{
  "aliases": null,
  "backlinks": null,
  "body": "\n## Definition\n\nLet $n \\ge 0$ be an integer and let $x \u003e 0$.\nLet $J_\\nu$ and $Y_\\nu$ be the [[Bessel functions of the first kind|CZCMRDWDYW]] and of the [[second kind|GRSNDJG363]].\nThe *spherical Bessel functions* of order $n$ are\n$$j_n(x) = \\sqrt{\\frac{\\pi}{2x}}\\, J_{n + 1/2}(x), \\qquad y_n(x) = \\sqrt{\\frac{\\pi}{2x}}\\, Y_{n + 1/2}(x).$$\n\n## Remarks\n\nThey solve $x^2 y'' + 2x y' + \\left( x^2 - n(n+1) \\right) y = 0$, which is the radial equation of $\\Delta u + u = 0$ in spherical coordinates.\nExample: $J_{1/2}(x) = \\sqrt{\\frac{2}{\\pi x}} \\sin x$, so $j_0(x) = \\frac{\\sin x}{x}$; one checks $x^2 j_0'' + 2x j_0' + x^2 j_0 = x (x j_0)'' + x^2 j_0 = x (\\sin x)'' + x \\sin x = 0$.\nLikewise $y_0(x) = -\\frac{\\cos x}{x}$.\nIn general $j_n(x) = (-x)^n \\left( \\frac{1}{x} \\frac{d}{dx} \\right)^n \\frac{\\sin x}{x}$.\nThe spherical Hankel functions are $h^{(1)}_n = j_n + i y_n$ and $h^{(2)}_n = j_n - i y_n$; for instance $h^{(1)}_0(x) = -i \\frac{e^{ix}}{x}$.\nA non-example: $J_n(x)$ for an integer $n$ is a cylindrical, not a spherical, Bessel function; it is not elementary.\n",
  "commit": "ff8a40749dc16545e3d2fc637f6b0196e81d0bfa",
  "front": {
    "defines": "4K2DZV0D0D",
    "kind": "definition",
    "msc": [
      "33C10",
      "34B30"
    ],
    "name": "Spherical Bessel functions",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessel_function"
      }
    ],
    "tag": "K24YAC8P7X",
    "uses": [
      "CZCMRDWDYW",
      "GRSNDJG363"
    ]
  },
  "kind": "definition",
  "link": "https://tamnd.github.io/math2/node/K24YAC8P7X/",
  "links": [
    {
      "field": "defines",
      "target": "4K2DZV0D0D"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "CZCMRDWDYW"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "GRSNDJG363"
    }
  ],
  "markdown": "https://tamnd.github.io/math2/node/K24YAC8P7X.md",
  "msc": [
    "33C10",
    "34B30"
  ],
  "name": "Spherical Bessel functions",
  "prov": null,
  "role": "",
  "source": "https://github.com/tamnd/math2/blob/main/nodes/K24/K24YAC8P7X.md",
  "status": null,
  "tag": "K24YAC8P7X",
  "uri": "m2://K24YAC8P7X",
  "url": "https://tamnd.github.io/math2/wiki/spherical-bessel-functions-definition/",
  "writing": {
    "tag": "K24YAC8P7X",
    "kind": "definition",
    "level": "W0",
    "next": [
      {
        "what": "an inventory row",
        "note": "the row of the inventory that the node accounts for",
        "have": 0,
        "want": 1
      },
      {
        "what": "a source with a locator",
        "have": 0,
        "want": 1
      }
    ]
  }
}
