On patches of uniform vorticity in a plane of irrotational flow

We derive an evolution equation for the motions of patches of vorticity (vortex). Steady state solutions of this equation that include those of Kirchhoff and Moore & Saffman are established. The m-fold symmetric, m3, hypotrochoid is an exact steady solution of this equation when rotation and strain are present. When strain is absent but rotation is present, the m-fold symmetric, m2, hypotrochoid is a perturbation solution with a dispersion relation extending that of Lamb. The case of m=2 is exact and is the Kirchhoff elliptical vortex.