The Annular Taylor Column

Abstract

A study is made of the time evolution of the flow generated by an annulus (a disk with a hole in it) of inner, outer radii a and b (a ≪ b), impulsively set into motion and rising at an infinitesimal Rossby number along the axis of rotation of a uniformly rotating, unbounded mass of inviscid, incompressible fluid. The result is that a Taylor column in the form of an annular cylinder of inner, outer radii a and b, does evolve, with all the properties a Taylor column should possess. As a consequence, possibly the first engineering application of the Taylor column is suggested.