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Oblate Spheroidal Wave Functions
In applied mathematics, oblate spheroidal wave functions (like also prolate spheroidal wave functions and other related functions) are involved in the solution of the Helmholtz equation in oblate spheroidal coordinates. When solving this equation, \Delta \Phi + k^2 \Phi=0, by the method of separation of variables, (\xi,\eta,\varphi), with: :\ z=(d/2) \xi \eta, :\ x=(d/2) \sqrt \cos \varphi, :\ y=(d/2) \sqrt \sin \varphi, :\ \xi \ge 0 \text , \eta, \le 1. the solution \Phi(\xi,\eta,\varphi) can be written as the product of a radial spheroidal wave function R_(-i c,i \xi) and an angular spheroidal wave function S_(-i c,\eta) by e^. Here c=kd/2, with d being the interfocal length of the elliptical cross section of the oblate spheroid. The radial wave function R_(-i c,i \xi) satisfies the linear ordinary differential equation In mathematics, an ordinary differential equation (ODE) is a differential equation whose unknown(s) consists of one (or more) function(s) of one ...
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Prolate Spheroidal Wave Function
The prolate spheroidal wave functions are eigenfunctions of the Laplacian in prolate spheroidal coordinates, adapted to boundary conditions on certain ellipsoids of revolution (an ellipse rotated around its long axis, “cigar shape“). Related are the oblate spheroidal wave functions (“pancake shaped” ellipsoid). Solutions to the wave equation Solve the Helmholtz equation, \nabla^2 \Phi + k^2 \Phi=0, by the method of separation of variables in prolate spheroidal coordinates, (\xi,\eta,\varphi), with: :\ x=a \sqrt \cos \varphi, :\ y=a \sqrt \sin \varphi, :\ z=a \, \xi \, \eta, and \xi \ge 1, , \eta, \le 1 , and 0 \le \varphi \le 2\pi. Here, 2a > 0 is the interfocal distance of the elliptical cross section of the prolate spheroid. Setting c=ka, the solution \Phi(\xi,\eta,\varphi) can be written as the product of e^, a radial spheroidal wave function R_(c,\xi) and an angular spheroidal wave function S_(c,\eta). The radial wave function R_(c,\xi) satisfies the lin ...
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Helmholtz Equation
In mathematics, the eigenvalue problem for the Laplace operator is known as the Helmholtz equation. It corresponds to the linear partial differential equation \nabla^2 f = -k^2 f, where is the Laplace operator (or "Laplacian"), is the eigenvalue, and is the (eigen)function. When the equation is applied to waves, is known as the wave number. The Helmholtz equation has a variety of applications in physics, including the wave equation and the diffusion equation, and it has uses in other sciences. Motivation and uses The Helmholtz equation often arises in the study of physical problems involving partial differential equations (PDEs) in both space and time. The Helmholtz equation, which represents a time-independent form of the wave equation, results from applying the technique of separation of variables to reduce the complexity of the analysis. For example, consider the wave equation \left(\nabla^2-\frac\frac\right) u(\mathbf,t)=0. Separation of variables begins by assumi ...
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Oblate Spheroidal Coordinates
Oblate spheroidal coordinates are a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinates, orthogonal coordinate system that results from rotating the two-dimensional elliptic coordinates, elliptic coordinate system about the non-focal axis of the ellipse, i.e., the symmetry axis that separates the foci. Thus, the two foci are transformed into a ring of radius a in the ''x''-''y'' plane. (Rotation about the other axis produces prolate spheroidal coordinates.) Oblate spheroidal coordinates can also be considered as a limiting case (mathematics), limiting case of ellipsoidal coordinates in which the two largest semi-axis, semi-axes are equal in length. Oblate spheroidal coordinates are often useful in solving partial differential equations when the boundary conditions are defined on an oblate spheroid or a hyperboloid, hyperboloid of revolution. For example, they played an important role in the calculation of the Perrin friction factors, which contributed to the awarding of the 1926 Nobel Pri ...
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Oblate Spheroid
A spheroid, also known as an ellipsoid of revolution or rotational ellipsoid, is a quadric surface obtained by rotating an ellipse about one of its principal axes; in other words, an ellipsoid with two equal semi-diameters. A spheroid has circular symmetry. If the ellipse is rotated about its major axis, the result is a ''prolate spheroid'', elongated like a rugby ball. The American football is similar but has a pointier end than a spheroid could. If the ellipse is rotated about its minor axis, the result is an ''oblate spheroid'', flattened like a lentil or a plain M&M. If the generating ellipse is a circle, the result is a sphere. Due to the combined effects of gravity and rotation, the figure of the Earth (and of all planets) is not quite a sphere, but instead is slightly flattened in the direction of its axis of rotation. For that reason, in cartography and geodesy the Earth is often approximated by an oblate spheroid, known as the reference ellipsoid, instead of a spher ...
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Ordinary Differential Equation
In mathematics, an ordinary differential equation (ODE) is a differential equation whose unknown(s) consists of one (or more) function(s) of one variable and involves the derivatives of those functions. The term ''ordinary'' is used in contrast with the term partial differential equation which may be with respect to ''more than'' one independent variable. Differential equations A linear differential equation is a differential equation that is defined by a linear polynomial in the unknown function and its derivatives, that is an equation of the form :a_0(x)y +a_1(x)y' + a_2(x)y'' +\cdots +a_n(x)y^+b(x)=0, where , ..., and are arbitrary differentiable functions that do not need to be linear, and are the successive derivatives of the unknown function of the variable . Among ordinary differential equations, linear differential equations play a prominent role for several reasons. Most elementary and special functions that are encountered in physics and applied mathematics are ...
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Sturm–Liouville Theory
In mathematics and its applications, classical Sturm–Liouville theory is the theory of ''real'' second-order ''linear'' ordinary differential equations of the form: for given coefficient functions , , and , an unknown function ''y = y''(''x'') of the free variable , and an unknown constant λ. All homogeneous (i.e. with the right-hand side equal to zero) second-order linear ordinary differential equations can be reduced to this form. In addition, the solution is typically required to satisfy some boundary conditions at extreme values of ''x''. Each such equation () together with its boundary conditions constitutes a Sturm–Liouville problem. In the simplest case where all coefficients are continuous on the finite closed interval and has continuous derivative, a function ''y = y''(''x'') is called a ''solution'' if it is continuously differentiable and satisfies the equation () at every x\in (a,b). In the case of more general , , , the solutions must be understood in a weak ...
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Associated Legendre Polynomials
In mathematics, the associated Legendre polynomials are the canonical solutions of the general Legendre equation \left(1 - x^2\right) \frac P_\ell^m(x) - 2 x \frac P_\ell^m(x) + \left \ell (\ell + 1) - \frac \rightP_\ell^m(x) = 0, or equivalently \frac \left \left(1 - x^2\right) \frac P_\ell^m(x) \right+ \left \ell (\ell + 1) - \frac \rightP_\ell^m(x) = 0, where the indices ''ℓ'' and ''m'' (which are integers) are referred to as the degree and order of the associated Legendre polynomial respectively. This equation has nonzero solutions that are nonsingular on only if ''ℓ'' and ''m'' are integers with 0 ≤ ''m'' ≤ ''ℓ'', or with trivially equivalent negative values. When in addition ''m'' is even, the function is a polynomial. When ''m'' is zero and ''ℓ'' integer, these functions are identical to the Legendre polynomials. In general, when ''ℓ'' and ''m'' are integers, the regular solutions are sometimes called "associated Legendre polynomials", even though they are ...
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Prolate Spheroidal Wave Functions
The prolate spheroidal wave functions are eigenfunctions of the Laplacian in prolate spheroidal coordinates, adapted to boundary conditions on certain ellipsoids of revolution (an ellipse rotated around its long axis, “cigar shape“). Related are the oblate spheroidal wave functions (“pancake shaped” ellipsoid). Solutions to the wave equation Solve the Helmholtz equation, \nabla^2 \Phi + k^2 \Phi=0, by the method of separation of variables in prolate spheroidal coordinates, (\xi,\eta,\varphi), with: :\ x=a \sqrt \cos \varphi, :\ y=a \sqrt \sin \varphi, :\ z=a \, \xi \, \eta, and \xi \ge 1, , \eta, \le 1 , and 0 \le \varphi \le 2\pi. Here, 2a > 0 is the interfocal distance of the elliptical cross section of the prolate spheroid. Setting c=ka, the solution \Phi(\xi,\eta,\varphi) can be written as the product of e^, a radial spheroidal wave function R_(c,\xi) and an angular spheroidal wave function S_(c,\eta). The radial wave function R_(c,\xi) satisfies the line ...
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