The finite-dipole dynamical system

The notion of afinite dipole is introduced as a pair of equal and opposite strength point vortices (i.e. a vortex dipole) separated by a finite distance. Equations of motion forN finite dipoles interacting in an unbounded inviscid fluid are derived from the modified interaction of 2N independent vortices subject to the constraint that the inter-vortex spacing of each constrained dipole, ℓ, remains constant. In the absence of all other dipoles and background flow, a single dipole moves in a straight line along the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining the two point vortices comprising the dipole, with a self-induced velocity inversely proportional to ℓ. When more than one dipole is present, the velocity of the dipole centre is the sum of the self-induced velocity and the average of the induced velocities on each vortex comprising the pair due to all the other dipoles. Each dipole orients in the direction of shear gradient based on the difference in velocities on each of the two vortices in the pair. Several numerical experiments are shown to illustrate the interactions between two and three dipoles in abreast and tandem configurations. We also show that equilibria (multi-poles) can form as a result of the interactions, and we study the stability of polygonal equilibria, showing that theN =3 case is linearly stable, whereas theN >3 case is linearly unstable.