Purcell effect

2013-08-20T14:42:18Z

141.5.35.228: Removed the word "intuitive" since cavity quantum electrodynamics is not intuitive.

{{Earthquakes}}
The '''Adams–Williamson equation''', named after L. H. Adams and E. D. Williamson, is a relation between the velocities of [[seismic wave]]s and the [[density]] of the Earth's interior. Given the average density of rocks at the Earth's surface and profiles of the [[P-wave]] and [[S-wave]] speeds as function of depth, it can predict how density increases with depth. It assumes that the compression is [[adiabatic]] and that the Earth is spherically symmetric, homogeneous, and in [[hydrostatic equilibrium]]. It can also be applied to spherical shells with that property. It is an important part of models of the Earth's interior such as the [[Preliminary Reference Earth Model]] (PREM).<ref name=Poirier>{{harvnb|Poirier|2000}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Dziewonski|Anderson|1981}}</ref>

== History ==

Williamson and Adams first developed the theory in 1923. They concluded that "It is therefore impossible to explain the high density of the Earth on the basis of compression alone. The dense interior cannot consist of ordinary rocks compressed to a small volume; we must therefore fall back on the only reasonable alternative, namely, the presence of a heavier material, presumably some metal, which, to judge from its abundance in the Earth's crust, in meteorites and in the Sun, is probably iron."<ref name=Poirier/>

== Theory ==

The two types of seismic body waves are compressional waves ([[P-waves]]) and shear waves ([[S-waves]]). Both have speeds that are determined by the [[Elasticity (physics)|elastic]] properties of the medium they travel through, in particular the [[bulk modulus]] ''K'', the [[shear modulus]] ''μ'', and the [[density]] ''ρ''. In terms of these parameters, the P-wave speed ''v''p and the S-wave speed ''v''s are

:<math> \begin{align}
v_p &= \sqrt{\frac{K+(4/3)\mu}{\rho}} \\
v_s &= \sqrt{\frac{\mu}{\rho}}.
\end{align}</math>

These two speeds can be combined in a seismic parameter 
{{NumBlk|:|<math> \Phi = v_p^2-\frac{4}{3}v_s^2 = \frac{K}{\rho}. </math>|{{EquationRef|1}}}} 
The definition of the bulk modulus,

:<math>K = -V\frac{dP}{dV},</math>

is equivalent to
{{NumBlk|:|<math>K = \rho\frac{dP}{d\rho}.</math>|{{EquationRef|2}}}}

Suppose a region at a distance ''r'' from the Earth's center can be considered a fluid in [[hydrostatic equilibrium]], it is acted on by gravitational attraction from the part of the Earth that is below it and pressure from the part above it. Also suppose that the compression is [[adiabatic]] (so [[thermal expansion]] does not contribute to density variations). The [[pressure]] ''P''(''r'') varies with ''r'' as

{{NumBlk|:|<math>\frac{dP}{dr} = -\rho(r)g(r),</math>|{{EquationRef|3}}}}

where ''g''(''r'') is the [[gravitational acceleration]] at radius ''r''.<ref name=Poirier/>

If Equations {{EquationNote|1}},{{EquationNote|2}} and {{EquationNote|3}} are combined, we get the '''Adams–Williamson equation''':

:<math> \frac{d\rho}{dr} = -\frac{\rho(r)g(r)}{\Phi(r)}.</math>

This equation can be integrated to obtain

:<math> \ln\left(\frac{\rho}{\rho_0}\right) = -\int_{r_0}^r \frac{g(r)}{\Phi(r)}dr, </math>

where ''r''0 is the radius at the Earth's surface and ''ρ''0 is the density at the surface. Given ''ρ''0 and profiles of the P- and S-wave speeds, the radial dependence of the density can be determined by numerical integration.<ref name=Poirier/>

== References ==
{{Reflist|3}}

== References ==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book
|last = Poirier
|first = Jean-Paul
|title = Introduction to the Physics of the Earth's Interior
|series = Cambridge Topics in Mineral Physics & Chemistry
|publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]]
|year = 2000
|isbn = 0-521-66313-X
|ref=harvnb
}}
*{{cite journal
|last = Dziewonski
|first = A. M.
|author-link = Adam Dziewonski
|last2 = Anderson
|first2 = D. L.
|author2-link = Don L. Anderson
|title = Preliminary reference Earth model
|journal = [[Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors]]
|volume = 25
|pages = 297–356
|ref=harvnb
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams-Williamson Equation}}
[[Category:Structure of the Earth]]
[[Category:Geophysics]]
[[Category:Ordinary differential equations]]

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Purcell effect