Concept information
Preferred term
spherical harmonic
Definition(s)
- A solution of some mathematical equations when spherical polar coordinates are used in investigating physical problems in three dimensions. For example, solutions of Laplace's equation treated in spherical polar coordinates. Spherical harmonics are ubiquitous in atomic and molecular physics and appear in quantum mechanics as eigenfunctions of orbital angular momentum. They are also important in the representation of the gravitational and magnetic fields of planetary bodies, the characterization of the cosmic microwave background anisotropy, the description of electrical potentials due to charge distributions, and in certain types of fluid motion. (An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics, by M. Heydari-Malayeri, https://dictionary.obspm.fr/index.php?formSearchTextfield=spherical+h&formSubmit=Search&showAll=1)
Broader concept(s)
Synonym(s)
- spherical function
In other languages
-
French
-
fonction sphérique
URI
http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/MDL-RMBR3SXJ-6
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