An application of the operational calculus to the equations of the Rayleigh Problem in MHD

Summary The operational calculus in the form developed by Van der Pol and Bremmer is applied to obtain some solutions for the equations of the Rayleigh Problem in MHD. The diffusivities in these solutions can have arbitrary values. A limiting case of the solutions is studied, and it is shown that the solutions have some advantages as compared to the integrals of Chang and Yen, and of Hide and Roberts. Finally an example of Ludford is used to verify that the integrals obtained here will make their appearance in the solution of some boundary value problems.MHD stands for magnetohydrodynamics.