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Substituting $y(x,t)=f(x)g(t)$ into the wave equation on a string gives $f^{\prime \prime }g=f{g}^{\prime \prime }/c^2$. Wherever both factors are nonzero,The left side depends only on $x$ and the right side only on $t$, so both equal a separation constant $\alpha$. ThereforeThe resulting differential equations extend through zeros of $f$ or $g$ by continuity; division at a node is unnecessary.

For the scalar wave separation in Kerr spacetime, continue to use $A=r^2+a^2$ and $s=\sin \theta$. First verify the determinant in the hint. Direct multiplication of the covariant $t,\varphi$ components givesHence the block determinant is $-\Delta {\sin }^2\theta$. Inverting this block givesThe other inverse components are $g^{rr}=\Delta /\Sigma$, $g^{\theta \theta }=1/\Sigma$, and $\sqrt{-g}=\Sigma s$. The covariant wave operator on a scalar consequently has the divergence formLet $m_{\varphi }$ denote the azimuthal mode number, to distinguish it from the axial vector $m$. Insert the mode $\Psi =e^{-i\omega t+i{m}_{\varphi }\varphi }R(r)\Theta (\theta )$ in the massless Klein-Gordon equation. Single-valuedness makes $m_{\varphi }$ an integer. The $t,\varphi$ derivatives giveWith $K(r)=A\omega -a{m}_{\varphi }$, division by the mode factor gives, on patches where $R\Theta \ne 0$,The radial and angular expressions must be opposite constants. Defining the separation constant as $\Lambda$, we obtain the two ordinary differential equationsThese equations also hold at zeros of a mode by continuity, without dividing there. Regular angular solutions are scalar spheroidal harmonics, with discrete $\Lambda ={\Lambda }_{\ell m_{\varphi }}(a\omega )$. For $a\omega =0$ the angular equation becomes the associated Legendre function equation, with $\Lambda =\ell (\ell +1)$ and $\ell \ge |m_{\varphi }|$, providing a useful check of the signs and normalization. The radial function here is exactly $R$ in the chosen ansatz, without an additional factor of $1/r$.

For a nonzero separable solution of the Laplace equation in polar coordinates, write $T(r,\theta )=R(r)\Theta (\theta )$ with $r>0$. Multiplying the partial differential equation by $r^2$ and dividing where $R\Theta \ne 0$ giveswhere $\lambda$ is a real separation constant. The resulting ordinary differential equations areThe equations continue across zeros of the factors by continuity. The radial equation is a Cauchy-Euler equation; putting $s=\log r$ changes it to $d^{2}R/d{s}^2-\lambda R=0$.

For positive separation constant, write $\lambda =k^2$ with $k>0$. The radial factors are powers, while the angular factors are sine and cosine:For zero separation constant, each transformed equation has zero second derivative, givingFor negative separation constant, write $\lambda =-k^2$ with $k>0$. The radial factors oscillate in $\log r$, and the angular factors are exponential functions:These exhaust the nonzero real separated solutions before imposing angular periodicity or regularity at the origin. The zero solution is also allowed. Since Laplace's equation is linear, sums of these separated solutions are solutions wherever the sums and required derivatives converge appropriately.

A temperature on the full unit disk must be single valued, so its angular factor and angular derivative are $2\pi$-periodic. For positive separation constant $\lambda =k^2$, this requires $k=n$ to be a positive integer. For $\lambda =0$, periodicity removes $D\theta$. For $\lambda <0$, no nonzero linear combination of $e^{k\theta }$ and $e^{-k\theta }$ is $2\pi$-periodic, so that case disappears.

The origin belongs to the disk, so a classical harmonic function must remain bounded and extend smoothly there. This excludes $r^{-n}$ and $\log r$. The remaining individual separated solutions are constants and $r^n(A_n\cos (n\theta )+B_n\sin (n\theta ))$. By superposition, the regular harmonic expansion on a disk isThe admissible Fourier coefficients are fixed by the boundary conditions. Smoothness at the origin can also be seen from $r^n\cos (n\theta )$ and $r^n\sin (n\theta )$ being the real and imaginary parts of $(x+iy{)}^n$, hence harmonic polynomials.

For Laplace's equation, seek a nonzero separated product $f=X(x)Y(y)$. Dividing by $XY$ gives $X^{\prime \prime }/X=-Y^{\prime \prime }/Y$, so both sides are a separation constant. Choosing it as $-k^2$ gives $X^{\prime \prime }+k^{2}X=0$, $Y^{\prime \prime }-k^{2}Y=0$, with trigonometric and hyperbolic functions, respectively. A zero constant gives linear factors; a positive constant interchanges the two types. Boundary conditions determine which modes are allowed, and linearity permits their superposition to match the remaining boundary data.

For the massless Klein-Gordon equation on a Kerr black hole, the covariant wave operator separates into radial and angular ordinary differential equations. With $K=(r^2+a^2)\omega -am$ and angular separation constant $\Lambda$, the radial equation is $(\Delta R^{\prime }{)}^{\prime }+[K^2/\Delta -a^2{\omega }^2+2am\omega -\Lambda ]R=0$. The angular equation is $(\sin \theta {\Theta }^{\prime }{)}^{\prime }/\sin \theta +[a^2{\omega }^2{\cos }^2\theta -m^2/{\sin }^2\theta +\Lambda ]\Theta =0$. No extra radial factor is included in the displayed ansatz.

A separation constant arises when an equation is a sum of functions of independent variables. If $F(r)+G(\theta )=0$ on a product region, each function is constant, with opposite signs. Boundary or regularity conditions can then select discrete values, as for scalar spheroidal harmonics.