Spherical far-field range condition (${\sum }_n(2n/(ekR){)}^{2n}{\sum }_m|a_n^m{|}^2<\infty$)

For an outgoing field outside a sphere of radius $R$, write $u_s=k{\sum }_{n,m}{i}^{n+1}{a}_n^m{h}_n^{(1)}(kr)Y_n^m$. Its far-field pattern is $\sum a_n^m{Y}_n^m$. If its trace on that sphere lies in L2 space, Parseval's identity gives $k^2\sum |h_n^{(1)}(kR){|}^2|a_n^m{|}^2<\infty$. The fixed-argument growth of spherical Hankel functions yields the displayed equivalent range condition, with the low-order weights defined finitely. Square summability of the far-field coefficients alone does not ensure continuation to the chosen sphere.

Continuation of a far-field pattern to a spherical trace multiplies harmonic coefficients by the displayed factor, whose magnitude grows faster than exponentially with order. A data error of size $\delta$ in one normalized high-order harmonic therefore produces near-field error $\delta k|h_n^{(1)}(kR)|$, unbounded as its order increases. Some noisy square-summable far fields fail the range condition entirely. This proves unstable field continuation; bounds on actual obstacle geometry additionally require an admissible shape class and a stable boundary-extraction procedure.