Image for spherical Bessel functions

spherical Bessel functions

Spherical Bessel functions are special mathematical functions that describe wave-like phenomena, such as how sound or light waves behave when they scatter off spherical objects like planets or atoms. They are solutions to certain differential equations that account for the symmetry of spherical systems. These functions help scientists understand how waves expand, interact, and interfere in three-dimensional space around spheres. In essence, spherical Bessel functions provide a mathematical framework to analyze and predict the behavior of waves in spherical geometries, crucial in fields like physics, acoustics, and electromagnetic theory.