J.

McKelliget, 2002

Bessel Functions
The Bessel Equation.
The following differential equations are identical, and are known as Bessel's equation
d 2y

dy
+ (x 2 n 2 ) y = 0
dx
dx
d dy
2
2 y
x + (x n ) = 0
dx dx
x

x2

+x

In this equation n is a constant, not necessarily an integer. In the applications we will

consider in this course n will always be a positive integer.
This equation is solved using series solutions. The general solution of this equation has
the form
y ( x ) = AJ n ( x ) + BYn ( x)
where Jn is a Bessel function of the first kind of order n, and Yn is a Bessel function of the
second kind of order n.
Plots of some Bessel functions are given below:
1

0.5

J0( x )

10

20

30

40

50

0.402556 0.5
0

50

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 J. McKelliget, 2002

0.520784

0.5

10

20

30

40

50

Y0( x ) 0.5

1.5

1.534239

2
0.1

0.581517

50

0.6

0.4

0.2
J1( x )

10

20

30

40

50

0.2

0.345961 0.4
0

50

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 J. McKelliget, 2002

0.416674

10

20

30

40

50

2
Y1( x )
4

6.458951

8
0.1

50

The Modified Bessel Equation:

The following differential equations are identical and are known as the modified Bessel
equation
d 2y

dy
(x 2 + n 2 ) y = 0
2
dx
dx
d dy
2
2 y
x (x + n ) = 0
dx dx
x

x2

+x

This is the same as the Bessel equation except that the last term has the opposite sign.
The general solution of this equation has the form
y ( x ) = AI n ( x) + BK n ( x)
where In is a modified Bessel function of the first kind of order n and Kn is a modified
Bessel function of the second kind of order n.
Some plots of Modified Bessel functions are given below

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 J. McKelliget, 2002

11.301922

12

10

I0( x )

1
0

2
x

2.427069

4
4

2.5

1.5
K0( x )
1

0.5

0.01116
1
0.1

2
x

4/4

4
4

 J. McKelliget, 2002

9.759465

10

6
I1( x )
4

0
0

9.853845

2
x

4
4

2
x

4
4

10

6
K1( x )
4

0.012483
1
0.1

The Bessel functions and Modified Bessel functions are obtained from series solutions of
the appropriate Bessel equation, and are complicated polynomials in x. Explicit formulas
for, and relations between, the Bessel functions are readily available in the following
reference:
Handbook of Mathematical Functions, M. Abramovitch, I.E. Stegun, National
Bureau of Standards, Applied Mathematics Series - 55, CRC Press.
This publication is also available online at
http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/faculty/wfw/ABRAMOWITZ-STEGUN/index.htm

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 J. McKelliget, 2002
Both the MATHCAD and MATLAB programs contain standard routines to evaluate
Bessel functions. During this course we will introduce relevant properties of Bessel
functions as needed.
Bessel functions of the first and second kind behave a little like sine and cosine functions,
but typically arise in problems expressed in cylindrical geometries. Modified Bessel
functions of the first and second kind behave like sinh and cosh functions, and, again, are
typically encountered in problems expressed in cylindrical geometries.

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