14) pointed out that it is possible to obtain a family of solutions to certain problems in diffraction theory, notably those involving plane obstacles, by the simple operation of differentiation of some one solution. This, of course, alters the nature of the solution, especially so in the neighbourhood of a sharp edge. For, at an edge the parent solution may be finite and yet its derivative can become infinite. Further, such a differentiated solution may produce an infinite total energy in the neighbourhood of the edge. It is, therefore, natural to ask what conditions are required to make the solutions of these problems physically and mathematically acceptable and thus define the boundary-value problem uniquely.

This paper is devoted to a consideration of the following problem: Given a static state in which an incompressible viscous fluid is arranged in horizontal strata and the density is a function of the vertical coordinate only, to determine the initial manner of development of an infinitesimal disturbance. The mathematical problem is reduced to one in characteristic values in a fourth-order differential equation and a variational principle characterizing the solution is enunciated. The particular case of two uniform fluids of different densities (but the same kinematic viscosity) separated by a horizontal boundary is considered in some detail. The mode of maximum instability in case the upper fluid is more dense and the manner of decay in case the lower fluid is more dense are determined; and the results of the calculations are illustrated graphically. Gravity waves (obtained in the limit when the density of the upper fluid is zero) are also treated.

The well-known Stokes theory (9, 10) of waves of permanent form in water of finite depth has been extended to the fifth order of approximation. The solutions have been first obtained in the form of equations for the space coordinates x and y as functions of the velocity potential Φ and stream function ψ. Expressions for the complex potential W in terms of the complex variable z ( = x + iy), the form of the wave profile, and the square of the wave velocity have been obtained to the fifth order.

Expressions for the three physical quantities Q, R and S, where Q is the volume flow rate per unit span, R is the energy per unit mass (i.e. g times the total head, measuring heights from the bottom and pressures from atmospheric) and S is the momentum flow rate per unit spaa, corrected for pressure forces and divided by density, have been obtained to the fifth order. The values for the dimensionless quantities r = R/Rc and s = S/Sc, where Rc and Sc refer to the values of R and S for a critical stream of volume flow Q, are tabulated for certain values of the ratios mean depth to wavelength and amplitude to wavelength. The values of r and s thus obtained have been used to calculate the ratios of mean depth to wavelength and of wave height to wavelength according to the cnoidal wave theory as recently presented by Benjamin and Light-hill(1), and the results are found to be in satisfactory agreement with that from Stokes's theory for waves longer than six times the depth.

The (r, s) diagram introduced in the recent work of Benjamin and Lighthill(1) has been further considered, and the unshaded part of the diagram referred to in that paper has been mapped with a network of curves for constant values of the ratios of mean depth to wavelength and of wave height to wavelength (Fig. 2). The third barrier to the existence of steady flows, corresponding to ‘waves of greatest height’ referred to in that paper, has also been indicated in Fig. 2.

The equilibrium of a layer of a viscous incompressible fluid of density ρ variable in the vertical (z) direction, the fluid extending indefinitely in the horizontal directions and being confined between rigid horizontal boundaries, is examined by the usual method of studying the initial behaviour of a small disturbance. Diffusion effects are ignored. Chandra-sekhar has shown quite generally that a variational procedure for solving the resulting characteristic value problem is admissible, suggesting a method whereby an approximate solution can be obtained analytically. In this paper, by making use of appropriate approximate methods of solution, three types of density configuration, ρ(z), are studied. The first corresponds to two superposed fluids of great depth, the upper and lower fluids haying densities and coefficients of viscosity ρ2 and μ2, and ρ1 and μ1, respectively. Chandrasekhar has given an exact numerical solution to this problem for the case where μ2/ρ2 = μ1/ρ1 The results of the approximate theory, by which not all the boundary conditions can be satisfied, and the exact theory are in good agreement. Expressions for the wave-length and growth rate of the mode of maximum instability in the unstable case (ρ2 > ρ1) are found. The stable case (ρ2 > ρ1) is also discussed in detail; the formulae obtained for the phase and group velocities of gravity waves in deep viscous fluids are especially interesting. There is an upper limit to the natural frequency of oscillation of the system which would be well within the range of experimental investigation.

The second problem considered is that of two superposed fluids of small depth. Formulae for the phase and group velocities of ‘long gravity waves’ (which are not equal when viscous effects are included) are obtained.

Finally, a continuously stratified fluid of finite depth d in which ρ(z) = ρ0eβz is investigated. The character of the equilibrium depends on a Grashof number G = (gβd4)/(π4ν2) where g is the acceleration of gravity and ν is the coefficient of kinematical viscosity, assumed for simplicity to be constant. Expressions for the wave-length and growth rate of the mode of maximum instability in the unstable case (G > 0) are obtained. In the stable case (G < 0) all modes are aperiodically damped if – G < . Otherwise, the possibility of a disturbance being propagated as a horizontal wave does arise, but only within a limited wave-length range.

The appearance of a component of vorticity in the direction of flow materially alters the pattern of flow of a fluid in three dimensions. Expressions are obtained for this secondary vorticity in an inviscid compressible fluid flowing under the action of body forces. They are applied to examples such as a liquid under gravity and gas flow behind a curved shock. In compressible gas flow with varying temperature but constant stagnation pressure no secondary circulation appears. In a perfect gas atmosphere it is shown that secondary circulation may appear because of nou-adiabatic lapse rates as well as wind-speed gradients. It is also shown that in a liquid with a density gradient, gravitational effects can give rise to secondary vorticity components.