8.

Legendre Functions
IRENE '
A. STEQUN
Contents
Page
Mathematical Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
8.1. Differential Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
8.2. Relations Between Legendre Functions . . . . . . . . . . 333
8.3. Values on the Cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
8.4. Explicit Expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
8.5. Recurrence Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
8.6. Special Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
8.7. Trigonometric Expansions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
8.8. Integral Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
8.9. Summation Formulas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
8.10. Asymptotic Expansions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
8.11. Toroidal Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
8.12. Conical Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
8.13. Relation to Elliptic Integrals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
8.14. Integrals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Numerical Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
8.15. Use and Extension of the Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Table 8.1. Legendre Function-First Kind P. (a:) ( ~ 5 1 ). . . . . . . 342
~=0(.01)1,n=0(1)3. 9. 10. 5-8D
Table 8.2. Derivative of the Legendre Function-First Kind Pn(z)
(SSl). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
~=0(.01)1,n=1(1)4. 9. 10. 5-7D
Table 8.3. Legendre Function-Second Kind Qn(z)(251) . . . . . . 346
~=0(.01)1,n=0(1)3. 9. 10. 8D
Table 8.4. Derivative of the Legendre FunctionSecond Kind Q;(z)
(251) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
~=0(.01)1,n=0(1)3. 9. 10. 6-8D
Table 8.5. Legendre Function-First Kind P&) (a: 2 1) . . . . . . . 350
2=1(.2)10, n=0(1)5. 9. 10. exact or 6s
Table 8.6. Derivative of the Legendre Function-First Kind P;(z)
(221) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
2=1(.2)10, n=1(1)5. 9. 10. 6s
Table 8.7. Legendre FunctionSecond Kind Qn(a:) (211) . . . . . . 352
~=1(.2)10,n=0(1)3. 9. 10. 6s
Table 8.8. Derivative of the Legendre Function-Second Kind &:(a:)
(z21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
a:=1(.2)10, n=0(1)3. 9. 10. 6 s
The author acknowledges the assistance of Ruth E. Capuano. Elizabeth F. Godefroy.
David S. Liepman. and Bertha H . Walter in the preparation and checking of the tablea
and examples.
1 National Bureau of Standards.
331
 8. Legendre Functions
Mathematical Properties
Notation 8.1. Differential Equation
8.1.1
The conventions used are z=x+iy, x, 7~ real,
and in particular, x always means a real number (1-22) 7 - 2 2 dw
d2w
-+[v(Y+1)--lw=o lr2
dz dz 1-22
in the interval -1 I x I +1 with cos e=x where
e is likewise a real number; n and m are positive Solutions
integers or zero; v and p are unrestricted except
(Degree v and order p with singularities at
where otherwise indicated.
z=fl, as ordinary branch points-p, v arbi-
Other notations are:
trary complex constants.)

P:(z), e(
z) -Associated Legendre Functions (Spher-
ical Harmonics) of the First and Second Kinds

la% (z* 1>1<*, la% zl<*

(9- l)"=(z-l)'fi(z+l)'fi
for (-1) m d - (For P:(z), p=O, Legendre polynomials, see
2 (n+m) ! chapter 22.)
8.1.2

(For F(a, b; c; 2) see chapter 15.)

Various other definitions of the functions occur
as well as mixing of definitions.

Alternate Forms
(Additional forms may be obtained by means of the transformation formulas of the hyper-
geometric function, see [8.1].)

(1221<1)

* The functions Y::(e, p)=- mp COS e) called surface harmonics of the first kind, tesseral for m<n and sectoral
sin mpI
for m=n. With O<O<r, ,2
O
rp
<< they are everywhere one valued and continuous functions on the surface of the
unit sphere z*+y*+z*= 1 where z=sin e cos p, y=sin e sin p and z=cos 8.
*See paw XI.
332
 LEGENDRE FUNCTIONS 333

Wronskian (Upper and lower signs according as Yz=O.)

8.1.9 W{P,(z), Q,(z)}=-(~~-l)-' -e+ffir&:(z--iO)]

8.3.4
8.2. Relations Between Legendre Functions
Q:(z) = +e-'fir[e-JffirQ: (z+io) +ei*fir&: (2-io) ]
Negative Degree
(Formulas for P,'(z) and &:(z) are obtained with
8.2.1 P!!.-,(z) =P:(z) the replacement of 2-1 by (l-z)e*fr, ( 2 - 1 ) by
(1 --z2)effr, z+ 1 by s+ 1 for z=zfiO.)
8.2.2
(z)= f --?reffircos vlrP:(z) 8.4. Explicit Expressions
+&.'(z) sin [dv+dIJ/sin [*(v-dl (Z=COS e)
8.2.3
Negative Argument ( 3 2 = 0) 8.4.1 Po(z)=l Po(z)=l
2 8.4.2
P/(-z)=e~f~rP:(z)--e-''' sin [lr(v+p)]Q:(~)
17

8.2.4 Q:(-Z)=-effv+ QI(

p 1
Negative Order
8.2.5

Degree p + 3 and Order + 4 Y

*

9?2>0

32
--
2
8.5. Recurrence Relations
8.3. Values on the Cut (Both P,"and Q: satisfy the same recurrence
relations.)
(- 1 <z<1) Varying Order
8.3.1 8.5.1
(z+ io) +e-iffirP: (%-io)]
PI (2)= +[eiffirP: P!!+1(2)=(9-1)-i{(Y-p)zP:(z) -(v+C()P,'--i(z) 1
*See page n.
334 LEGENDRE FUNCTIONS

8.6.9

8.6.10

8.6.12
Pj(cos e)=($*)-* (sin e)-' cos [(v++)e]

8.6.13
@(cos e)=-($*)# (sin e)-$ sir1 [(v++)O]
8.6.14
P;i(cos e)= ( 4 ~-+++)
) -l(siri e) -f sin [(v+$)O]

8.6.15
&;'(COS e)=(2~)+(2v+l)-'(sine)-* cos [(v+$)O] *

p=-v

8.6.16

p=O, v=n

{
p=m=l, 2,3,.. . (Rodrigues' Formula)
8.6.6 1 d*(Z2-l)n
P,(Z) =-2"n! dz"
fi(z)=(22-1)'" d"P"(Z)
7 1 8.6.18

e ( x=
)(- l)m( 1-22>'"
d"P"(2)
~

dx"
8.6.7 where
@(Z)=( Z2-1)'m J -
dmQv(2)
d zm

p=*a
8.6.8
p?(Z) = (9-1) -lI4(2r)-

*See page 11.

[Z+ (zZ- 1) 1/2]r+*
+[z +(9- 1) 1'21 - "-4
-
}
 LEGENDRE FUNCTIONS 335
v=o, 1

8.6.22 pP':,s "1 "=l

=-+ tan $0 sin2 ;O+sin 0 In (cos $0)

8.7. Trigonometric Expansions

) r?<e< -O(

8.8. Integral Representations

*
(z not on the real axis between -1 and - a )

(z- t) -lPn(t)dt = (- 1) n+l Qn(-Z)

(For other integral representations see [8.2].)

8.9.1 (5-z)g (2m+

m =O

8.9.2 ( F - - B ) ~(2m+
m =O

8.10. Asymptotic Expansions

For fixed z and Y and 9'p-+o3, 8.10.1-8.10.3 are asymptotic expansions if z is not on the real
axis between --ca and -1 and + a and + 1 . (Upper or lower signs according as 9220.)

*See page 11.

336 LEGENDRE FUNCTIONS

With r replaced by -p, 8.1.2 is an asymptotic expansion for P,?(z) for fixed z and v and W p+aD
if z is not on the real axis between --OD and -1.

-
For fixed z and p and Wv+-, 8.10.4 and 8.10.6 are asymptotic expansions if z is not on the real
axis between - and -1 and + and + 1 ; 8.10.5 if z is not on the real axis between - and + 1. ~3

8.10.6 &!!v(z)=
efr=(3x)f(z2-1)-]I4 r ( r + ~ cos
)
m[z+ (22-1)f]"-fF(3+r,a-r; 3+v;
2+(22-1) 4
sin [~(r-v)l r(3-r) 2(22- 1) f )
-z+ (22- 1)*
3+u;
+iefvf cos px[z-(~~-1)*]~-4F(4+p,~-p;
2(z2-1)*

The related asymptotic expansion for P'_,(z) may be derived from 8.10.4 together with 8.2.1.

For other asymptotic expansions, see [8.7] and [8.9].

8.11. Toroidal Functions (or Ring Functions)

(Only special properties are given ; other properties and representations follow from the earlier
sections.)

8.11.2

i ) m r (n+ a)
8.11.4 a-4(cash 7 ) = (--r(n-m+i#) S-(cosh V+cosh
cosh mt dt
t sinh TI)"+*
*

*See page 11.

 LEGESDRE FUNCTIONS 337
8.12. Conical Functions
e), P-++,JCOS
(P!~+,~(cos e>>
8.13.2 P-+(cosh =
a
)
[;cosh
- - K tanh
;I-' ( ;)
-

(Only sperinl properties are givcn ns other

properties and representiltions follow from ecirlier
sections with Y = - (A, n red pnmmeter) and
$+iA
8.13.4
Z=COS e.)
8.13.5
8.12.1

(4X2+12)(4X2+32) 0 2
sin' -+ .. 8.13.6 Pi(cosh q)=- ev/2E(,'l-e-2")
+ 2242 2 . lr

8.13.7

e cosh Atdt
e)=-
8.12.3 P-~+,A(COS
42 (COS t-cose)
8.12.4
cos Atdt
Q-iTt~(cose) = f i sinh Xr
OD

S ,'2(cosh COS e)
cosh Atdt
,/2(cosh t-cos 0)
8.12.5 8.13.9 A

e)
(&)
P-++~A(-cos
l+z *
8.13.10 Q-dz) =K

* 8.13. Relation to Elliptic Integrals

(see chapter 17) (Ba>O)
8.13.11 Pi(z)=;r [2E (JF)-K (J?)]
8.13.12 Qi(z)=K

8.14. Integrals
8.14.1 J a P,(z)Q,(z)dz=[(p-u)(p+u+l)]-'

8.14.2 lm .d

Q.(z)QP(z)nz=[(~-u)(p+u+
l)]-'[$(p+ 1) -$(Y+ I)] (a(p+u)>- 1, p + u + l #O;
Y, pz-1, -2, -3, . . .)

8.14.3 Jm [Qv(z)]2d~=
(2~+
1)-'#'(u+ 1) (g'.>-3)
2
8.14.4 sIIP.(r)Pp(z)dx=-
A* [(p-u)(p+v+l)]-' { 2sinrusin rp[$(v+l)-#(p+ l)]+rsin (AP-TU) 1

8.14.5 111 n2-2(sin AY)'#'(V+~)

[P,(Z)]~~Z=
*
(p+v+l#O)

8.14.6 sf, $'(us 4)

Q l ( z ) Q ~ ( z ) n z = [ ( p - u v ) ( p + u +l)]-'{[+(v+ 1)-$(p+1)][1+cos p n

(p+u+l#O;
cos v r l -
Y,
+A

pz-1,
sin (YX-

-2, -3,
pm)) *
. . .)
8.14.10 8.14.13 S_ll[~(~)]ldz=(n+))-l(n+
m)!/(n- m)!
1 1-(- 1)I+* (n+m)!
J-l@(z)R(z)dz=(-l)m (I!-n)((l+n+l)(n-m)! 8.14.14

8.14.11 J:lR(z)R(z)dz=O (I! #n)

J" (1-9) -'[R(z)]4dz= (n+m)!/m(n- m)!
8.14.15
8.14.12 ~~lR(z)P~(r)(1-23-ldZ=o (z#m)
so'P,(z)zpdx= r(l+3P-yf2--p-1r
(I+~)
34 r(3P+$V+#)
(aP>-1>

-3 - FIGUBBJ
8.1. P,(ooe e).
-
n=0(1)3.
-
-,.a

FIGWEB
8.2. PA&). n=1(1)3,2<1.
LEGENDRE FUNCMONS 339

Numerical Methods
8.15. Use and Extension of the Tables
Computation of P,(z)

For all values of z there is very little loss of

significant figurea (except at zeros) in using the
recurrence relation 8.5.3 for increasing values of n.
Example 1. ComputeP,(z) forz=.31415 92654
and x=2.6 for n=2(1)8.
 340 LEQENDRE TNCMONS

n Pn(.31415 92654) Pn(2.6) Example 3. Compute Q5(z)for z=2.6.

0 1 1
1 .31415 92654 2.6 Ten terms in tlie series for F
2 -.35195 59340 9.64 of 8.1.3 are necessary to obtain nine significant
3 -.39372 32064 40.04 figures giving Q,(2.6) =4.8182 4468X Usmg
4 .04750 63122 174.952 8.5.3 with increasing values of n carrying ten
5 ,34184 27517 786.74336 significant figures we obtain
6 . 15729 86975 3604.350016
7 -.20123 39354 16729.51005 n Qn (2.6)
0 .40546 51081
8 -.25617 29328 78402.55522
1 .05420 928
Computing P&) using Table 22.9 carrying ten 2 .00868 364
significant figures, P8(.3141592654)=-.26617 2933 3 .00148 95
and P8(2.6)=78402.55526. 4 .00026 49
Computation of Qn(z) 5 .00004 81
For z<l, use of 8.5.3 for increasing values of n
where Qo and Q, are obtained using 8.4.2 and 8.4.4.
leads to very little loss of significant figures.
However, for x> 1, the recurrence relation 8.5.3 Computation of P*4(2), Q*4(2)
should be used only for decreasing values of n,
after having first obtained Qn using the formulas For all values of z, P*t(z) and Q*r(z) are most
in terms of hypergeometric functions. easily computed by means of 8.13.
Example2. Compute Qn(z)for z=.31415 92654 Example 4. Compute Q-+(z)for x=2.6.
and n=0(1)4. Using 8.13.3 and interpolating in Table 17.1 for
With the aid of 8.4.2 and 8.4.4 we obtain K(.5),we find
n Qn(.31415 92654)
0 .32515 34813
1 -. 89785 00212
2 -. 58567 85953
=(.74535 59925)(1.90424 1417)
3 .29190 60854
4 .59974 26989 =1.41933 7751.
Using the results of Example I together with
On the other hand, at least nine terms in the
8.6.19. we find Q4(z)= tP4(z)ln ( ~1+z
)-W3(z)
expansion of F
7 1
where W -- P3+- PI, giving Q4(.3141592654)=
3-4 3 necessary to obtain comparable accuracy.
.59974 26989.
Refei mcee
Texts [8.7] L. Robin, Fonctions sphbriques de Legendre e
fonctions sphhroidales. Tome I, 11, I11 (Cauthier-
[8.1] A. Erdblyi et al., Higher transcendental functions,
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York, N.Y., 1953). [8.8] C. Snow, Hypergeometric and Legendre functions
[8.2] E. W. Hobson, The theory of spherical and ellip- with applications to integral equations of poten-
soidal harmonics (Chelsea Publishing CO., New tial theory, NBS Applied Math. Series 19 (U.S.
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[8.3] J. Lense, Kugelfunktionen (Akademische Verlags- 1952).
gesellschaft, Leipzig, Germany, 1950). [8.9] R. C. Thorne, The asymptotic expansion of Legendre
(8.41 T. M. MacRobert, Spherical harmonics, 2d rev. ed. functions of large degree and order, Philos. Trans.
(Dover Publications, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1948). Roy. SOC.London 249, 597-620 (1957).
[8.5] W. Magnus and F. Oberhettinger, Formulas and
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matical physics (Chelsea Publishing Co., New
York, N.Y., 1949). (8.101 H. Bateman, Some problems in potential theory,
[8.6] G. Prasad, A treatise on spherical harmonics and Mess.of Math., 617,52,73-75 (1922). P,(cosh u),
the functions of Bessel and Lamb, Part I1 (Ad- Q.(cosh u), P;(cosh u), Q:(cosh u ) ; cash ~ ~ 1 . 1 ,
vanced) (Mahamandal Press, Benares City, n=0(1)20, 10D; cosh u=1.2, 2, 3; n=0(1)10,
India, 1932). exact or 10D.
 LEGENDRE FUNCI'IONS 341
[8.11] Centre National d'fitfides des Tkl6communications,
Tables des fonctions de Legendre associbs.
Fonction associb de premibre espbce e ( c o s e)
(Editions de La Revue d'optique, Paris, France,
1952). ?E=-i(.i)io, m=o(i)5, e=oo(io)eoo
(variable number of figures).
[8.12] Centre National d'fitudes des .Tklkcommunications,
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Legendre. Fonctions associ&s de premiere =0(1)4, %=0(.1)10, 6s; P:+&(z), d P."-+(z),
espkce COS 0) (Editions de La Revue d'Optique9
Paris, France, 1959). n= -i(.l)lO, m=0(1)2, d
(- l)mQ:-&(z), -
(- l ) m + l dx Q?+t, n=-1(1)4,
eTOo(lo)1800 (variable number of figures).
m=0(1)4,.~=1(.1)10, 4-65.
(8.131 G. C. Clark and S. W. Churchill, Table of Legendre (8.171 G. Prevost, Tableg des fonctions sphkriques et de
polynomials P,(cos e) for n=0(1)80 and B=Oo leurs intbmales (Gauthier-Villars, Bordeaux and
(lo)180, Engineering Research Institute Publica-
Paris, France, 1933). P,(z),S'P.(t)dt, n=1(1)10;
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1957).
[8.14] R. 0. Gumprecht and G. M. Sliepcevich, Tables of
functions of the first and second partial deriva-
P!(z),
5s.
s': P!(t)dt, n=0(1)8, j=O(l)n, z=O(.Ol)l,

tives of Legendre polynomials (Univ. of Michigan
Press, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1951). Values of [zr.
-(1-22)~:] 104 and r n l W for ~=0(100)1700
(l0)18Oo,n=1(1)420, 55.
[8.15] M. E. Lynam, Table of Legendre functions for
complex arguments TG-323, The Johns Hopkins
Univ. Applied Physics Laboratory, Baltimore,
Md. (1958).
L8.161 National Bureau of Standards, Tables of associated
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d P,,(cos e), Soc. Sci. Fenn. Comment. Phys.-Math.,
York, N.Y., 1945). P:(cos e), P:(cos e),
n=1(1)10, m( 9 ~ ) = 0 ( 1 ) 4 , ~=O?(lo)900, 6s;
[8.18] H. Tallqvist, Sechsstellige Tafeln der 32 ersten
Kugelfunktionen P,(cos e), Acta SOC.Sci. Fenn.,
Nova Series A, 11, 11 (1938). P,(cos e),
n=1(1)32, Oo(10')900; 6D.
[8.19] H. Tallqvist, Acta Soc. Sci. Fenn., Nova Series A,
11, 4(1937). P,(z), n=1(1)16,~=0(.001)1, 6D.
[8.20] H. Tallqvist, Tafeln der Kugelfunktionen &(cos 0)
bis PS(cos e), SOC.Sci. Fenn. Comment. Phys.-
Math., VI, lO(1932). P,(cos e), n=25(1)32,
~=Oo(lo)900,5D.
[8.21] H. Tallqvist, Tafeln der 24 ersten Kugelfunktionen
VI, 3(1932). P,(COS e), n=i(i)24, e=oo(i0poo.
5D.