Appendix/Ramblings/EllipticCylinderCoordinates

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Elliptic Cylinder Coordinates

Background

Building on our general introduction to Direction Cosines in the context of orthogonal curvilinear coordinate systems, here we detail the properties of Elliptic Cylinder Coordinates. First, we present this coordinate system in the manner described by [MF53]; second, we provide an alternate presentation, obtained from Wikipedia; then, third, we investigate whether or not a related coordinate system based on concentric (rather than confocal) elliptic surfaces can be satisfactorily described.

It is useful to keep in mind various properties of a set of confocal ellipses in which the location of the pair of foci is fixed at, (x,y)=(±c,0), and the semi-major axis, a, is the parameter. The relevant prescriptive relation is,

1

=

x2a2+y2a2c2      for,   a>c.

The semi-minor axis length, b, and the eccentricity, e, of the ellipse are, respectively,

b

=

(a2c2)1/2,

      and,      

e[1b2a2]1/2

=

ca.

The length, 1, of the chord that connects one focus to a point, P(x,y), on the ellipse is,

1

=

a+(ca)x;

and the length, 2, of the chord that connects the second focus to that same point on the ellipse is,

2

=

a(ca)x.

It is easy to see that, for any point on the ellipse, the sum of these two lengths is, 2a. It is worth noting as well that the associated y coordinate of the relevant point can be obtained from the relation,

12

=

y2+(c+x)2

(ay)2

=

(a1)2(ac+ax)2

 

=

(a2+cx)2(ac+ax)2

 

=

(a4+2a2cx+c2x2)(a2c2+2a2cx+a2x2)

 

=

(a4+c2x2)(a2c2+a2x2)

 

=

(a2x2)(a2c2)

y

=

±1a[(a2x2)(a2c2)]1/2.

MF53

Definition

From MF53's Table of Separable Coordinates in Three Dimensions (see their Chapter 5, beginning on p. 655), we find the following description of Elliptic Cylinder Coordinates (p. 657).

Elliptic Cylindrical Coordinates
(MF53 Primary Definition)

x

=

ξ1ξ2

y

=

[(ξ12d2)(1ξ22)]1/2

z

=

ξ3

Alternate Definition

Making the substitutions, ξ3z, ξ2cosν, and ξ1dcoshμ, we equally well obtain:

x

=

dcoshμcosν

y

=

dsinhμsinν

z

=

z


Notice that,

x2d2cosh2μ+y2d2sinh2μ

=

cos2ν+sin2ν=1.

Hence, as is pointed out in a related Wikipedia discussion, "… this shows that curves of constant μ form ellipses." For a given choice of μ — say, μ0 — let's see how the shape of the resulting ellipse relates to the standard ellipses described in our background discussion, above. The semi-major axis of the selected ellipse must be,

a=dcoshμ0.

And its eccentricity must be obtainable from the relation,

a2c2=a2(1e2)

=

d2sinh2μ0

 

=

a2tanh2μ0=a2(11cosh2μ0)

e2

=

1cosh2μ0.

We note, as well, that the x-coordinate location of the focus of the selected ellipse is,

c2=a2e2

=

d2.

This emphasizes a key property of the MF53 Elliptic Cylindrical Coordinate system, viz., the family of ellipses that result from selecting various values of μ0 is a family of confocal ellipses.

Scale Factors

Primary

Appreciating that,

yξ1

=

+[(ξ12d2)(1ξ22)]1/2ξ1(1ξ22),       and that,

yξ2

=

[(ξ12d2)(1ξ22)]1/2ξ2(ξ12d2),

we find that the respective scale factors are given by the expressions,

h12

=

(xξ1)2+(yξ1)2+(zξ1)2

 

=

ξ22+[(ξ12d2)(1ξ22)]1ξ12(1ξ22)2

 

=

(ξ12d2)1[(ξ12d2)ξ22+ξ12(1ξ22)]

 

=

[ξ12d2ξ22ξ12d2];

h22

=

(xξ2)2+(yξ2)2+(zξ2)2

 

=

ξ12+[(ξ12d2)(1ξ22)]1ξ22(ξ12d2)2

 

=

(1ξ22)1[ξ12(1ξ22)+ξ22(ξ12d2)]

 

=

[ξ12d2ξ221ξ22];

h32

=

(xξ3)2+(yξ3)2+(zξ3)2

 

=

1.

These match the scale-factor expressions found in MF53.

Alternatively

Alternatively, the Wikipedia discussion gives,

hμ=hν

=

dsinh2μ+sin2ν

2Φ

=

1d2(sinh2μ+sin2ν)[2Φμ2+2Φν2]+2Φz2.

Inverting Coordinate Mapping

Inverting the original coordinate mappings, we find,

y2

=

(ξ12a2)[1(xξ1)2]

0

=

(ξ12a2)(ξ12x2)ξ12y2

 

=

(ξ12a2)ξ12(ξ12a2)x2ξ12y2

 

=

ξ14ξ12(a2+x2+y2)+a2x2

ξ12

=

12{(a2+x2+y2)±[(a2+x2+y2)24a2x2]1/2}

Only the superior — that is, only the positive — sign will ensure positive values of ξ12, so in summary we have,

Coordinate Transformation

ξ1

=

12{[(a2+x2+y2)24a2x2]1/2+(a2+x2+y2)}1/2;

ξ2

=

xξ1;

ξ3

=

z.

Alternative Wikipedia Definition

This same MF53 coordinate system — with different variable notation — is referred to in a Wikipedia discussion as an "alternative and geometrically intuitive set of elliptic coordinates." The relevant mapping is, (dσ,τ,z)Wikipedia=(ξ1,ξ2,ξ3)MF53. The identified mapping to Cartesian coordinates is,

x

=

(dσ)τ

=

ξ1ξ2;

y

=

d[(σ21)(1τ2)]1/2

=

[(ξ12d2)(1ξ22)]1/2;

z

=

z

=

ξ3.

According to the Wikipedia discussion, the three scale factors are,

hσ2

=

d2[σ2τ2σ21];

     

hτ2

=

d2[σ2τ21τ2];

      and,      

hz2

=

1.

Interestingly, the Wikipedia discussion also includes the following expression for the Laplacian in this elliptic cylindrical coordinate system:

2Φ

=

1d2(σ2τ2)[σ21σ(σ21Φσ)+1τ2τ(1τ2Φτ)]+2Φz2.

T5 Coordinates

Introduction

As has been made clear in our above review of the Elliptic Cylinder Coordinate system (ξ1,ξ2,ξ3)=(dcoshμ,cosν,z), individual curves within a family of confocal ellipses are identified by one's choice of the "radial" coordinate parameter, μ, or, alternatively, ξ1. Specifically, while the two foci of every ellipse are positioned along the x-axis at the same points — namely, (x,y)=(±d,0) — the length of the semi-major axis is given by, a=ξ1=dcoshμ.

In a separate chapter we have introduced a different orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system that we refer to as, "T3 Coordinates." In this coordinate system, (λ1,λ2,λ3), individual surfaces within a family of concentric spheroids are identified by one's choice of a different "radial" coordinate parameter, λ1. Here we will adopt essentially this same set of orthogonal coordinates, using λ1 and λ2 to describe a family of concentric ellipses that is independent of the vertical-coordinate. We will refer to it as the …

T5 Coordinate System

λ1

xcoshζ

         

=

(x2+q2y2)1/2

λ2

x(sinhζ)1/(1q2)

         

=

(xq2qy)1/(q21)

λ3

=

z

         

=

z

where,

ζ

sinh1(qyx)

and, 0<q< is the (fixed) parameter used to specify the eccentricity, e=[(q21)1/2/q], of every λ1= constant curve within the family of concentric ellipses.


Checking these expressions, we have,

λ2x(sinhζ)1/(1q2)

=

x(qyx)1/(1q2)=x(xqy)1/(q21)=(xq2qy)1/(q21).

And,

λ1xcoshζ

=

x[1+sinh2ζ]1/2=x[1+(qyx)2]1/2=(x2+q2y2)1/2.

Comparing this last expression with the above background description of ellipses, we see that λ1= constant — for example, λ0 — is synonymous with an ellipse having …

  • A semi-major axis of length, a=λ0;
  • An eccentricity, e(1b2/a2)1/2=[(q21)/q2]1/2;
  • A pair of foci whose coordinate locations along the major axis are, (x,y)=(±c,0), where, c=ae.

Invert Coordinate Mapping

Solving for x(λ1,λ2), we find …

λ1

=

(x2+q2y2)1/2

y2

=

1q2[λ12x2].

And,

λ2

=

(xq2qy)1/(q21)

y2

=

1q2[x2q2λ22(1q2)].

Hence,

x2q2λ22(1q2)+x2λ12

=

0.

Alternatively, solving for y(λ1,λ2), we find …

λ1

=

(x2+q2y2)1/2

x2

=

λ12q2y2.

And,

λ2

=

(xq2qy)1/(q21)

x

=

(qy)1/q2λ2(q21)/q2.

Hence,

(qy)2/q2λ22(q21)/q2λ12+q2y2

=

0.

 

Summary of Inverted Relations

λ22(xλ2)2q2+x2λ12

=

0;

λ22(qyλ2)2/q2+q2y2λ12

=

0.

Example:     q2=2

0

=

x4λ22+x2λ12

   Quadratic Eq. in x2

x2

=

λ222{[1+4λ12λ22]1/21}=λ222(Λ1);

 

0

=

2y2+(21/2λ2)yλ12

   Quadratic Eq. in y

y

=

14{21/2λ2±[2λ22+8λ12]1/2}

 

 

=

λ223/2{[1+4λ12λ22]1/21}=λ223/2(Λ1).

 

where,

Λ[1+4λ12λ22]1/2.

Note …

yx2

=

λ223/22λ22=12λ2;

and,

4y2x2

=

[1+4λ12λ22]1/21

12(x2+4y2)

=

x2[1+4λ12λ22]1/2=x2Λ=λ222Λ(Λ1)      or,

12(x2+4y2)

=

2λ2y[1+4λ12λ22]1/2=2λ2yΛ=λ222Λ(Λ1).

Note as well that, 2=2λ12Λ/(Λ+1).

Example:     q2=32

0

=

λ22(xλ2)3+x2λ12

          Cubic Eq. in x

0

=

λ22(3y22λ22)2/3+32y2λ12

          Cubic Eq. in y2/3

Example:     q2=3

0

=

λ22(xλ2)6+x2λ12

          Cubic Eq. in x2

0

=

λ22(3y2λ22)1/3+3y2λ12

          Cubic Eq. in y2/3

Example:     q2=4

0

=

λ22(xλ2)8+x2λ12

          Quartic Eq. in x2

0

=

λ22(2yλ2)1/2+4y2λ12

          Quartic Eq. in y1/2

 

Relevant Partial Derivatives

Before moving forward, we need to evaluate a number of relevant partial derivatives.

λ1x

=

x[x2+q2y2]1/2=12[x2+q2y2]1/22x=xλ1.

λ1y

=

y[x2+q2y2]1/2=12[x2+q2y2]1/22q2y=q2yλ1.

λ2x

=

x[xq2/(q21)(qy)1/(q21)]=[q2q21]λ2x.

λ2y

=

y[xq2/(q21)(qy)1/(q21)]=[1q21]λ2y.

We may also need the set of complementary partial derivatives. Even though we are unable to explicitly invert the coordinate mappings, once we have in hand expressions for the three scale factors (see immediately below), we can determine expressions for the set of complementary partial derivatives via the generic relation,

xiλn

=

hn2λnxi.


Example:     q2=2

y

=

λ223/2{Λ1},

       

x2

=

λ222{Λ1},       where,      

Λ

[1+4λ12λ22]1/2.

Noting that,

Λλ1

=

1Λλ1[4λ12λ22]

      and,      

Λλ2

=

1Λλ2[4λ12λ22],

we have,

yλ1

=

λ223/2Λλ1=2λ1λ2[1+4λ12λ22]1/2,

yλ2

=

123/2[Λ1]+λ223/2Λλ2=(Λ1)23/22λ12Λλ22.

 

=

Λ(Λ1)4λ12/λ2223/2Λ=Λ2Λ4λ12/λ2223/2Λ

 

=

(1Λ)23/2Λ.


Let's compare by drawing from the expressions for 2, above, and for hn2 derived below.

[h12λ1y]q2=2

=

[λ122(q2yλ1)]q2=2=[2λ12y]q2=2

 

=

2λ1{12λ2Λ}=2λ1λ2Λ.

Yes! This, indeed matches the just-derived expression for y/λ1. And we also have,

[h22λ2y]q2=2

=

{[1q21]λ2y[(q21)xyλ2]2}q2=2=[(q21)x2y2λ2]q2=2

 

=

(1Λ)23/2Λ.

Yes, again!

Scale Factors, Direction Cosines & Unit Vectors

From our accompanying generic discussion of direction cosines, we can write,

h12

=

[(λ1x)2+(λ1y)2+(λ1z)2]1

 

=

[(xλ1)2+(q2yλ1)2]1=λ12[x2+q4y2]1

 

=

λ122;

h22

=

{(λ2x)2+(λ2y)2+(λ2z)2}1

 

=

{[q2q21]2(λ2x)2+[1q21]2(λ2y)2}1

 

=

[(q21)xyλ2]2;

h32

=

{(λ3x)2+(λ3y)2+(λ3z)2}1=1;

where,

(x2+q4y2)1/2.


Direction Cosines for T5 Coordinates
γni=hn(λnxi)

n i=x,y,z
1  
x
 
q2y 0
2

 
q2y


x 0
3  
0
 
0 1

The unit vectors are,

e^n

=

ı^γn1+ȷ^γn2+k^γn3,

that is,

e^1

=

ı^(x)+ȷ^(q2y),

e^2

=

ı^(q2y)ȷ^(x),

e^3

=

k^.

Notice that,

e^1e2^

=

q2xy2q2xy2=0,

and,

e^1e1^

=

x22+q4y22=2(x2+q4y2)=1.

These are both desired orthogonality conditions. Alternatively,

ı^

=

e^1γ11+e^2γ21+e^3γ31=e^1(x)+e^2(q2y);

ȷ^

=

e^1γ12+e^2γ22+e^3γ32=e^1(q2y)e^2(x);

k^

=

e^1γ13+e^2γ23+e^3γ33=e^3.

Spatial Operators

Summary Reminder

h12

=

λ122;

     

h22

=

[(q21)xyλ2]2;

      and,      

h32

=

1;

In T5 Coordinates, a couple of relevant operators are:

F

=

e^1[1h1Fλ1]+e^2[1h2Fλ2]+e^3[1h3Fλ3]

 

=

e^1(1λ1)Fλ1+e^2[λ2(q21)xy]Fλ2+e^3Fλ3.


2F

=

1h1h2h3[λ1(h2h3h1Fλ1)+λ2(h3h1h2Fλ2)+λ3(h1h2h3Fλ3)]

 

=

λ2λ1(q21)xy2{λ1[(q21)xyλ1λ2Fλ1]+λ2[λ1λ2(q21)xyFλ2]+λ3[λ1(q21)xy2λ2Fλ3]}

And if F is a function only of λ1, then,

2F

=

λ2λ1(q21)xy2{λ1[(q21)xyλ1λ2Fλ1]}

 

=

λ2λ1(q21)xy2{[(q21)xyλ1λ2][2Fλ12]+Fλ1λ1[(q21)xyλ1λ2]}

 

=

[1λ122][2Fλ12]+[1λ1xy2]Fλ1λ1[xyλ1].

In order to complete this evaluation, we need a couple of "complementary partial derivatives." Referencing the relation provided above, we find,

λ1[xyλ1]

=

xy[λ1(λ11)]+yλ1[xλ1]+xλ1[yλ1]

 

=

xyλ12+yλ1[h12λ1x]+xλ1[h12λ1y]

 

=

xyλ12+h12λ1[xyλ1+q2xyλ1]

 

=

xyλ12[λ122(1+q2)1].

Hence,

2F

=

[1λ122][2Fλ12]+xyλ12[λ122(1+q2)1][1λ1xy2]Fλ1

 

=

[1λ122][2Fλ12]+[λ122(1+q2)1][1λ132]Fλ1

 

=

[1λ122][2Fλ12][1λ132]Fλ1+[(1+q2)λ1]Fλ1.

Example (q2 = 2) Poisson Equation

Setup

Let's see if we can solve the,

Poisson Equation User:Tohline/Math/EQ Poisson01

obtaining an analytic expression for the gravitational potential in the case where, independent of the coordinate, z,

ρ=ρcσ

=

ρc[1(x2a2+y2b2)]

 

=

ρc[11a2(x2+q2y2)].

Given that the density distribution is independent of z, we expect the potential to be independent of z as well. So, in terms of T5-Coordinates, the Poisson equation may be written as,

λ2λ1(q21)xy2{λ1[(q21)xyλ1λ2Φλ1]+λ2[λ1λ2(q21)xyΦλ2]}

=

4πGρc[1λ12a2]

If we specifically consider the case where q2=a2/b2=2, this can be rewritten as,

4πGρc[1λ12a2]

=

λ2λ1(q21)xy2{λ1[(q21)xyλ1λ2Φλ1]+λ2[λ1λ2(q21)xyΦλ2]}

 

=

λ2λ1(Λ1)3/222λ22λ222(Λ1)Λ{λ1[(Λ1)2Φλ1]+λ2[2(Λ1)Φλ2]}

 

=

4Λ(Λ1){λ1[(Λ1)2Φλ1]+λ2[2(Λ1)Φλ2]}

where we have used the following expressions derived above:

x2y2

=

(Λ1)[λ2222(Λ1)]2,

12

=

λ222(Λ1)Λ=2λ12Λ(Λ+1),

Λ

[1+4λ12λ22]1/212(Λ21)1/2=λ1λ2.

xyλ1λ2

=

122[λ2λ1(Λ1)3/2]=12(Λ1).

Now,

(Λ1)λ1

=

12Λ(8λ1λ22)=4λ1Λ(λ12λ22)=(Λ21)λ1Λ;

(Λ1)1λ2

=

1(Λ1)2[12Λ](8λ12λ23)=4(Λ1)2[1λ2Λ](λ12λ22)=Λ+1(Λ1)[1λ2Λ].

Hence,

4πGρc[1λ12a2]

=

4Λ(Λ1){(Λ1)2[2Φλ12]+Φλ1λ1[(Λ1)2]+2(Λ1)[2Φλ22]+Φλ2λ2[2(Λ1)]}

 

=

4Λ(Λ1){(Λ1)2[2Φλ12]+[(Λ21)2λ1Λ]Φλ1+2(Λ1)[2Φλ22]+[2(Λ+1)(Λ1)λ2Λ]Φλ2}

 

=

2Λ[2Φλ12]+[2(Λ+1)λ1]Φλ1+8Λ(Λ1)2[2Φλ22]+[8(Λ+1)(Λ1)2λ2]Φλ2

 

=

2λ1{Λλ1[2Φλ12]+(Λ+1)Φλ1}+8λ2(Λ1)2{Λλ2[2Φλ22]+(Λ+1)Φλ2}.

Trials

Try,

Φ

=

Aλ1α+Bλ2β

Φλ1

=

Aαλ1α1,

      and,      

Φλ2

=

Bβλ2β1.

In this case we find,

4πGρc[1λ12a2]

=

2λ1{Λλ1λ1[Φλ1]+(Λ+1)[Φλ1]}+8λ2(Λ1)2{Λλ2λ2[Φλ2]+(Λ+1)[Φλ2]}

 

=

2Aλ1{Λλ1λ1[αλ1α1]+(Λ+1)[αλ1α1]}+8Bλ2(Λ1)2{Λλ2λ2[βλ2β1]+(Λ+1)[βλ2β1]}

 

=

2Aαλ1{Λ(α1)λ1α1+(Λ+1)λ1α1}+8Bβλ2(Λ1)2{Λ(β1)λ2β1+(Λ+1)λ2β1}

 

=

2Aαλ1α2{Λ(α1)+(Λ+1)}+8Bβλ2β2(Λ1)2{Λ(β1)+(Λ+1)}

 

=

2Aαλ1α2{αΛ+1}+8Bβλ2β2(Λ1)2{βΛ+1}.

If α=4,

8Bβλ2β2(Λ1)2[βΛ+1]

=

4πGρc[1λ12a2]8Aλ1232Aλ12Λ

8Bβλ2β2[βΛ+1]

=

{4πGρc32Aλ12Λλ12[4πGρca2+8A]}(Λ22Λ+1).

If, then, 8Aa2=4πGρc,

8Bβλ2β2[βΛ+1]

=

4πGρc{1+[4λ12a2]Λ}(Λ22Λ+1).

But, we also know that, λ12=λ22(Λ21)/4, so …

8a2Bβλ2β2[βΛ+1]

=

4πGρc{a2+λ22(Λ21)Λ}(Λ22Λ+1).


(25 October 2020) I give up … for now.

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