Waves in strong centrifugal fields: dissipationless gas

Abstract

Linear waves are investigated in a rotating gas under the condition of strong centrifugal acceleration of the order $10^6 g$ realized in gas centrifuges for separation of uranium isotopes. Sound waves splits into three families of the waves under these conditions. Dispersion equations are obtained. The characteristics of the waves strongly differ from the conventional sound waves on polarisation, velocity of propagation and distribution of energy of the waves in space for two families having frequencies above and below the frequency of the conventional sound waves. The energy of these waves is localized in rarefied region of the gas. The waves of the third family were not specified before. They propagate exactly along the rotational axis with the conventional sound velocity. These waves are polarized only along the rotational axis. Radial and azimuthal motions are not excited. Energy of the waves is concentrated near the wall of the rotor where the density of the gas is largest.