Arfken Mathematical Methods 7e: Section 9.4 - Exercise 9.4.

4 Page 1 of 2

Exercise 9.4.4
Verify that  
2 2 1 1
∇ ψ(r, θ, ϕ) + k + f (r) + 2 g(θ) + 2 2 h(ϕ) ψ(r, θ, ϕ) = 0
r r sin θ
is separable (in spherical polar coordinates). The functions f , g, and h are functions only of the
variables indicated; k 2 is a constant.

Solution

Expand the Laplacian operator in spherical polar coordinates (r, θ, ϕ). Here θ is the angle from
the polar axis.

∂2ψ
   
1 ∂ 2 ∂ψ 1 ∂ ∂ψ 1
r + 2 sin θ +
r2 ∂r ∂r r sin θ ∂θ ∂θ r2 sin2 θ ∂ϕ2
 
2 1 1
+ k + f (r) + 2 g(θ) + 2 2 h(ϕ) ψ = 0
r r sin θ

Assume a product solution of the form ψ(r, θ, ϕ) = R(r)Θ(θ)Φ(ϕ) and substitute it into the PDE.
   
1 ∂ 2 ∂ 1 ∂ ∂
r [R(r)Θ(θ)Φ(ϕ)] + 2 sin θ [R(r)Θ(θ)Φ(ϕ)]
r2 ∂r ∂r r sin θ ∂θ ∂θ
2
 
1 ∂ 2 1 1
+ 2 2 [R(r)Θ(θ)Φ(ϕ)] + k + f (r) + 2 g(θ) + 2 2 h(ϕ) R(r)Θ(θ)Φ(ϕ) = 0
r sin θ ∂ϕ2 r r sin θ

   
Θ(θ)Φ(ϕ) d 2 dR R(r)Φ(ϕ) d dΘ
r + 2 sin θ
r2 dr dr r sin θ dθ dθ
 
R(r)Θ(θ) 00 2 1 1
+ 2 2 Φ (ϕ) + k + f (r) + 2 g(θ) + 2 2 h(ϕ) R(r)Θ(θ)Φ(ϕ) = 0
r sin θ r r sin θ

Divide both sides by R(r)Θ(θ)Φ(ϕ).

   
1 d 2 dR 1 d dΘ
r + 2 sin θ
r2 R dr dr r Θ sin θ dθ dθ
1 Φ00 1 1
2 2 + + k 2 + f (r) + 2 g(θ) + 2 2 h(ϕ) = 0
r sin θ Φ r r sin θ
Φ00
     
1 d 2 dR 1 sin θ d dΘ
r + sin θ + + g(θ) sin2 θ + h(ϕ) + f (r) + k 2 = 0
r2 R dr dr r2 sin2 θ Θ dθ dθ Φ
Multiply both sides by r2 and bring the second term to the right side.

Φ00
     
1 d 2 dR 2 1 sin θ d dΘ 2
r + f (r) + k = − 2 sin θ + + g(θ) sin θ + h(ϕ)
R dr dr sin θ Θ dθ dθ Φ
| {z } | {z }
function of r function of θ and ϕ

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Arfken Mathematical Methods 7e: Section 9.4 - Exercise 9.4.4 Page 2 of 2

The only way a function of r can be equal to a function of θ and ϕ is if both are equal to a
constant λ.
Φ00
     
1 d 2 dR 2 1 sin θ d dΘ 2
r + f (r) + k = − 2 sin θ + + g(θ) sin θ + h(ϕ) = λ
R dr dr sin θ Θ dθ dθ Φ

The second of these equations is

Φ00
   
1 sin θ d dΘ 2
− 2 sin θ + + g(θ) sin θ + h(ϕ) = λ.
sin θ Θ dθ dθ Φ

Multiply both sides by − sin2 θ.

Φ00
 
sin θ d dΘ
sin θ + + g(θ) sin2 θ + h(ϕ) = −λ sin2 θ
Θ dθ dθ Φ

Bring the first and third terms to the right side.

Φ00
 
sin θ d dΘ
+ h(ϕ) = − sin θ − g(θ) sin2 θ − λ sin2 θ
Φ
| {z } | Θ dθ dθ
{z }
function of ϕ function of θ

The only way a function of ϕ can be equal to a function of θ is if both are equal to another
constant µ.
Φ00
 
sin θ d dΘ
+ h(ϕ) = − sin θ − [g(θ) + λ] sin2 θ = µ
Φ Θ dθ dθ
In summary, using the method of separation of variables reduces the PDE in spherical polar
coordinates to three ODEs—one in r, one in θ, and one in ϕ.
  
1 d 2 dR 2
r + f (r) + k = λ


R dr dr 



Φ 00 
+ h(ϕ) = µ
  Φ 


sin θ d dΘ 2


− sin θ − [g(θ) + λ] sin θ = µ
Θ dθ dθ


Therefore,  
1 1
∇2 ψ(r, θ, ϕ) + k 2 + f (r) + 2 g(θ) + 2 2 h(ϕ) ψ(r, θ, ϕ) = 0
r r sin θ
is separable in spherical polar coordinates.

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