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Frobenius series

Series of the form


σ∞ 𝑎
𝑛=0 𝑛 (𝑥 − 𝑎) 𝑚+𝑛
= 𝑎 0 (𝑥 − 𝑎) 𝑚
+𝑎1 (𝑥 − 𝑎) 𝑚+1
+𝑎 2 (𝑥 − 𝑎) 𝑚+2
+⋯

where 𝑚 is some real number. Assume 𝑎0 ≠ 0. (𝑚 is chosen such


that 𝑎0≠ 0 .)

At 𝑥 = 0, the Frobenius series is

σ∞ 𝑎
𝑛=0 𝑛 𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 = 𝑎 𝑥 𝑚 + 𝑎 𝑥 𝑚+1 + 𝑎 𝑥 𝑚+2 + ⋯, with 𝑎 ≠ 0.
0 1 2 0
Regular singular points
Consider the DE, 𝑦 ′′ + 𝑃 𝑥 𝑦 ′ + 𝑄 𝑥 𝑦 = 0. ……(1)
Suppose 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a singular point of (1).
It is called ‘regular singular’ if both if both (𝑥 − a)𝑃(𝑥) and
(𝑥 − 𝑎)2𝑄(𝑥)can be expanded as power series about 𝑥 = 𝑎.
Ex 1: 𝑥 = 0 is a regular singular point of the DE
𝑥 2𝑦 ′′ + 2𝑥𝑦 ′ + (𝑥 2+1)𝑦 = 0.
Ex 2: 𝑥 = 0 is an irregular singular point of the DE
𝑥 3𝑦 ′′ + 2𝑥𝑦 ′ + (𝑥 2+1)𝑦 = 0.
Frobenius series method

Consider the DE, 𝑦 ′′ + 𝑃 𝑥 𝑦 ′ + 𝑄 𝑥 𝑦 = 0 ……..(1)


Suppose 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a regular singular point of (1).
Then DE (1) has a Frobenius series solution of the form
𝑦 = σ∞ 𝑎
𝑛=0 𝑛 (𝑥 − 𝑎) 𝑚+𝑛 , with 𝑎 ≠ 0 .
0
If the power series expansions of both (𝑥 − 𝑎)𝑃 𝑥 and(𝑥 − 𝑎)2𝑄(𝑥)
converges in the interval 𝑥 − 𝑎 < 𝑅, then the series solution
converges in 0 < 𝑥 − 𝑎 < 𝑅.
Substituting 𝑦 = 𝑦(𝑥, 𝑚) = σ∞ 𝑎
𝑛=0 𝑛 (𝑥 − 𝑎) 𝑚+𝑛
in equation (1) and
equating the coefficient of the lowest power of (𝑥 − 𝑎) to zero, we get
the ‘indicial equation’. This is a quadratic equation and let 𝑚1 and 𝑚2
be the roots of the indicial equation.
Case (1): When 𝑚1 and 𝑚2 are distinct and the difference is not an
integer. Then there exists two Frobenius series solutions and the
general solution on (1) is

𝑦 = 𝑐1𝑦 𝑥, 𝑚 ቤ + 𝑐2𝑦(𝑥, 𝑚) ቤ .
𝑚 = 𝑚1 𝑚 = 𝑚2
Case (2): When 𝑚1 and 𝑚2 are equal. Then (1) has only one Frobenius
series solution and it is given by 𝑦1 = 𝑦(𝑥, 𝑚) ቤ . Second
𝑚 = 𝑚1
independent solution can be obtained by some other methods.
Case (3): When 𝑚1 and 𝑚2 are distinct, but the difference is an
integer. Then there exists a Frobenius series solution corresponding the
bigger root.

Suppose 𝑚1 > 𝑚2 . One solution is 𝑦1 = 𝑦 𝑥, 𝑚 ቤ .


𝑚 = 𝑚1
Frobenius series solution corresponding to root 𝑚2 may or may not
exist.
Example 1:

Use Frobenius method to solve: 2𝑥 2𝑦 ′′ + 𝑥 2𝑥 + 1 𝑦 ′ − 𝑦 = 0 …(1)


Here 𝑥 = 0 is a regular singular point.
Let 𝑦 = σ∞ 𝑎
𝑛=0 𝑛 𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 , with 𝑎 ≠ 0 be a FS solution of (1).
0
Substituting in (1) we get
σ∞𝑛=0 2𝑎 𝑛 (𝑚 + 𝑛)(𝑚 + 𝑛 − 1)𝑥 𝑚+𝑛+ σ∞ 2𝑎 (𝑚 + 𝑛)𝑥 𝑚+𝑛+1 +
𝑛=0 𝑛
σ∞ 𝑎
𝑛=0 𝑛 (𝑚 + 𝑛)𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 − σ∞ 𝑎 𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 = 0.
𝑛=0 𝑛
σ∞𝑛=0 2𝑎 𝑛 (𝑚 + 𝑛)(𝑚 + 𝑛 − 1)𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 σ∞
+ 𝑛=1 2𝑎 𝑛−1 (𝑚 + 𝑛 − 1)𝑥 𝑚+𝑛
+
σ∞ 𝑎
𝑛=0 𝑛 (𝑚 + 𝑛)𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 − σ∞ 𝑎 𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 = 0. ……..(2)
𝑛=0 𝑛
For 𝑛 = 0, equating the coefficient to zero,
2𝑎0 𝑚 𝑚 − 1 + 𝑎0 𝑚 − 𝑎0 = 0
Now, 𝑎0 ≠ 0 gives,
2𝑚 𝑚 − 1 + 𝑚 − 1 = 0 ( this is the indicial equation).
Roots of indicial equation are, 𝑚 = 1, −1/2.
There exists two FS solutions.
Using (2) we have,
2𝑎𝑛 𝑚 + 𝑛 𝑚 + 𝑛 − 1 + 2𝑎𝑛−1 𝑚 + 𝑛 − 1 + 𝑎𝑛 𝑚 + 𝑛 − 𝑎𝑛 = 0,
for 𝑛 = 1,2, …
2𝑎𝑛 𝑚 + 𝑛 + 2𝑎𝑛−1 + 𝑎𝑛 = 0
Hence we get,
2𝑎𝑛−1
𝑎𝑛 = − , 𝑛 = 1,2, … …..(3)
2 𝑚+𝑛 +1
2𝑎𝑛−1 2𝑎𝑛−1
Put 𝑚 = 1, 𝑎𝑛 = − =− , 𝑛 = 1,2, …
2 1+𝑛 +1 2𝑛+3
2 2 4
𝑎1 = − 𝑎0, 𝑎2 = − 𝑎1 = 𝑎0, etc..
5 7 35
One FS solution is 𝑦1 = 𝑎0𝑥 𝑚 + 𝑎1𝑥 𝑚+1
+ 𝑎2𝑥 𝑚+2 + ⋯
2 4
= 𝑎0 𝑥 − 𝑎0 𝑥 + 𝑎0 𝑥 3 + ⋯
1 2
5 35
Now put 𝑚 = −1/2 in (3)
2𝑎𝑛−1 2𝑎𝑛−1 𝑎𝑛−1
𝑎𝑛 = − 1 = − = − , 𝑛 = 1,2, …
2 −2+𝑛 +1 2𝑛 𝑛
𝑎1
1
𝑎1 = −𝑎0, 𝑎2 = −= 𝑎0,….
22
Second FS solution is 𝑦2 = 𝑎0𝑥 𝑚 + 𝑎1𝑥 𝑚+1 + 𝑎2𝑥 𝑚+2 +⋯
−1/2 1
= 𝑎0 𝑥 − 𝑎0𝑥 + 𝑎0𝑥 3/2 − ⋯
1/2
2
General solution of (1) is
𝑦 = 𝑐1𝑦1 + 𝑐2 𝑦2 where 𝑐1 , 𝑐2 are arbitrary constants.
Examples

Solve 2𝑥 1 − 𝑥 𝑦 ′′ + 1 − 𝑥 𝑦 ′ + 3𝑦 = 0.
𝑥 = 0 is regular singular point.
𝑚 = 0, ½. There exists two FS solutions.
2𝑚+2𝑛−5
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛−1, n = 1, 2, 3,….
2𝑚+2𝑛−1
Get general solution.
Solve 2𝑥 2𝑦 ′′ − 𝑥𝑦 ′ + 1 − 𝑥 2 𝑦 = 0.

𝑚 = 1,1/2. There are two FS solutions.

Get solution!!!
Solve 𝑥 2𝑦 ′′ − 3𝑥𝑦 ′ + (3 − 𝑥)𝑦 = 0 ……(1)
Here 𝑥 = 0 is a regular singular point.
Let 𝑦 = σ∞ 𝑛=0 𝑛𝑎 𝑥 𝑚+𝑛
, with 𝑎0 ≠ 0 be a FS solution of (1).
Substituting in (1) we get
σ∞ 𝑎
𝑛=0 𝑛 (𝑚 + 𝑛)(𝑚 + 𝑛 − 1)𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 − σ∞ 3𝑎 (𝑚 + 𝑛)𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 +
𝑛
∞ ∞ 𝑛=0

෍ 3𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 − ෍ 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑚+𝑛+1 = 0.


𝑛=0 𝑛=0
σ∞
𝑛=0 𝑎𝑛 (𝑚 + 𝑛)(𝑚 + 𝑛 − 1)𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 σ∞
− 𝑛=0 3𝑎𝑛 (𝑚 + 𝑛)𝑥 𝑚+𝑛
+
∞ ∞

෍ 3𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 − ෍ 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 = 0.


𝑛=0 𝑛=1
For n=0, equating coefficient to zero,
𝑎0 𝑚 𝑚 − 1 − 3𝑎0 𝑚 + 3𝑎0 = 0.
𝑚 𝑚 − 1 − 3𝑚 + 3 = 0
Roots are 𝑚1 = 3, 𝑚2 = 1. Difference is an integer. There exists a FS solution
corresponding to larger root; 𝑚1 = 3.
For n = 1, 2, 3,……
𝑎𝑛 𝑚 + 𝑛 𝑚 + 𝑛 − 1 − 3𝑎𝑛 𝑚 + 𝑛 + 3𝑎𝑛 − 𝑎𝑛−1 = 0
𝑎𝑛−1
𝑎𝑛 = , n = 1,2, … .
(𝑚 + 𝑛 − 1)(𝑚 + 𝑛 − 3)
Put 𝑚 = 3,
𝑎𝑛−1 𝑎𝑛−1
𝑎𝑛 = = ,
(3 + 𝑛 − 1)(3 + 𝑛 − 3) 𝑛+2 𝑛
1 1 1
Hence, 𝑎1 = 𝑎0 , 𝑎2 = 𝑎1 = 𝑎0 , etc..
3 8 24
One FS solution is 𝑦1 = 𝑎0 𝑥 𝑚 + 𝑎1 𝑥 𝑚+1 + 𝑎2 𝑥 𝑚+2 + ⋯
1 1
= 𝑎0 𝑥 + 𝑎0 𝑥 + 𝑎0 𝑥 5 + ⋯
3 4
3 24
3
1 4 1 5
= 𝑎0 ( 𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑥 + ⋯ ).
3 24

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