1 Associated Legendre Functions

The associated Legendre functions (these are not polynomials, as we will see below)
are solutions to the associated Legendre equation, and they appear in physics problems
whenever the Laplace equation or the Helmhotz equation is separated in spherical polar
coordinates. To study these functions we will follow a path which is in contrast to the
conventional path. We will first define the Associated Legendre Functions and then show
that they satisfy the associated Legendre equation.

1.1 The Associated Legendre Equation

The associated Legendre functions are defined as,

m/2
Pℓm (x) = 1 − x2 Dm Pℓ (x), 0≤m≤ℓ

It is clear from the above that the maximum value of m is ℓ. It is also clear that if m is an
odd integer, then Pℓm (x) is not a polynomial. We will determine the differential equation
for Pℓm (x) in the following.

The Legendre equation is

(1 − x2 ) D2 Pℓ (x) − 2x D Pℓ (x) + ℓ(ℓ + 1) Pℓ (x) = 0

Differentiating this equation m times, we get

h i h i
Dm (1 − x2 ) D2 Pℓ (x) + Dm −2x D Pℓ (x) + ℓ(ℓ + 1) Pℓ (x) = 0

We notice that,

D0 (1 − x2 ) = (1 − x2 ) D0 (−2x) = −2x
D1 (1 − x2 ) = −2x D1 (−2x) = −2
D2 (1 − x2 ) = −2 D2 (−2x) = 0
D3 (1 − x2 ) = 0

So applying the Leibnitz rule the above ODE reduces to

(1 − x2 ) Dm+2 Pℓ (x) − 2mx Dm+1 Pℓ (x) − m(m − 1) Dm Pℓ (x)

−2x Dm+1 Pℓ (x) − 2m Dm Pℓ (x) + ℓ(ℓ + 1) Dm Pℓ (x) = 0

=⇒ (1 − x2 ) Dm+2 Pℓ (x) − 2(m + 1)x Dm+1 Pℓ (x)

h i
+ ℓ(ℓ + 1) − m(m + 1) Dm Pℓ (x) = 0 (A)

Differentiating the defining equation of Pℓm (x), and rearranging, we get

m/2 dPℓm (x) mx
1 − x2 Dm+1 Pℓ (x) = + P m (x)
dx 1 − x2 ℓ
Again differentiating and rearranging the terms, we get
 


2 m/2 m+2 d2 Pℓm (x) 2mx dPℓm (x) m m(m + 2)x2
1−x D Pℓ (x) = 2
+ 2
+ 2
+ 2 2
Pℓm (x) (B)
dx 1−x dx 1−x (1 − x )
Putting the result (B) in (A) we get
 
2 d2 Pℓm (x) dPℓm (x) m2
(1 − x ) − 2x + ℓ(ℓ + 1) − P m (x) = 0
dx2 dx 1 − x2 ℓ
This is the Associated Legendre equation. This is a self-adjoint equation. But since
q(x) 6= 0, the solution will not be a polynomial in general.

Although the Frobenius method can be used to find the series form of the solution, but
it is not very useful. We skip that discussion. You may refer to the book (Arfken) if you
are interested.

The upper index can be negative also. We observe that, if we replace m by −m, the
equation does not change at all! This implies that Pℓm (x) and Pℓ−m (x) are not linearly
independent, i.e. these are basically one solution. But conventional wisdom demands
that we use a multiplicative constant to differentiate between the two. So we write

Pℓ−m (x) = Cℓm Pℓm (x)

where the constant Cℓ,m is a matter of convention. We will decide about this constant af-
ter we have agreed upon some normalisation factor for Pℓm (x). This we do in the following.

This equation emerges when we solve the Laplace equation or the Helmhotz equation in
spherical polar coordinates. If we change the variable to x = cos θ, then the associated
Legendre equation becomes
   
1 d dPℓm (cos θ) m2
sin θ + ℓ(ℓ + 1) − P m (cos θ) = 0
sin θ dθ dθ sin2 θ ℓ
We will come back to this equation later in this chapter.

1.2 Rodrigue’s formula

The Rodrigues formula for the Associated Legendre functions can be obtained from that
of the Legendre polynomials, and is given by
1
Pℓm (x) = (1 − x2 )m/2 Dℓ+m (x2 − 1)ℓ
2ℓ ℓ!
So, Pℓ−m (x) can be expressed as
1
Pℓ−m (x) = (1 − x2 )−m/2 Dℓ−m (x2 − 1)ℓ
2ℓ ℓ!
To determine the constant of proportionality between Pℓm (x) and Pℓ−m (x), we first write
(x2 − 1)ℓ = (x + 1)ℓ (x − 1)ℓ and then use Liebnitz rule to get

1
X
ℓ+m
(ℓ + m)! h i h i
Pℓm (x) = ℓ (1 − x2 )m/2 Dp (x + 1)ℓ Dℓ+m−p (x − 1)ℓ
2 ℓ! p! (ℓ + m − p)!
p=0

The terms in the summation will be non-zero only when

p≤ℓ and ℓ+m−p≤ℓ =⇒ m ≤ p ≤ ℓ

We note that,
ℓ! ℓ!
Dp (x + 1)ℓ = (x + 1)ℓ−p Dℓ+m−p (x − 1)ℓ = (x − 1)p−m
(ℓ − p)! (p − m)!

Finally we get,

(−1)m/2 (ℓ + m)! ℓ!
X
ℓ
(x + 1)ℓ−p+m/2 (x − 1)p−m/2
Pℓm (x) =
2ℓ p! (ℓ + m − p)! (ℓ − p)! (p − m)!
p=m

Now, we take a similar path for Pℓ−m (x),

1
X
ℓ−m
(ℓ − m)! h i h i
Pℓ−m (x) = ℓ (1 − x2 )−m/2 Dp (x + 1)ℓ Dℓ−m−p (x − 1)ℓ
2 ℓ! p! (ℓ − m − p)!
p=0

which now becomes,

(−1)−m/2 (ℓ − m)! ℓ!
X
ℓ−m
(x + 1)ℓ−p−m/2 (x − 1)p+m/2
Pℓ−m (x) =
2ℓ p! (ℓ − m − p)! (ℓ − p)! (p + m)!
p=0

For a comparison with Pℓm (x), we change the summation index to r = p + m, to get

(−1)−m/2 (ℓ − m)! ℓ!
X
ℓ
(x + 1)ℓ−r+m/2 (x − 1)r−m/2
−m
Pℓ (x) =
2ℓ p! (ℓ + m − r)! (ℓ − r)! (r − m)!
r=m

Now comparing the expressions for Pℓm (x) and Pℓ−m (x), we get
(−1)m (ℓ − m)! m
Pℓ−m (x) = Pℓ (x)
(ℓ + m)!
So for a fixed ℓ, the range of m is −ℓ ≤ m ≤ ℓ.

1.3 Generating function of Pℓm (x)

The generating function for Pℓm (x) as such is not there because of two indices. However,
for a fixed m, we can obtain a generating function for Pℓm (x) from that of the Legendre
polynomials Pℓ (x). This is expressed as (see the exercises section)

m
h i−m− 12 ∞
X ∞
X
2 2 ℓ−m
Φm (x, t) = (2m − 1)!! (1 − x ) 2 1 − 2xt + t = t Pℓm (x) = tℓ Pℓ+m
m
(x)
ℓ=m ℓ=0

for |t| < 1. This is very useful in evaluating Pℓm (x) for special values of x and in obtaining
the Recursion relations as well as in determining the normalisation for Pℓm (x).
1.4 Special Values and Parity
It can be shown that, for even (odd) values of the sum (ℓ + m), Pℓm (x) have even (odd)
parity. The values of Pℓm (x) at the special values of x are given below.

Pℓm (−x) = (−1)ℓ+m Pℓm (x) Pℓm (1) = δm0



 0 if ℓ + m = odd

Pℓm (0) =
 ℓ−m (ℓ + m − 1)!!

 (−1) 2 if ℓ + m = even
(ℓ − m)!!
The values for the derivatives of Pℓm (x) at the special values can also be obtained from the
generating function. However, it is not easy to write a formula for general values of ℓ and
m. So we give some examples as exercises. One interesting special value for a derivative
of associated Legendre function is

1
dP2m (x)  (−1)m+1 (2m + 1)!!
=
dx x=0 3 (2m − 2)!!

1.5 Recurrence Relations

Because of two indices, there are many recurrence relations. Some well-known recurrence
relations are,

ℓ+m m ℓ−m+1 m
RR-1 x Pℓm (x) = Pℓ−1 (x) + Pℓ+1 (x)
2ℓ + 1 2ℓ + 1

2mx h i
RR-2 Pℓm+1 (x) = P m
(x) − ℓ(ℓ + 1) − m(m + 1) Pℓm−1 (x)
(1 − x2 )1/2 ℓ

1
m+1 m+1
RR-3 Pℓ+1 (x) − Pℓ−1 (x) = (2ℓ + 1) (1 − x2 ) 2 Pℓm (x)

m+1 m+1
RR-4 Pℓ+1 (x) − Pℓ−1 (x)

m−1 m−1
= (ℓ + m)(ℓ + m − 1) Pℓ−1 (x) − (ℓ − m + 1)(ℓ − m + 2) Pℓ+1 (x)

1 dPℓm (x) 1 1
RR-5 (1 − x2 ) 2 = Pℓm+1 (x) − (ℓ + m)(ℓ − m + 1) Pℓm−1 (x)
dx 2 2
 1 dPℓm (x) mx
RR-6 (1 − x2 ) 2 = m m−1
1 Pℓ (x) − (ℓ + m)(ℓ − m + 1) Pℓ (x)
dx 2
(1 − x ) 2

dPℓm (x) 1
RR-7 (1 − x2 ) = (1 − x2 ) 2 Pℓm+1 (x) − mx Pℓm (x)
dx

dPℓm (x)
RR-8 (1 − x2 ) m
= (ℓ + m) Pℓ−1 (x) − ℓx Pℓm (x)
dx

= (ℓ + 1)x Pℓm (x) − (ℓ − m + 1) Pℓ+1

m
(x)

1
m
RR-9 (ℓ + m) Pℓ−1 (x) − (ℓ − m)x Pℓm (x) = (1 − x2 ) 2 Pℓm+1 (x)

Because of two indices, there are many possibilities. We have mentioned only a few of
them.

1.6 Orthogonality of Pℓm (x)

The associated Legendre equation is already in self-adjoint form. If we choose,
−m2
p(x) = (1 − x2 ), q(x) = , λ = ℓ(ℓ + 1), and w(x) = 1
1 − x2
the orthogonality condition can be written immediately as
Z 1
Pℓm (x) Pnm (x) dx = Aℓm δℓn
−1

However, if we choose,
1
p(x) = (1 − x2 ), q(x) = ℓ(ℓ + 1), λ = −m2 , and w(x) =
1 − x2
we get another orthogonality equation, which is
Z 1
1
Pℓm (x) Pℓn (x) dx = Bℓm δmn
−1 1 − x2
In physics problems, as we will see later, only the first condition is useful. The second
orthogonality condition is just for mathematical curiosity. We will find the normalisation
constant only for the first condition. We proceed as follows.

First, we write the generating function for m and −m,

h i−m− 21 X∞
2 m 2
(2m − 1)!! (1 − x ) 2 1 − 2xt + t = tℓ Pℓ+m
m
(x) (A)
ℓ=0
 −m
h im− 21 ∞
X
2 2
(−2m − 1)!! (1 − x ) 2 1 − 2xt + t = tn Pn−m
−m
(x) (B)
n=0
m
Use (−2m − 1)!! = (−1) /(2m − 1)!! and change Pℓ−m (x) to Pℓm (x) by the proper relation
to rewrite Eq. (B) as

1 h im− 12 X ∞
(n − 2m)! m
2 −m 2
(1 − x ) 2 1 − 2xt + t = tn Pn−m (x) (C)
(2m − 1)!! n=0
n!

Multiply (A) and (C) to get

XX ∞ ∞
1 (n − 2m)! m
2
= tℓ+n m
Pℓ+m (x) Pn−m (x)
1 − 2xt + t ℓ=0 n=0
n!

Integrating from −1 to 1 and using the orthogonality, one sum vanishes and ℓ + m =
n − m =⇒ n = ℓ + 2m. So we get
Z 1 X ∞ Z 1
dx ℓ!
2
= t2ℓ+2m m
Pℓ+m m
(x) Pℓ+m (x) dx
−1 1 − 2xt + t ℓ=0
(ℓ + 2m)! −1

The left-hand side can be evaluated in terms of the Legendre polynomials. After that,
expanding the left-hand-side in an infinite series, we have
∞
X X ∞ Z 1
2ℓ 2 ℓ!
t = t2ℓ+2m m
Pℓ+m m
(x) Pℓ+m (x) dx
ℓ=0
2ℓ + 1 ℓ=0
(ℓ + 2m)! −1

and comparing the two sides we can get the value of the integral. Finally
Z 1
2 (ℓ + m)!
Pℓm (x) Pℓm′ (x) dx = δℓ,ℓ′
−1 2ℓ + 1 (ℓ − m)!

The other orthonormality condition when the upper indices are different is not needed in
physics. Nevertheless, we write it without proof, which is
Z 1
1 (ℓ + m)!
Pℓm (x) Pℓn (x) 2
dx = δnm
−1 1−x m (ℓ − m)!

If a function f (x) is expanded in terms of the Pℓm (x),

∞
X Z 1
2ℓ + 1 (ℓ − m)!
f (x) = am
ℓ Pℓm (x) with am
ℓ = f (x) Pℓm (x) dx
ℓ=0
2 (ℓ + m)! −1

1.7 Table of some lower order Pℓm (x):

Some of the associated Legendre functions are tabulated below.
 Pℓm (x) Pℓm (cos θ)

P00 (x) = 1 P00 (cos θ) = 1

P11 (x) = (1 − x2 )1/2 P11 (cos θ) = sin θ

P10 (x) = x P10 (cos θ) = cos θ

P1−1 (x) = −1
2
(1 − x2 )1/2 P1−1 (cos θ) = −1
2
sin θ

P22 (x) = 3(1 − x2 ) P22 (cos θ) = 3 sin2 θ

P21 (x) = 3x(1 − x2 )1/2 P21 (cos θ) = 3 sin θ cos θ

P20 (x) = 12 (3x2 − 1) P20 (cos θ) = 21 (3 cos2 θ − 1)

P2−1 (x) = −1
2
x(1 − x2 )1/2 P2−1 (cos θ) = −1
2
sin θ cos θ

P2−2 (x) = 81 (1 − x2 ) P2−2 (cos θ) = 81 sin2 θ

1.8 Applications of Pℓm (x): The Spherical Harmonics

When we separate the Helmhotz equation or the Laplace equation in spherical polar
coordinates, the equation for angular dependence is,
   
1 ∂ ∂ 1 ∂2
sin θ + + ℓ(ℓ + 1) Y(θ, φ) = 0
sin θ ∂θ ∂θ sin2 θ ∂φ2

This equation can be further separated into θ and φ dependence, with the result
   
1 d dΘ(θ) m2
sin θ + ℓ(ℓ + 1) − Θ(θ) = 0
sin θ dθ dθ sin2 θ

and
d2 Φ(φ)
+ m2 Φ(φ) = 0
dφ2
The solutions are
Φ(φ) = eimφ Θ(θ) = Pℓm (cos θ)
So Y(θ, φ) which is the product of Φ(φ) and Θ(θ) depends upon ℓ and m, and after
normalisation, can be written as,
s 
m m 2ℓ + 1 (ℓ − m)! m imφ ℓ = 0, 1, 2, · · · ,
Yℓ (θ, φ) = (−1) Pℓ (cos θ) e ,
4π (ℓ + m)! −ℓ ≤ m ≤ ℓ

Here (−1)m is just an additional phase factor. Because of this additional factor, the parity
of Yℓm (θ, φ) is just (−1)ℓ , and more importantly,
h i∗
Yℓm (θ, φ) = (−1)m Yℓ−m (θ, φ)
These are called spherical harmonics. Since, eimφ as well as Pℓm (cos θ), both form separate
orthogonal sets, the spherical harmonics form an orthonormal set,
Z 2π Z π h i∗
dφ sin θ dθ Yℓm (θ, φ) Yℓn′ (θ, φ) = δℓ,ℓ′ δn,m
0 0

Because of their orthonormality, they can be used to expand any function of θ and φ as,
∞
X X ℓ Z 2π Z π h i∗
m
f (θ, φ) = aℓ,m Yℓ (θ, φ) with aℓ,m = dφ sin θ dθ f (θ, φ) Yℓm (θ, φ)
ℓ=0 m=−ℓ 0 0

This is called the Laplace series.

The Laplace series for the Dirac delta function is the Closure relation for Yℓm (θ, φ),
ℓ
∞ X
X h i∗ 1
Yℓm (θ1 , φ1 ) Yℓm (θ2 , φ2 ) = δ(θ1 − θ2 ) δ(φ1 − φ2 )
ℓ=0 m=−ℓ
sin θ1

= δ(cos θ1 − cos θ2 ) δ(φ1 − φ2 )

The spherical harmonics are the eigenfunctions of the angular momentum operators in
quantum mechanics. The angular momentum is defined as (in units of ~)
L = −ir × ∇
In spherical polar coordinates, the components are
   
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
Lx = −i − sin φ − cot θ cos φ Ly = −i cos φ − cot θ sin φ
∂θ ∂φ ∂θ ∂φ
 
∂ 1 ∂ ∂ 1 ∂2
Lz = −i and L2 = − sin θ −
∂φ sin θ ∂θ ∂θ sin2 θ ∂φ2
Then,
Lz Yℓm (θ, φ) = m Yℓm (θ, φ) L2 Yℓm (θ, φ) = ℓ(ℓ + 1) Yℓm (θ, φ)
The raising and lowering operators are convenient tools to calculate many desired re-
sults, and are defined as,
 
±iφ ∂ ∂
L± = Lx ± iLy = ±e ± i cot θ so L− = −L∗+
∂θ ∂φ
with p
L± Yℓm (θ, φ) = (ℓ ∓ m)(ℓ ± m + 1) Yℓm±1 (θ, φ)
(Prove this as an exercise).

From the above, it then can be shown that,

 s

 (ℓ + m)!

 (L− )ℓ−m Yℓℓ (θ, φ)

 (2ℓ)! (ℓ − m)!

m
Yℓ (θ, φ) = s



 (ℓ − m)!

 (L+ )ℓ+m Yℓ−ℓ (θ, φ)
 (2ℓ)! (ℓ + m)!

So for a particular ℓ, all the spherical harmonics can be generated from Yℓ0 (θ, φ).
1.9 Table of some lower order Yℓm (θ, φ):

r
1
Y00 (θ, φ) =
4π
r
3
Y11 (θ, φ) = − sin θ eiφ
8π
r
3
Y10 (θ, φ) = cos θ
4π
r
−1 3
Y1 (θ, φ) = + sin θ e−iφ
8π
r
15
2
Y2 (θ, φ) = + sin2 θ e2iφ
32π
r
15
Y21 (θ, φ) = − sin θ cos θ eiφ
8π
r
5
Y20 (θ, φ) = (3 cos2 θ − 1)
16π
r
15
Y2−1 (θ, φ) = + sin θ cos θ e−iφ
8π
r
15
Y2−2 (θ, φ) = + sin2 θ e−2iφ
32π

1.10 The Addition Theorem for Spherical Harmonics:

If (θ1 , φ1 ) and (θ2 , φ2 ) are the angular coordinates representing two directions b
r1 and b
r2
from the origin, then the addition theorem states that,

4π X m
ℓ h i∗
Yℓ (θ1 , φ1 ) Yℓm (θ2 , φ2 ) = Pℓ (cos γ)
2ℓ + 1 m=−ℓ

where γ is the angle between the two directions,

cos γ = cos θ1 cos θ2 + sin θ1 sin θ2 cos(φ1 − φ2 )

Here we reproduce a proof which is very simple and uses the symmetry of the spherical
harmonics under rotation. This proof is due to Prof. S.D. Joglekar.

Proof: The spherical harmonics satisfy the partial differential equation,

   
1 ∂ ∂ 1 ∂2
sin θ + 2 2
+ ℓ(ℓ + 1) Yℓm (θ, φ) = 0
sin θ ∂θ ∂θ sin θ ∂φ
This can be rewritten as,
   
2 2 ∂ 2 ∂
r ∇ − r + ℓ(ℓ + 1) Yℓm (θ, φ) = 0
∂r ∂r
Now, if we rotate the coordinate system about the origin, then θ and φ will change to
θ′ and φ′ , the corresponding equation can be written as, (remember, the operator given
by the expression inside the square brackets is a scalar operator, and so will remain
unchanged under rotation),
   
2 2 ∂ 2 ∂
r ∇′ − r + ℓ(ℓ + 1) Zℓm (θ′ , φ′ ) = 0
∂r ∂r
where Zℓm (θ′ , φ′ ) must also satisfy the same orthogonal properties as the Yℓm (θ, φ) because
the form of the two equations is exactly the same.

We can expand the new set of functions Zℓm (θ′ , φ′ ) in terms of the old set of functions
Yℓm (θ, φ) because of the completeness property of the later,
ℓ
X
Zℓm (θ′ , φ′ ) = Rmn (θ, φ; θ′ , φ′ ) Yℓn (θ, φ)
n=−ℓ

The orthonormality of Zℓm (θ′ , φ′ ) and Yℓm (θ, φ) then imply that
X
∗
Rmn Rmp = δnp
m

i.e. the matrix R is a unitary matrix and the transformation from Yℓm (θ, φ) to Zℓm (θ′ , φ′ )
is a unitary transformation.

Now, to prove the addition theorem, we start with letting,

ℓ
X h i∗
S= Yℓm (θ1 , φ1 ) Yℓm (θ2 , φ2 )
m=−ℓ

Under the rotation of the coordinate system,

ℓ
X h i∗
S = ′
Zℓm (θ1 , φ1 ) Zℓm (θ2 , φ2 )
m=−ℓ
" #" #
ℓ
X ℓ
X ℓ
X n o∗
=⇒ S ′ = Rmn Yℓn (θ1 , φ1 ) ∗
Rmp Yℓp (θ2 , φ2 )
m=−ℓ n=−ℓ p=−ℓ

Using the unitary property of R, we get

ℓ
X h i∗
′
S = Yℓn (θ1 , φ1 ) Yℓn (θ2 , φ2 ) = S
n=−ℓ

Therefore, the sum S is invariant under the rotation of the coordinate system about the
origin. So we can evaluate this sum with any choice of the coordinate axes. We choose
our z-axis to be along the vector r1 , so that θ1 = 0. Then
r
2ℓ + 1
Yℓm (θ1 , φ1 ) = Yℓm (0, φ1 ) = δm0
4π
[This can be proved very easily, because of the property of Pℓm (cos θ)]. Then

h i∗ r
2ℓ + 1 h 0 i∗
ℓ
X
S= Yℓm (θ1 , φ1 ) Yℓm (θ2 , φ2 ) = Yℓ (θ2 , φ2 )
m=−ℓ
4π
r r
2ℓ + 1 2ℓ + 1 2ℓ + 1
=⇒ S = Pℓ (cos θ2 ) = Pℓ (cos θ2 )
4π 4π 4π
But, since θ1 = 0, θ2 = γ, the angle between r1 and r2 . So
2ℓ + 1
S= Pℓ (cos γ)
4π
This proves the addition theorem. Since the left hand side is real, the complex conjugate
sign can be on any one of the spherical harmonics. Therefore,
ℓ
X h i∗ Xℓ h i∗ 2ℓ + 1
Yℓm (θ1 , φ1 ) Yℓm (θ2 , φ2 ) = Yℓm (θ2 , φ2 ) Yℓm (θ1 , φ1 ) = Pℓ (cos γ)
m=−ℓ m=−ℓ
4π

where γ is the angle between the two directions,

cos γ = cos θ1 cos θ2 + sin θ1 sin θ2 cos(φ1 − φ2 )

In the special case of θ1 = θ2 and φ1 = φ2 , we have γ = 0. Then

Xℓ  2 2ℓ + 1
 m 
 Yℓ (θ, φ) =
m=−ℓ
4π

1.11 The Gaunt Factors:

In quantum mechanics, we frequently come across an integral of the type,
Z h i∗
G(ℓ1 , ℓ2 , ℓ3 ; m1 , m2 , m3 ) = Yℓm1 1 Yℓm2 2 Yℓm3 3 sin θ dθ dφ

These are the so-called Gaunt factors. The integral vanishes unless

• m2 + m3 − m1 = 0 (because of φ integration), and

• ℓ1 + ℓ2 + ℓ3 = even (otherwise the integrand becomes odd), and

• |ℓ1 − ℓ3 | ≤ ℓ2 ≤ ℓ1 + ℓ3 . This condition is a result of three inequalities involving ℓ1 ,

ℓ2 and ℓ3 .
 Exercises

A-Legendre 1 Derive the recurrence relations RR-5, RR-8 and RR-9.

A-Legendre 2 Show that,

ℓ (−1)ℓ ℓ
Pℓℓ (x) = (2ℓ − 1)!! (1 − x ) 2 2 and Pℓ−ℓ (x) = (1 − x2 ) 2
(2ℓ)!!

A-Legendre 3 Show that,



 0 if ℓ + m = odd

Pℓm (0) =
 ℓ−m (ℓ + m − 1)!!

 (−1) 2 if ℓ + m = even
(ℓ − m)!!

A-Legendre 4 Evaluate
Z 1
(1 − x2 )1/2 Pℓ1 (x) dx
−1

A-Legendre 5 Show that,

Z 1 h i 4(ℓ2 + m2 + ℓ − 1) (ℓ + m)!
(1 − x2 ) Pℓm (x) Pℓm′ (x) dx = δℓ,ℓ′
−1 (2ℓ − 1)(2ℓ + 1)(2ℓ + 3) (ℓ − m)!
2(ℓ + m + 2)!
− δℓ+2,ℓ′
(2ℓ + 1)(2ℓ + 3)(2ℓ + 5)(ℓ − m)!
2(ℓ + m)!
− δℓ−2,ℓ′
(2ℓ − 3)(2ℓ − 1)(2ℓ + 1)(ℓ − m − 2)!

A-Legendre 6 Show that,

 1/2
2ℓ + 1
Yℓm (0, φ) = δm0
4π
A-Legendre 7 Show that,
  1/2

 (ℓ+m)/2 2ℓ + 1 (ℓ − m − 1)!! (ℓ + m − 1)!!
   (−1) for ℓ + m even
m π 4π (ℓ − m)!! (ℓ + m)!!
Yℓ ,0 =
2 


0 for ℓ + m odd

A-Legendre 8 Show that, Z

1
Yℓm (θ, φ) Y00 (θ, φ) Yℓ−m (θ, φ) sin θ dθ dφ = √
4π
A-Legendre 9 Show that,
Z r s
3 (ℓ + m + 1) (ℓ − m + 1)
Yℓm (θ, φ) Y10 (θ, φ) Yℓ+1
−m
(θ, φ) sin θ dθ dφ =
4π (2ℓ + 1) (2ℓ + 3)
A-Legendre 10 Show that,
Z r s
3 (ℓ + m + 1) (ℓ + m + 2)
Yℓm (θ, φ) Y11 (θ, φ) Yℓ+1
−m−1
(θ, φ) sin θ dθ dφ =
8π (2ℓ + 1) (2ℓ + 3)

A-Legendre 11 Show that,

Z r s
3 (ℓ − m) (ℓ − m − 1)
Yℓm (θ, φ) Y11 (θ, φ) Yℓ−1
−m−1
(θ, φ) sin θ dθ dφ = −
8π (2ℓ − 1) (2ℓ + 1)