Prolate spheroidal wave function
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In mathematics, 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).cite-ref-1[1]
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Solutions to the wave equation
Solve the Helmholtz equation, ∇ ∇ 2 Φ Φ + k 2 Φ Φ = 0 {\displaystyle \nabla ^{2}\Phi +k^{2}\Phi =0} , by the method of separation of variables in prolate spheroidal coordinates, ( ξ ξ , η η , φ φ ) {\displaystyle (\xi ,\eta ,\varphi )} , with:
x = a ( ξ ξ 2 − − 1 ) ( 1 − − η η 2 ) cos φ φ , {\displaystyle \ x=a{\sqrt {(\xi ^{2}-1)(1-\eta ^{2})}}\cos \varphi ,}
y = a ( ξ ξ 2 − − 1 ) ( 1 − − η η 2 ) sin φ φ , {\displaystyle \ y=a{\sqrt {(\xi ^{2}-1)(1-\eta ^{2})}}\sin \varphi ,}
z = a ξ ξ η η , {\displaystyle \ z=a\,\xi \,\eta ,}
and ξ ξ ≥ ≥ 1 {\displaystyle \xi \geq 1} , | η η | ≤ ≤ 1 {\displaystyle |\eta |\leq 1} , and 0 ≤ ≤ φ φ ≤ ≤ 2 π π {\displaystyle 0\leq \varphi \leq 2\pi } . Here, 2 a > 0 {\displaystyle 2a>0} is the interfocal distance of the elliptical cross section of the prolate spheroid. Setting c = k a {\displaystyle c=ka} , the solution Φ Φ ( ξ ξ , η η , φ φ ) {\displaystyle \Phi (\xi ,\eta ,\varphi )} can be written as the product of e i m φ φ {\displaystyle e^{{\rm {i}}m\varphi }} , a radial spheroidal wave function R m n ( c , ξ ξ ) {\displaystyle R_{mn}(c,\xi )} and an angular spheroidal wave function S m n ( c , η η ) {\displaystyle S_{mn}(c,\eta )} .
The radial wave function R m n ( c , ξ ξ ) {\displaystyle R_{mn}(c,\xi )} satisfies the linear ordinary differential equation:
( ξ ξ 2 − − 1 ) d 2 R m n ( c , ξ ξ ) d ξ ξ 2 + 2 ξ ξ d R m n ( c , ξ ξ ) d ξ ξ − − ( λ λ m n ( c ) − − c 2 ξ ξ 2 + m 2 ξ ξ 2 − − 1 ) R m n ( c , ξ ξ ) = 0 {\displaystyle \ (\xi ^{2}-1){\frac {d^{2}R_{mn}(c,\xi )}{d\xi ^{2}}}+2\xi {\frac {dR_{mn}(c,\xi )}{d\xi }}-\left(\lambda _{mn}(c)-c^{2}\xi ^{2}+{\frac {m^{2}}{\xi ^{2}-1}}\right){R_{mn}(c,\xi )}=0}
The angular wave function satisfies the differential equation:
( 1 − − η η 2 ) d 2 S m n ( c , η η ) d η η 2 − − 2 η η d S m n ( c , η η ) d η η + ( λ λ m n ( c ) − − c 2 η η 2 + m 2 η η 2 − − 1 ) S m n ( c , η η ) = 0 {\displaystyle \ (1-\eta ^{2}){\frac {d^{2}S_{mn}(c,\eta )}{d\eta ^{2}}}-2\eta {\frac {dS_{mn}(c,\eta )}{d\eta }}+\left(\lambda _{mn}(c)-c^{2}\eta ^{2}+{\frac {m^{2}}{\eta ^{2}-1}}\right){S_{mn}(c,\eta )}=0}
It is the same differential equation as in the case of the radial wave function. However, the range of the variable is different: in the radial wave function, ξ ξ ≥ ≥ 1 {\displaystyle \xi \geq 1} , while in the angular wave function, | η η | ≤ ≤ 1 {\displaystyle |\eta |\leq 1} . The eigenvalue λ λ m n ( c ) {\displaystyle \lambda _{mn}(c)} of this Sturm–Liouville problem is fixed by the requirement that S m n ( c , η η ) {\displaystyle {S_{mn}(c,\eta )}} must be finite for η η → → ± ± 1 {\displaystyle \eta \to \pm 1} .
For c = 0 {\displaystyle c=0} both differential equations reduce to the equations satisfied by the associated Legendre polynomials. For c ≠ ≠ 0 {\displaystyle c\neq 0} , the angular spheroidal wave functions can be expanded as a series of Legendre functions.
If one writes S m n ( c , η η ) = ( 1 − − η η 2 ) m / 2 Y m n ( c , η η ) {\displaystyle S_{mn}(c,\eta )=(1-\eta ^{2})^{m/2}Y_{mn}(c,\eta )} , the function Y m n ( c , η η ) {\displaystyle Y_{mn}(c,\eta )} satisfies
( 1 − − η η 2 ) d 2 Y m n ( c , η η ) d η η 2 − − 2 ( m + 1 ) η η d Y m n ( c , η η ) d η η − − ( c 2 η η 2 + m ( m + 1 ) − − λ λ m n ( c ) ) Y m n ( c , η η ) = 0 , {\displaystyle \ (1-\eta ^{2}){\frac {d^{2}Y_{mn}(c,\eta )}{d\eta ^{2}}}-2(m+1)\eta {\frac {dY_{mn}(c,\eta )}{d\eta }}-\left(c^{2}\eta ^{2}+m(m+1)-\lambda _{mn}(c)\right){Y_{mn}(c,\eta )}=0,}
which is known as the spheroidal wave equation. This auxiliary equation has been used by Stratton.cite-ref-2[2]
Band-limited signals
In signal processing, the prolate spheroidal wave functions (PSWF) are useful as eigenfunctions of a time-limiting operation followed by a low-pass filter. Let D {\displaystyle D} denote the time truncation operator, such that f ( t ) = D f ( t ) {\displaystyle f(t)=Df(t)} if and only if f ( t ) {\displaystyle f(t)} has support on [ − − T , T ] {\displaystyle [-T,T]} . Similarly, let B {\displaystyle B} denote an ideal low-pass filtering operator, such that f ( t ) = B f ( t ) {\displaystyle f(t)=Bf(t)} if and only if its Fourier transform is limited to [ − − Ω Ω , Ω Ω ] {\displaystyle [-\Omega ,\Omega ]} . The operator B D {\displaystyle BD} turns out to be linear, bounded and self-adjoint. For n = 0 , 1 , 2 , … … {\displaystyle n=0,1,2,\ldots } we denote with ψ ψ n ( c , t ) {\displaystyle \psi _{n}(c,t)} the n {\displaystyle n} -th eigenfunction, defined as
B D ψ ψ n ( c , t ) = 1 2 π π ∫ ∫ − − Ω Ω Ω Ω ( ∫ ∫ − − T T ψ ψ n ( c , τ τ ) e − − i ω ω τ τ d τ τ ) e i ω ω t d ω ω = λ λ n ( c ) ψ ψ n ( c , t ) , {\displaystyle \ BD\psi _{n}(c,t)={\frac {1}{2\pi }}\int _{-\Omega }^{\Omega }\left(\int _{-T}^{T}\psi _{n}(c,\tau )e^{-i\omega \tau }\,d\tau \right)e^{i\omega t}\,d\omega =\lambda _{n}(c)\psi _{n}(c,t),}
where 1 > λ λ 0 ( c ) > λ λ 1 ( c ) > ⋯ ⋯ > 0 {\displaystyle 1>\lambda _{0}(c)>\lambda _{1}(c)>\cdots >0} are the associated eigenvalues, and c = T Ω Ω {\displaystyle c=T\Omega } is a constant. The band-limited functions { ψ ψ n ( c , t ) } n = 0 ∞ ∞ {\displaystyle \{\psi _{n}(c,t)\}_{n=0}^{\infty }} are the prolate spheroidal wave functions, proportional to the S 0 n ( c , t / T ) {\displaystyle S_{0n}(c,t/T)} introduced above.cite-ref-3[3] (See also Spectral concentration problem.)
Technical information and history
There are different normalization schemes for spheroidal functions. A table of the different schemes can be found in Abramowitz and Steguncite-ref-13[13] who follow the notation of Flammer.cite-ref-flammer-14-0[14] The Digital Library of Mathematical Functions provided by NIST is an excellent resource for spheroidal wave functions.
Originally, the spheroidal wave functions were introduced by C. Niven,cite-ref-21[21] which lead to a Helmholtz equation in spheroidal coordinates. Monographs tying together many aspects of the theory of spheroidal wave functions were written by Strutt,cite-ref-22[22] Stratton et al.,cite-ref-23[23] Meixner and Schafke,cite-ref-24[24] and Flammer.cite-ref-flammer-14-2[14]
Flammercite-ref-flammer-14-3[14] provided a thorough discussion of the calculation of the eigenvalues, angular wavefunctions, and radial wavefunctions for both the prolate and the oblate case. Computer programs for this purpose have been developed by many, including King et al.,cite-ref-25[25] Patz and Van Buren,cite-ref-26[26] Baier et al.,cite-ref-27[27] Zhang and Jin,cite-ref-28[28] Thompsoncite-ref-29[29] and Falloon.cite-ref-30[30] Van Buren and Boisvertcite-ref-31[31]cite-ref-32[32] have recently developed new methods for calculating prolate spheroidal wave functions that extend the ability to obtain numerical values to extremely wide parameter ranges. Fortran source code that combines the new results with traditional methods is available at http://www.mathieuandspheroidalwavefunctions.com.
References
cite-note-11. ↑ F.M. Arscott, Periodic Differential Equations, Pergamon Press (1964).
cite-note-22. ↑ J. A. Stratton Spheroidal functions Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 21 (1935) 51.
cite-note-33. ↑ "30.15 Spheroidal Wave Functions – Signal Analysis". Digital Library of Mathematical Functions. NIST. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
cite-note-44. ↑ D. Slepian and H. O. Pollak, Prolate Spheroidal Wave Functions, Fourier Analysis and Uncertainty – I, Bell System Technical Journal 40 (1961) 43.
cite-note-55. ↑ H. J. Landau and H. O. Pollak, Prolate Spheroidal Wave Functions, Fourier Analysis and Uncertainty – II, Bell System Technical Journal 40 (1961) 65.
cite-note-66. ↑ H. J. Landau and H. O. Pollak. Prolate Spheroidal Wave Functions, Fourier Analysis and Uncertainty – III: The Dimension of the Space of Essentially Time- and Band-Limited Signals, Bell System Technical Journal 41 (1962) 1295.
cite-note-77. ↑ D. Slepian Prolate Spheroidal Wave Functions, Fourier Analysis and Uncertainty – IV: Extensions to Many Dimensions; Generalized Prolate Spheroidal Functions, Bell System Technical Journal 43 (1964) 3009–3057
cite-note-88. ↑ D. Slepian. Prolate Spheroidal Wave Functions, Fourier Analysis, and Uncertainty – V: The Discrete Case, Bell System Technical Journal 57 (1978) 1371.
cite-note-1313. ↑ M. Abramowitz and I. Stegun, Handbook of Mathematical Functions pp. 751–759 (Dover, New York, 1972)
cite-note-flammer-1414. ↑ C. Flammer, Spheroidal Wave Functions, Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA, 1957.
cite-note-1515. ↑ H. E. Hunter Tables of prolate spheroidal functions for m=0: Volume I. (1965)
cite-note-1616. ↑ H. E. Hunter Tables of prolate spheroidal functions for m=0 : Volume II. (1965)
cite-note-1717. ↑ S. Hanish, R. V. Baier, A. L. Van Buren, and B. J. King Tables of radial spheroidal wave functions, volume 1, prolate, m = 0 (1970)
cite-note-1818. ↑ S. Hanish, R. V. Baier, A. L. Van Buren, and B. J. King Tables of radial spheroidal wave functions, volume 2, prolate, m = 1 (1970)
cite-note-1919. ↑ S. Hanish, R. V. Baier, A. L. Van Buren, and B. J. King Tables of radial spheroidal wave functions, volume 3, prolate, m = 2 (1970)
cite-note-2020. ↑ A. L. Van Buren, B. J. King, R. V. Baier, and S. Hanish. Tables of angular spheroidal wave functions, vol. 1, prolate, m = 0, Naval Research Lab. Publication, U. S. Govt. Printing Office, 1975
cite-note-2121. ↑ C. Niven On the conduction of heat in ellipsoids of revolution, Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London, 171 (1880) 117.
cite-note-2222. ↑ M. J. O. Strutt. Lamesche, Mathieusche and Verwandte Funktionen in Physik und Technik, Ergebn. Math. u. Grenzgeb, 1 (1932) 199–323.
cite-note-2323. ↑ J. A. Stratton, P. M. Morse, J. L. Chu, and F. J. Corbató. Spheroidal Wave Functions Wiley, New York, 1956
cite-note-2424. ↑ J. Meixner and F. W. Schafke. Mathieusche Funktionen und Sphäroidfunktionen, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1954
cite-note-2525. ↑ B. J. King, R. V. Baier, and S Hanish A Fortran computer program for calculating the prolate spheroidal radial functions of the first and second kind and their first derivatives. (1970)
cite-note-2626. ↑ B. J. Patz and A. L. Van Buren A Fortran computer program for calculating the prolate spheroidal angular functions of the first kind. (1981)
cite-note-2727. ↑ R. V. Baier, A. L. Van Buren, S. Hanish, B. J. King – Spheroidal wave functions: their use and evaluation The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 48 (1970) 102.
cite-note-2828. ↑ S. Zhang and J. Jin. Computation of Special Functions, Wiley, New York, 1996
cite-note-2929. ↑ W. J. Thomson Spheroidal Wave functions Archived 2010-02-16 at the Wayback Machine Computing in Science & Engineering p. 84, May–June 1999
cite-note-3030. ↑ P. E. Falloon Thesis on numerical computation of spheroidal functions Archived 2011-04-11 at the Wayback Machine University of Western Australia, 2002
cite-note-3131. ↑ A. L. Van Buren and J. E. Boisvert. Accurate calculation of prolate spheroidal radial functions of the first kind and their first derivatives, Quarterly of Applied Mathematics 60 (2002) 589-599.
cite-note-3232. ↑ A. L. Van Buren and J. E. Boisvert. Improved calculation of prolate spheroidal radial functions of the second kind and their first derivatives, Quarterly of Applied Mathematics 62 (2004) 493–507.
cite-note-3333. ↑ H.J.W. Müller, Asymptotic Expansions of Prolate Spheroidal Wave Functions and their Characteristic Numbers, J. reine u. angew. Math. 212 (1963) 26–48.
cite-note-3434. ↑ H.J.W. Müller, Asymptotische Entwicklungen von Sphäroidfunktionen und ihre Verwandtschaft mit Kugelfunktionen, Z. angew. Math. Mech. 44 (1964) 371–374.
cite-note-3535. ↑ H.J.W. Müller, Über asymptotische Entwicklungen von Sphäroidfunktionen, Z. angew. Math. Mech. 45 (1965) 29–36.
External links
• MathWorld Spheroidal Wave functions
• MathWorld Prolate Spheroidal Wave Function
• MathWorld Oblate Spheroidal Wave function