Rayleigh stability integral identity

ID: rayleigh-stability-integral-identity

Multiply the narrow-gap centrifugal stability equation by the complex conjugate mode and use integration by parts with zero endpoint radial velocities. This gives the displayed real Rayleigh quotient. Its denominator is positive. Positive Rayleigh discriminant throughout the gap gives positive for every nonzero mode, excluding exponential axisymmetric growth; nonnegativity permits marginal cases. In the alternative convention , the numerator is , so the stable sign is . For rigid rotation, gives .

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