Stability of Relative Equilibria in the Planar N-Vortex Problem

We study the linear and nonlinear stability of relative equilibria in the planar N-vortex problem, adapting the approach of Moeckel from the corresponding problem in celestial mechanics. After establishing some general theory, a topological approach is taken to show that for the case of positive circulations, a relative equilibrium is linearly stable if and only if it is a nondegenerate minimum of the Hamiltonian restricted to a level surface of the angular impulse (moment of inertia). Using a criterion of Dirichlet's, this implies that any linearly stable relative equilibrium with positive vorticities is also nonlinearly stable. Two symmetric families, the rhombus and the isosceles trapezoid, are analyzed in detail, with stable solutions found in each case.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figure

Dynamics of Perturbed Relative Equilibria of Point Vortices on the Sphere or Plane

Stable assemblages of localized vortices exist which have particle-like properties, such as mass, and which can interact with one another when they closely approach. In this article I calculate the mass of these localized states and numerically investigate some aspects of their interactions.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

Point vortices on a sphere: Stability of relative equilibria

In this paper we analyze the dynamics of N point vortices moving on a sphere from the point of view of geometric mechanics. The formalism is developed for the general case of N vortices, and the details are worked out for the (integrable) case of three vortices. The system under consideration is SO(3) invariant; the associated momentum map generated by this SO(3) symmetry is equivariant and corresponds to the moment of vorticity. Poisson reduction corresponding to this symmetry is performed; the quotient space is constructed and its Poisson bracket structure and symplectic leaves are found explicitly. The stability of relative equilibria is analyzed by the energy-momentum method. Explicit criteria for stability of different configurations with generic and nongeneric momenta are obtained. In each case a group of transformations is specified, modulo which one has stability in the original (unreduced) phase space. Special attention is given to the distinction between the cases when the relative equilibrium is a nongreat circle equilateral triangle and when the vortices line up on a great circle