The Singularity of Legendre Functions of the First Kind as a Consequence of the Symmetry of Legendre’s Equation
Ramses van der Toorn (TU Delft - Mathematical Physics)
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Abstract
Legendre’s equation is key in various branches of physics. Its general solution is a linear function space, spanned by the Legendre functions of the first and second kind. In physics, however, commonly the only acceptable members of this set are Legendre polynomials. The quantization of the eigenvalues of Legendre’s operator is a consequence of this. We present and explain a stand-alone and in-depth argument for rejecting all solutions of Legendre’s equation in physics apart from the polynomial ones. We show that the combination of the linearity, the mirror symmetry and the signature of the regular singular points of Legendre’s equation are quintessential to the argument. We demonstrate that the evenness or oddness of Legendre polynomials is a consequence of the same premises.
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