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Helmholtz Differential Equation--Spherical Surface

On the surface of a Sphere, attempt Separation of Variables in Spherical Coordinates by writing

\begin{displaymath}
F(\theta, \phi) = \Theta (\theta)\Phi(\phi),
\end{displaymath} (1)

then the Helmholtz Differential Equation becomes
\begin{displaymath}
{1\over\sin^2\phi}{d^2\Theta\over d\theta^2}\Phi + {\cos\phi...
...hi}\Theta
+ {d^2\Phi\over d\phi^2}\Theta + k^2\Theta\Phi = 0.
\end{displaymath} (2)

Dividing both sides by $\Phi\Theta$,
\begin{displaymath}
\left({{\cos\phi\sin\phi\over\Phi} {d\Phi\over d\phi }+ {\si...
...ft({{1\over \Theta }{d^2\Theta\over d\theta^2}+k^2}\right)= 0,
\end{displaymath} (3)

which can now be separated by writing
\begin{displaymath}
{d^2\Theta\over d\theta^2}{1\over\Theta}= -(k^2+m^2).
\end{displaymath} (4)

The solution to this equation must be periodic, so $m$ must be an Integer. The solution may then be defined either as a Complex function
\begin{displaymath}
\Theta (\theta) = A_me^{i\sqrt{k^2+m^2}\,\theta}+B_me^{-i\sqrt{k^2+m^2}\,\theta}
\end{displaymath} (5)

for $m=-\infty$, ..., $\infty$, or as a sum of Real sine and cosine functions
\begin{displaymath}
\Theta(\theta) = S_m\sin(\sqrt{k^2+m^2}\,\theta)+C_m\cos(\sqrt{k^2+m^2}\,\theta)
\end{displaymath} (6)

for $m = 0$, ..., $\infty$. Plugging (4) into (3) gives
\begin{displaymath}
{\cos\phi\sin\phi\over\Phi}{d\Phi\over d\phi} + {\sin^2\phi\over\Phi}{d^2\Phi\over d\phi^2} + m^2 = 0
\end{displaymath} (7)


\begin{displaymath}
\Phi'' + {\cos\phi\over\sin\phi}\Phi' + {m^2\over\sin^2\phi}\Phi = 0,
\end{displaymath} (8)

which is the Legendre Differential Equation for $x = \cos \phi$ with
\begin{displaymath}
m^2\equiv l(l+1),
\end{displaymath} (9)

giving
\begin{displaymath}
l^2+l-m^2=0
\end{displaymath} (10)


\begin{displaymath}
l={\textstyle{1\over 2}}(-1\pm \sqrt{1+4m^2}\,).
\end{displaymath} (11)

Solutions are therefore Legendre Polynomials with a Complex index. The general Complex solution is then
\begin{displaymath}
F(\theta,\phi)=\sum_{m=-\infty}^\infty P_l(\cos \phi)(A_me^{im\theta}+B_me^{-im\theta}),
\end{displaymath} (12)

and the general Real solution is
\begin{displaymath}
F(\theta,\phi)=\sum_{m=0}^\infty P_l(\cos\phi)[S_m\sin(m\theta)+C_m\cos(m\theta)].
\end{displaymath} (13)

Note that these solutions depend on only a single variable $m$. However, on the surface of a sphere, it is usual to express solutions in terms of the Spherical Harmonics derived for the 3-D spherical case, which depend on the two variables $l$ and $m$.



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© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-25