The first book devoted to ellipsoidal harmonics presents the state of the art in this fascinating subject.

The sphere is what might be called a perfect shape. Unfortunately nature is imperfect and many bodies are better represented by an ellipsoid. The theory of ellipsoidal harmonics, originated in the nineteenth century, could only be seriously applied with the kind of computational power available in recent years. This, therefore, is the first book devoted to ellipsoidal harmonics. Topics are drawn from geometry, physics, biosciences and inverse problems. It contains classical results as well as new material, including ellipsoidal bi-harmonic functions, the theory of images in ellipsoidal geometry and vector surface ellipsoidal harmonics, which exhibit an interesting analytical structure. Extended appendices provide everything one needs to solve formally boundary value problems. End-of-chapter problems complement the theory and test the reader's understanding. The book serves as a comprehensive reference for applied mathematicians, physicists, engineers and for anyone who needs to know the current state of the art in this fascinating subject.

First published in 1893, Byerly's classic treatise on Fourier's series and spherical, cylindrical, and ellipsoidal harmonics has been used in classrooms for well over a century. This practical exposition acts as a primer for fields such as wave mechanics, advanced engineering, and mathematical physics. Topics covered include: . development in trigonometric series . convergence on Fourier's series . solution of problems in physics by the aid of Fourier's integrals and Fourier's series . zonal harmonics . spherical harmonics . cylindrical harmonics (Bessel's functions) . and more. Containing 190 exercises and a helpful appendix, this reissue of Fourier's Series will be welcomed by students of higher mathematics everywhere. American mathematician WILLIAM ELWOOD BYERLY (1849-1935) also wrote Elements of Differential Calculus (1879) and Elements of Integral Calculus (1881).

The image system of singularities of an arbitrary exterior potential field within a tri-axial ellipsoid is derived. It is found that the image system consists of a source and doublet distribution over the fundamental ellipsoid. The present contribution is a generalization of previous theories on the image system of an exterior potential field within a sphere and spheroid. A proof of Havelock's spheroid theorem which apparently is not available in the literature is also given. The knowledge of the image system is required, for example, when hydrodynamical forces and moments acting on an ellipsoid immersed in a potential flow are computed by the Lagally theorem. The two examples given consider the image system of singularities of an ellipsoid in a uniform translatory motion and in pure rotation. (Author).