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A logarithmic spiral, equiangular spiral or growth spiral is a special kind of spiral curve which often appears in nature. The logarithmic spiral was first described by Descartes and later extensively investigated by Jacob Bernoulli, who called it Spira mirabilis, "the marvelous spiral".

Definition

In polar coordinates $$(r, \theta)$$ the logarithmic curve can be written as[1]

$$r = ae^{b\theta}\,$$

or

$$\theta = \frac{1}{b} \ln(r/a),$$

with e being the base of natural logarithms, and a and b being arbitrary positive real constants.

In parametric form, the curve is

$$x(t) = r(t) \cos(t) = ae^{bt} \cos(t)\,$$
$$y(t) = r(t) \sin(t) = ae^{bt} \sin(t)\,$$

with real numbers a and b.

The spiral has the property that the angle φ between the tangent and radial line at the point $$(r, \theta)$$ is constant. This property can be expressed in differential geometric terms as

$$\arccos \frac{\langle \mathbf{r}(\theta), \mathbf{r}'(\theta) \rangle}{\|\mathbf{r}(\theta)\|\|\mathbf{r}'(\theta)\|} = \arctan \frac{1}{b} = \phi.$$

The derivative of \mathbf{r}(\theta) is proportional to the parameter b. In other words, it controls how "tightly" and in which direction the spiral spirals. In the extreme case that $$b = 0 (\textstyle\phi = \frac{\pi}{2})$$ the spiral becomes a circle of radius a. Conversely, in the limit that b approaches infinity (φ → 0) the spiral tends toward a straight half-line. The complement of φ is called the pitch.
Spira mirabilis and Jacob Bernoulli

Spira mirabilis, Latin for "miraculous spiral", is another name for the logarithmic spiral. Although this curve had already been named by other mathematicians, the specific name ("miraculous" or "marvelous" spiral) was given to this curve by Jacob Bernoulli, because he was fascinated by one of its unique mathematical properties: the size of the spiral increases but its shape is unaltered with each successive curve, a property known as self-similarity. Possibly as a result of this unique property, the spira mirabilis has evolved in nature, appearing in certain growing forms such as nautilus shells and sunflower heads. Jakob Bernoulli wanted such a spiral engraved on his headstone along with the phrase "Eadem mutata resurgo" ("Although changed, I shall arise the same."), but, by error, an Archimedean spiral was placed there instead.[2][3]
Properties

The logarithmic spiral can be distinguished from the Archimedean spiral by the fact that the distances between the turnings of a logarithmic spiral increase in geometric progression, while in an Archimedean spiral these distances are constant.

Logarithmic spirals are self-similar in that they are self-congruent under all similarity transformations (scaling them gives the same result as rotating them). Scaling by a factor $$e^{2 \pi b}$$ gives the same as the original, without rotation. They are also congruent to their own involutes, evolutes, and the pedal curves based on their centers.

Starting at a point P and moving inward along the spiral, one can circle the origin an unbounded number of times without reaching it; yet, the total distance covered on this path is finite; that is, the limit as \theta goes toward $$-\infty$$ is finite. This property was first realized by Evangelista Torricelli even before calculus had been invented.[4] The total distance covered is \textstyle\frac{r}{\cos(\phi)}, where r is the straight-line distance from P to the origin.

The exponential function exactly maps all lines not parallel with the real or imaginary axis in the complex plane, to all logarithmic spirals in the complex plane with centre at 0. (Up to adding integer multiples of $$2\pi i$$ to the lines, the mapping of all lines to all logarithmic spirals is onto.) The pitch angle of the logarithmic spiral is the angle between the line and the imaginary axis.

The function$$x \mapsto x^k$$, where the constant k is a complex number with non-zero imaginary part, maps the real line to a logarithmic spiral in the complex plane.

One can construct a golden spiral, a logarithmic spiral that grows outward by a factor of the golden ratio for every 90 degrees of rotation (pitch about 17.03239 degrees), or approximate it using Fibonacci numbers.
Logarithmic spirals in nature

In several natural phenomena one may find curves that are close to being logarithmic spirals. Here follows some examples and reasons:

The approach of a hawk to its prey. Their sharpest view is at an angle to their direction of flight; this angle is the same as the spiral's pitch.[5]

The approach of an insect to a light source. They are used to having the light source at a constant angle to their flight path. Usually the sun (or moon for nocturnal species) is the only light source and flying that way will result in a practically straight line.[6]

The arms of spiral galaxies.[7] Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, has several spiral arms, each of which is roughly a logarithmic spiral with pitch of about 12 degrees.[8]

The nerves of the cornea (this is, corneal nerves of the subepithelial layer terminate near superficial epithelial layer of the cornea in a logarithmic spiral pattern).[9]

The arms of tropical cyclones, such as hurricanes.[10]

Many biological structures including the shells of mollusks.[11] In these cases, the reason may be construction from expanding similar shapes, as shown for polygonal figures in the accompanying graphic.

Logarithmic spiral beaches can form as the result of wave refraction and diffraction by the coast. Half Moon Bay, California is an example of such a type of beach.[12]

Archimedean spiral
Golden spiral

References

^ Priya Hemenway (2005). Divine Proportion: Φ Phi in Art, Nature, and Science. Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 1-4027-3522-7.
^ Livio, Mario (2002). The Golden Ratio: The Story of Phi, The World's Most Astonishing Number. New York: Broadway Books. ISBN 0-7679-0815-5.
^ Yates, R. C.: A Handbook on Curves and Their Properties, J. W. Edwards (1952), "Evolutes." p. 206
^ Carl Benjamin Boyer (1949). The history of the calculus and its conceptual development. Courier Dover Publications. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-486-60509-8.
^ Chin, Gilbert J. (8 December 2000), "Organismal Biology: Flying Along a Logarithmic Spiral", Science 290 (5498): 1857, doi:10.1126/science.290.5498.1857c
^ John Himmelman (2002). Discovering Moths: Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Backyard. Down East Enterprise Inc. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-89272-528-1.
^ G. Bertin and C. C. Lin (1996). Spiral structure in galaxies: a density wave theory. MIT Press. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-262-02396-2.
^ David J. Darling (2004). The universal book of mathematics: from Abracadabra to Zeno's paradoxes. John Wiley and Sons. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-471-27047-8.
^ C. Q. Yu CQ and M. I. Rosenblatt, "Transgenic corneal neurofluorescence in mice: a new model for in vivo investigation of nerve structure and regeneration," Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Apr;48(4):1535-42.
^ Andrew Gray (1901). Treatise on physics, Volume 1. Churchill. p. 356–357.
^ Michael Cortie (1992). "The form, function, and synthesis of the molluscan shell". In István Hargittai and Clifford A. Pickover. Spiral symmetry. World Scientific. p. 370. ISBN 978-981-02-0615-4.
^ Allan Thomas Williams and Anton Micallef (2009). Beach management: principles and practice. Earthscan. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-84407-435-8.

Weisstein, Eric W., "Logarithmic Spiral" from MathWorld.
Jim Wilson, Equiangular Spiral (or Logarithmic Spiral) and Its Related Curves, University of Georgia (1999)
Alexander Bogomolny, Spira Mirabilis - Wonderful Spiral, at cut-the-knot

Spira mirabilis history and math
Astronomy Picture of the Day, Hurricane Isabel vs. the Whirlpool Galaxy
Astronomy Picture of the Day, Typhoon Rammasun vs. the Pinwheel Galaxy
SpiralZoom.com, an educational website about the science of pattern formation, spirals in nature, and spirals in the mythic imagination.
Online exploration using JSXGraph (JavaScript)