On the points of bifurcation along the sequence of rotating axisymmetric masses with magnetic fields

Abstract

It is shown that the points of bifurcation belonging to the third harmonics along the sequence of Maclaurin spheroids viewed from an inertial frame are distinct from the corresponding points along the Maclaurin sequence considered stationary in a rotating frame and occur at eccentricitye=0·73113 ande=0·99608; the Maclaurin spheroids having become dynamically unstable before the second point is reached. A toroidal magnetic field leaves these points uneffected, while a general poloidal field may either raise or lower these points of bifurcation.