A test of a modified algorithm for computing spherical harmonic coefficients using an FFT (Q1118345)

A program is described for the computer calculation of the coefficients \(F_{\ell m}\) of the expansion of the sphere image data (e.g. of solar disk): \[ f(\theta,\phi)=\sum^{\infty}_{\ell =0}\sum^{\ell}_{m=- \ell}F_{\ell m}Y_{\ell m}(\theta,\phi) \] where \(Y_{\ell m}(\theta,\phi)\) is spherical harmonic function of degree \(\ell\) and order m. The program requires less computer storage space than this one by \textit{G. A. Dilts} [ibid. 57, 439-453 (1985; Zbl 0562.65098)], but at the expence of increasing the execution time, particular for high \(\ell\) values. the best program remains one by \textit{T. M. Brown} [NATURE 317, 591 (1985)].