On relaxation-oscillations in The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine 2 pp. 978-992, 1926
London: Taylor and Francis, 1926. 1st Edition. Full volume FIRST EDITION OF THE VAN DER POL EQUATION – THE FIRST PRESENTATION OF OSCILLATIONS THAT ARE NOT NEARLY LINEAR.
In this paper, van der Pol, a Dutch physicist, develops differential equations of coupled electrical systems that describe self-oscillating triode circuits. He presents “relaxation oscillations” in which energy is fed into small oscillations and removed from large oscillations. This work distinguishes relaxation oscillations from harmonic ones, first presents the term ‘relaxation oscillations, and derives the first mathematical model of a relaxation oscillator.
The van der Pol equation is only an example among many others, but “its role is far more important in. Van der Pol’s breakthrough was to propose a dimensionless equation which can thus be used to explain various systems regardless their origins [an equation for the multivibrator based on current and potential departures from the unstable equilibrium values]. From that point of view, van der Pol was the first to write a propotypal equation [to show that the prototypical equation represent the action of the multivibrator]. In doing that, van der Pol assimilated the fact that the dynamical nature of the behaviours observed was much more important than a physical explanation as provided, for instance, by Blondel… Van der Pol also pushed the analysis further by investigating some solutions to his equation” (Ginoux, Van der Pol and the History of Relaxation Oscillations). Item #1126
CONDITION & DETAILS: London: Taylor & Francis. 8vo. Full volume, complete. 3 small ex-libris stamps; no exterior markings. [VIII], 1296, [4]. 19 plates. Tightly and solidly bound in black cloth, gilt-lettered at the spine. Clean within. Very good.
Price: $300.00