Talk:Sturm–Liouville theory

A bit wordy.
This article is good and easy to read, but too wordy. The distraction about the linear polynomials being eigenfunctions of the Laplacian is unnecessary. All one needs to do is write the formula for the eigenvectors (exp(ikx) where k is even), maybe something like "one checks that exp(ikx), k even, solves the ode."

Similarly, it should be made more clear exactly why it is that arbitrary functions may be written as superpositions of such basic waves. The short answer (applicable to the examples in the article) is Fourier series. The long answer is that the BVP Lu=f subject to Dirichlet boundary data on a nice bounded domain when L is (say) coercive is a map F:f-->u from L^2 to H^1 that is continuous; hence the composition F with the inclusion map i:H^1-->L^2 (which is a compact linear map) gives a compact linear map G=iF, G:L^2-->L^2. This map is self-adjoint if L is self-adjoint, and so it admits a basis of eigenvectors. The eigenvalues of G must accumulate at the origin and nowhere else, hence the eigenvalues of L accumulate at &infin; and nowhere else. This also proves that the set of basic wave functions will necessarely span L^2, even if they are not exp harmonics.

The above is true. I don't see why there needs to be any reference to Fourier Series at all except that sines and cosines form an orthogonal basis under the second differential linear operator because it is a hermitian operator. What should be proven is that L is hermitian (that is that $$\langle u,Lv \rangle = \langle Lv,u \rangle $$) and therefore its eigenfunctions are orthogonal and it's eigenvalues are all real, thus it is possible (as inspiration from Fourier Analysis) to find the coefficients of the inhomogeneous input when you represent it in the basis of those orthogonal eigenfunctions. Accordingly it is then possible to find the coefficients for the solution. For this type of analysis it is important to also note that the hermitian properties of L only hold when u(x) and f(x) are constrained to certain boundary conditions. This could be in the proof that L is, in fact, a hermitian operator.

One should then refer to the Sobolev space article.

I may make the changes some other day if nobody else does it.

Loisel 09:46, 6 Jun 2004 (UTC)

I've rewritten the first half; the second half will come later. Loisel 19:02, 7 Jul 2004 (UTC)

The "normal modes" section is a bit strange. The equation isn't in the Lu=&sum;D^p(a_{pq}D^qu)+bu=0 form, nor is it in the eigenvalue Lu=&lambda;u form. Furthermore, the problem solved in that section is not that of eigenanalysis (for the purpose of solving Lu=f subject to homogeneous boundary conditions) but rather to solve Lu=0 subject to nonhomogeneous boundary conditions.

I think it's a good idea to have a multiple variable example of a S-L problem, and the wave equation is fine with me, but I think the wave operator (what do physicists call it?) and the S-L connection should be made explicit.

Loisel 06:51, 8 Jul 2004 (UTC)


 * Done--the S-L connection is now explicit. Strange it took 7 years for someone to do it, it only took a few minutes once I understood the excellent suggestion. RMPK (talk) 18:16, 29 October 2011 (UTC)

Rewrite
The introduction to the theory presented here is of little meaning unless boundary conditions are introduced and this should be done at the outset, in the preamble. I'll likely write something up soon.

Mingarelli 11:02, 2 Dec 2005 (EST)

I've just rewritten the opening paragraph here to conform with existing definitions and terminology. For supplementary material see E.L.Ince, Ordinary Differential Equations, Dover Publ., NY (1956).

Mingarelli 11:55, 2 Dec 2005 (EST)

I added more material and precision to the first five or six paragraphs of this article and linked some of the terms with Wikipedia. I'll take a break for now.

Tobias Hein 15:40, 2 Dec 2005 (EST)

I fixed some sign problems in the example of calculating an integrating factor. I need the Sturm- Liouville theory for my diploma thesis in astrophysics on the University of Würzburg (Germany). For more information look at Arfkens "Mathematical Methods for Physicists".

This page has been constantly getting vandalized and renamed "Tony Liuville Theory". I'm too lazy to create an account, but can someone fix this and disable editing? 79.160.185.209 (talk) 07:27, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

Confusing intro
I do not like the problem statement as given. If we denote the Sturm-Liouville operator by L, the Sturm-Liouville problem is Lu = w(x). What we want is to solve for u, which means that we want an operator A such that u = Aw.

It then turns out that the eigenvectors of L are important in determining A, therefore the eigenvalue problem Lu = λu is important in its own right.

As given, the Sturm-Liouville problem and the eigenvalue problem is all mixed up. I have tried to straighten it out, but someone always resets it to the original, mixed-up version.

79.160.185.209 (talk) 07:57, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

Help fix links
I've moved this page from Sturm-Liouville theory (with a hyphen) to Sturm–Liouville theory (with an ndash), thereby complying with standard style conventions (see WP:MOS, etc.). I've fixed all the double redirects and some of the direct links. Can others help fix the rest of the links? Thanks. Michael Hardy (talk) 17:11, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

Proposal to add proof to Sturm–Liouville theory page
I propose to add a subpage to the Sturm-Liouville namespace that proves solutions to the Sturm-Liouville equation corresponding to distinct eigenvalues are orthogonal. I am asking for help from an editor who works on this namespace to work with me on this. The proposed proof is found at Orthogonality proof. To avoid unnecessary suggestions, let me state that this proof is not original research and there does not seem to be consensus whether proofs belong on Wikipedia or not. On the latter issue, I have contacted established editors asking for their views, but have not yet received a response. If I do not hear from anyone by next week, I will just add the subpage and see what happens. Note: I also made this proposal on Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Mathematics, since this talk page seems not to receive much attention. Dnessett (talk) 16:21, 15 April 2009 (UTC)

It would seem at least as interesting to include a proof of the completeness of the basis. 74.118.202.108 (talk) 03:37, 22 May 2020 (UTC)

Conceptually?
That's the question that I came to find an answer for, having seen "Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problem" mentioned in an article about oceanography. I don't need to know the details about how they work, just how they are applicable, conceptually, to this particular application (calculation of a baroclinic gravity wave phase speed). But, like so much maths here, the article gets straight into the equations with nothing for anyone who doesn't already what it's all about. Sometimes Wikipedia just doesn't help and mathematics is a prime area of impenetrable encyclopediation. I had to laugh at the comment of the guy above, complaining about too many words. People learn a lot from Wikipedia about all sorts of subjects that are novices in. Not mathematics, not even if they do know a thing or two already. Wikifail. 78.144.72.141 (talk) 04:36, 5 September 2014 (UTC)


 * I agree with above comment. The article, at least in the introduction, needs to motivate the technique before going into the technical details. The introduction might say, for example, that Sturm-Liouville Theory refers to a mathematical technique used to help solve certain differential equations arising principally in classical mechanics.
 * I am not doing the change myself because I don't know enough about this subject to create an accurate summary. Dratman (talk) 19:35, 26 March 2015 (UTC)
 * I agree w both of the above comments. As a layperson one should be able to learn something from our articles, which is easily accomplished if we remember to preface each article, no matter how technical or deep, w an explanatory statement for laypersons. Mathematicians ... thanks so much for writing these articles ... and please pretend your son or daughter has asked you what it is about. I hope you are not the kind of parent who says ... "Sorry, you can't understand this topic right now" because there is always something correct and intelligent one can say which describes at least generally a meaning, or usage, or intention, or direction of the math. Treat the lay readership w the same respect you would accord an inquisitive child. Thanks again for these articles. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 97.125.81.249 (talk) 17:45, 5 April 2015 (UTC)

Is Somesh-Sharma a vandalism?
Is — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.243.22.39 (talk) 19:25, 11 February 2016‎ (UTC)


 * Indeed it is – now reverted. Favonian (talk) 19:29, 11 February 2016 (UTC)

This is unreadable for non-mathematicians
The intro bit (before the table of contents) should at least mention some real-world applications. Where is this useful? Computer graphics, quantum physics, etc. etc. Equinox ◑ 15:41, 12 October 2019 (UTC)

Citations needed
Only one section of this article has any references (and it's not a central section). The "Further Reading" section is helpful, but is not as helpful as coordinated references to particular claims would be. 74.118.202.108 (talk) 03:41, 22 May 2020 (UTC)