GENERALIZED BESSEL EQUATION

The equation:

x 2 y′′ + x(a + 2bx r ) y′ + c + dx 2 s − b (1 − a − r ) x r + b2 x 2 r  y = 0; r , s ≠ 0

has for its general solution,

1− a − bx r   d   d 
y=x 2 e r C Z  x s
+ C Z  x s 
2 −p
 1 p s   s 
     

where

2
1  1− a 
p=+  −c
s  2 

C1 and C2 are arbitrary constants to be determined from the boundary conditions.

If d is positive, Zp and Z-p represent Jp and Yp (J-p for p ≠ integer), respectively. If d
is negative, Zp and Z-p become Ip and Kp (I-p for p ≠ integer).
 USEFUL BESSEL FUNCTION RELATIONSHIPS

For Zn = Jn or Yn:
2n
Z n ( x) = Z n +1 ( x ) + Z n -1 ( x ) (recurrence formula)
x

d n n
ÈÎ Z n ( x ) ˘˚ = Z n -1 ( x ) - Z n ( x ) = Z n ( x ) - Z n +1 ( x )
dx x x

d n
 x Z n ( x )  = x n Z n −1 ( x ) ; Z 0 ( x)′ = − Z1 ( x)
dx

For Zn = In:
2n
I n ( x ) = I n -1 ( x ) - I n +1 ( x ) (recurrence formula)
x

d n n
 I n ( x )  = I n −1 ( x ) − I n ( x ) = I n ( x ) + I n +1 ( x )
dx x x

d n
 x I n ( x )  = x n I n −1 ( x ) ; I 0 ( x)′ = I1 ( x)
dx

For Zn = Kn:
2n
K n ( x ) = K n +1 - K n -1 ( x ) (recurrence formula)
x

d n n
ÈÎ K n ( x ) ˘˚ = - K n -1 ( x ) - K n ( x ) = K n ( x ) - K n +1 ( x )
dx x x

d n
 x K n ( x )  = − x n K n −1 ( x ) ; K 0 ( x)′ = − K1 ( x)
dx

2
 SOME IMPORTANT INDEFINITE INTEGRALS

For Zn = Jn or Yn:

u2 2
Ú uZ0 (u ) du = È Z 0 (u ) + Z12 (u )˘˚ + C
2

2 Î

u2 2
Ú u Z1 (u ) du = È Z 0 (u ) + Z12 (u ) ˘˚ - uZ 0 (u ) Z1 (u ) + C
2

2 Î

2 u2 2
Ú u Z0 (u ) Z1 (u ) du = 2
Z1 (u ) + C

For Zn = In:
u2 2
Ú uI 0 (u ) du = ÈÎ I 0 (u ) - I12 (u ) ˘˚ + C
2

u2 2
Ú uI (u ) du = uI 0 (u ) I1 (u ) - 2 ÈÎ I 0 (u ) - I1 (u )˘˚ + C
2 2
1

2 u2 2
Ú u I 0 (u ) I1 (u ) du = 2 I1 (u ) + C

For Zn = Kn:
u2
Ú uK0 (u ) du = ÈÎ K 02 (u ) - K12 (u ) ˘˚ + C
2

u2
Ú uK1 (u ) du = - uK0 (u ) K1 (u ) - È K 02 (u ) - K12 (u )˘˚ + C
2

2 Î

u2 2
Ú u K0 (u ) K1 (u ) du = - K1 (u ) + C
2

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 BESSEL FUNCTIONS (J and Y)

x 2 y′′ + xy′ + ( x 2 − n 2 ) y = 0
y = C1 J n ( x ) + C2Yn ( x )

J Bessel Function Y Bessel Function

1 2

n=0 n=0
0 1
2
-2
0.5

-4
1

-6

0 2
-8

-10

-0.5 -12
0 5 10 0 5 10

Note that the second kind Bessel functions [Yn(x)] all go to -∞ as x → 0. Both J’s and Y’s
are oscillatory. As x → ∞ the period goes to 2π. Amplitudes decay as 1/ x.

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 MODIFIED BESSEL FUNCTIONS (I and K)

x 2 y′′ + xy′ − ( x 2 + n 2 ) y = 0
y = C1 I n ( x ) + C2 K n ( x )

I Bessel Function K Bessel Function

20 5

18 4.5

16 4

14 3.5
n=0
12 3

10 1 2.5

8 2
2
6 1.5
2
4 1
1
2 0.5
n=0
0 0
0 2 4 6 0 5 10

I’s are all finite at K’s are infinite at

x = 0 and become x = 0 and decay to
infinite for large x. zero for large x.

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 LIMITING VALUES

FUNCTION SMALL x LARGE x

J n ( x) xn 2  π nπ 
cos  x − − 
2n n ! πx  4 2 

Y0 ( x ) 2
ln x 2  π nπ 
sin  x − − 
p πx  4 2 

Yn ( x ) , n π 0 -2n (n - 1)! 2  π nπ 
sin  x − − 
p xn πx  4 2 

I n ( x) xn 1
ex
2n n ! 2π x

K0 ( x) - ln x π
e− x
2x

Kn ( x) , n π 0 2n -1 ( n - 1)! π
e− x
xn 2x

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