E. R. Love's integral equation for the circular plate condenser

Abstract

AbstractIn a classical paper, E. R. Love considered a certain function defined by a singular integral which is harmonic outside a circular disk. Love's objective was to derive a simple integral equation whose solution leads to a useful formula for the capacitance of the condenser consisting of two parallel circular plates. We close a gap in Love's derivation by finding a new nonsingular representation of Love's singular integral which permits one to draw the required conclusions about its boundary values and thereby establishes the correctness of Love's expression for the capacitance.