Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2020 / Paper 1 / 2

Differentiate the power series term by term inside its radius of convergence, and reindex the second derivative so that every coefficient multiplies $x^m$. The differential equation becomesThe uniqueness of power-series coefficients givesThe even coefficients depend only on $a_0$ and the odd coefficients only on $a_1$. These are the two local solution branches of the Legendre differential equation around its ordinary point $x=0$.

For an integer $n\ge 0$, choose the series whose integer parity agrees with $n$ and set the other initial coefficient to zero. At $m=n$, the numerator in the recurrence vanishes, so $a_{n+2}=0$ and every later coefficient in that integer parity vanishes. With a nonzero coefficient of $x^n$, this gives a polynomial of degree exactly $n$. Normalize it by $P_n(1)=1$.

For $n=0$, the even branch is constant; for $n=1$, the odd branch is proportional to $x$. For $n=2$, the recurrence gives $a_2=-3a_0$, so normalization fixes $a_0=-1/2$. HenceThe opposite-parity branch generally does not terminate; polynomial termination does not mean that both independent solutions become polynomials.

Substitute $U=R(r)F(\theta )$ into the axisymmetric Laplace equation and multiply by $r^2/(RF)$. The radial and angular terms must be separate constants:ThusWith $x=\cos \theta$, the angular equation becomesRequiring boundedness on the entire polar interval, and using the supplied characterization of bounded Legendre polynomial solutions, gives $\lambda =n(n+1)$ and $F\propto P_n(\cos \theta )$ for $n=0,1,2,\dots$. Trying $R=r^s$ gives $s(s+1)=n(n+1)$, hence $s=n$ or $s=-n-1$.

The globally angular-regular separated modes and their superposition are thereforeCoefficients and convergence are determined by the radial domain and boundary data. A domain containing the origin excludes negative radial powers for a regular solution. If the angular domain excludes a polar axis of the spherical coordinate system and singular angular behavior is allowed, additional Legendre-function branches are possible; the displayed family is the one regular over the complete sphere, as intended by the hint.

The far field is proportional to $r{P}_1(\cos \theta )$, since $P_1(\cos \theta )=\cos \theta$. After matching the growing terms, write the exterior solution asAn added constant has here been excluded by interpreting the far-field condition as $U-v_{0}r\cos \theta \to 0$. Differentiate and impose the radial Neumann boundary condition:The Orthogonality of Legendre polynomials makes each coefficient vanish separately. Thus $B_n=0$ for $n\ne 1$, and $2B_1/r_0^3=v_0$. ConsequentlyIndeed ${\partial }_{r}U=v_0(1-r_0^3/r^3)\cos \theta$, which vanishes at the boundary, while the correction decays at infinity. If the far-field condition is intended to specify only the leading growing term, an arbitrary additive constant is also allowed; its gradient has no effect on the Neumann boundary condition.