Author(s)

Victor Nijimbere

School of Mathematics and Statistics, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.

Asymptotic eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for the Orr-Sommerfeld equation in two-dimensional and three-dimensional incompressible flows on an infinite domain and on a semi-infinite domain are obtained. Two configurations are considered, one in which a short-wave limit approximation is used, and another in which a long-wave limit approximation is used. In the short-wave limit, Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) methods are utilized to estimate the eigenvalues, and the eigenfunctions are approximated in terms of Green’s functions. The procedure consists of transforming the Orr-Sommerfeld equation into a system of two second order ordinary differential equations for which the eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions can be approximated. In the long-wave limit approximation, solutions are expressed in terms of generalized hypergeometric functions. Our procedure works regardless of the values of the Reynolds number.

Eigenvalues, Eigenfunctions, Infinite Intervals, WKB Methods, Long-Wave Limit Approximation, Short-Wave Limit Approximation, Generalized Hypergeometric Functions

Nijimbere, V. (2019) Asymptotic Approximation of the Eigenvalues and the Eigenfunctions for the Orr-Sommerfeld Equation on Infinite Intervals. Advances in Pure Mathematics, 9, 967-989. doi: 10.4236/apm.2019.912049.