On the solution of a class of the reduced wave equation and the Riccati differential equation (Q972904)

The general solution of the linear differential equation \[ z''=\lambda_0 z \] is studied provided that the infinitely continuously differentiable function \(\lambda_0\) satisfies certain conditions. More precisely, let \(\lambda_1=\lambda_0^\prime\) and define iteratively \(\lambda_{2n-1}=\lambda_0\lambda_{2n-4}+\lambda_{2n-3}^\prime\) for \(n=2,3,4,\dots\) and \(\lambda_{2n}=\lambda_{2n-2}^\prime+\lambda_{2n-1}\) for \(n=1,2,3,\dots\) Now, if there exists a number \(n\) such that \(\frac{\lambda_{2n-1}}{\lambda_{2n2}}=\frac{\lambda_{2n-3}}{\lambda_{2n-4}}=:\beta\), then a general solution is derived in terms of the function \(\beta\). The technique is demonstrated for various functions \(\lambda_0\). It is shown that the results may be useful in the treatment of Riccati equations. Next, the Helmholtz equation \[ \triangle u\left(x\right)+k^2n\left(x\right)u\left(x\right)=0 \] is investigated, where the variable refractive index \(n\left(x\right)\) is a function of the distance \(r=\left|x\right|\). It is suggested that a radially symmetric solution can be constructed as an application of the above technique. The results are extended to the inverse conductive scattering problem for an inhomogeneous spherical medium.