An elementary introduction to the JWKB approximation

DOI10.1002/ASNA.200610730MaRDI QIDQ3442896zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors D. O. Gough

Publication date 23 May 2007

Published in Astronomische Nachrichten: A Journal on all Fields of Astronomy (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0702201

zbMATH Keywords

asymptotic approximationintegral representationstellar wavesturning point

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Theoretical approximation of solutions to ordinary differential equations (34A45) Galactic and stellar structure (85A15)

Abstract: Asymptotic expansion of the second-order linear ordinary differential equation Psi + k^2 f(z) Psi = 0, in which the real constant k is large and f = O(1), can be carried out in the manner of Liouville and Green provided f does not vanish. If f does vanish, however, at z_0 say, then Liouville-Green expansions can be carried out either side of the turning point z = z_0, but it is then necessary to ascertain how to connect them. This was first accomplished by Jeffreys, by a comparison of the differential equation with Airy's equation. Soon afterwards, the situation was found to arise in quantum mechanics, and was discussed by Brillouin, Wentzel and Kramers, after whom the method was initially named. It arises throughout classical physics too, and is encountered frequently when studying waves propagating in stars. This brief introduction is aimed at clarifying the principles behind the method, and is illustrated by considering the resonant acoustic-gravity oscillations (normal modes) of a spherical star.

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Cites work

• An upper bound to the periods of radial pulsation of the Sun
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3474264 (Why is no real title available?)
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Cited in

(2)

• Comments on the paper ‘‘On the WKBJ approximation’’ [J. Math. Phys. 2 8, 556 (1987)]
• The WKB approximation and the plasma ring of Jupiter

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