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Green function of the Poisson equation: D=2,3,4

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Page 1 of 8 AUTHOR SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPT - JPCO-100443

1
2 Green Function of the Poisson Equation: D = 2, 3, 4
3
4 U. D. Jentschura1 and J. Sapirstein2

pt
1
5 Department of Physics, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri 65409, USA
2
6 Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
7 We study the Green function of the Poisson equation in two, three and four dimensions. The
8 solution g of the equation ∇ ~ 2 g(~x − ~x′ ) = δ (D) (~x − ~x′ ), where ~x and ~x′ are D-dimensional position
9 vectors, is customarily expanded into radial and angular coordinates. For the two-dimensional case

cri
10 (D = 2), we find a subtle interplay of the necessarily introduced scale L with the radial component
11 of zero magnetic quantum number. For D = 3, the well-known expressions are briefly recalled; this
12 is done in order to highlight the analogy with the four-dimensional case, where we uncover analogies
13 of the four-dimensional spherical harmonics with the familiar three-dimensional case. Remarks on
the SO(4) symmetry of the hydrogen atom complete the investigations.
14
15 PACS numbers: 02.30.Gp, 02.30.Hq, 31.30.J-, 12.20.Ds
16

us
17
18 I. INTRODUCTION
19
20 Solutions of the equation
21
22 ~ 2 g(~x − ~x′ ) = δ (D) (~x − ~x′ )
∇ (1)
23
24
25
26
27
28
an
enter a myriad of physical problems, from the elementary Coulomb problem in electrostatics (D = 3), to the attraction
among vortices in two-dimensional systems (D = 2), and on to the four-dimensional formulation of the hydrogen
Green function (D = 4, see Ref. [1]). Here, we shall attempt to provide a unified treatment of the radial and angular
decompositions of the two-, three- and four-dimensional Green functions, which are solutions to Eq. (1).
In D = 2, a scale has to be introduced, which corresponds to a physically irrelevant overall constant term, while in
D = 3, the formulas are very familiar (see Refs. [2, 3]). In D = 4, we attempt to reveal a structure of (re-)defined
dM
29
30 associated ultraspherical polynomials (Gegenbauer polynomials), which highlights analogies to the associated Legendre
31 functions that enter the case D = 3.
32
33
34 II. TWO–DIMENSIONAL CASE
35
36 Spherical coordinates in two dimensions have a cylindrical symmetry; hence, for definiteness, we denote the two-
37 dimensional position vectors as ρ~ and ρ~ ′ , and their moduli as ρ = |~ ρ| and ρ′ = |~ρ ′ |. The Green function solution of
38 the Poisson equation,
39
ρ − ρ~ ′ |
 
1 |~
pte

40 ~ 2 g(~
∇ ρ−ρ~ ′ ) = δ (2) (~
ρ−ρ~ ′ ) , g(~
ρ − ρ~ ′ ) = ln , (2)
41 2π L
42
introduces a scale L, which ensures that the argument of the natural logarithm is dimensionless. In terms of the
43
Green function, the scale L adds nothing but an overall constant term,
44
45 1
46 g→g− ln L. (3)
2π
47
48 In order to show that g fulfills the Poisson equation, one specializes the divergence theorem to an infinitesimal area
ce

49 A. For example, A might be chosen as the inner area of a circle of infinitesimal radius ǫ, about the center ρ~ ′ . With
′
50 ∂A denoting the boundary of A, i.e, the circle of radius ǫ about ρ~ , one must have
51 Z Z Z
52 ~ ρ−ρ
∇g(~ ~=
~ ′ ) · dS ~ 2 g(~
∇ ~ ′ ) d2 ρ =
ρ−ρ δ (2) (~ ~ ′ ) d2 ρ = 1 .
ρ−ρ (4)
∂A A A
53
Ac

54 Using the formula (2) and the radial component of the gradient operator in two-dimensional coordinates, one verifies
55 that indeed,
56 Z 2π 
∂ 1
Z Z
57 ~ ′ ~ ′ 

∇g(~
ρ − ρ~ ) · dS = g(~
ρ−ρ
~ ) ǫ dϕ = ǫ dϕ = 1 ,
58 ∂A 0 ∂ρ |~
ρ−~
ρ ′ |=ǫ 2πǫ
59
60
 AUTHOR SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPT - JPCO-100443 Page 2 of 8
2
1
2 independent of ǫ.
3 Let us now turn to the angular-momentum decomposition of Eq. (2). The spherical representation of the two-
4 dimensional Dirac-δ is

pt
5 1
δ (2) (~ ~ ′) =
ρ−ρ δ(ρ − ρ′ ) δ(ϕ − ϕ′ ) . (5)
6 ρ
7
8 An appropriate ansatz for the Green function is
9 ∞

cri
X
′
10 g(~
ρ−ρ
~ )= fm (ρ, ρ′ , ϕ′ ) eimϕ . (6)
11 m=−∞
12
13 The two-dimensional representation of the Laplacian is
14 2 2
15 ~2 = ∂ + 1 ∂ + 1 ∂ .
∇ (7)
∂ρ 2 ρ ∂ρ ρ ∂ϕ2
2
16

us
17 It acts on the Green function as follows,
18 ∞  2
m2

19 ~ 2 ′
X ∂ 1 ∂ 1
∇ g(~
ρ−ρ ~ )= 2
+ − 2 fm (ρ, ρ′ , ϕ′ ) eimϕ = δ(ρ − ρ′ ) δ(ϕ − ϕ′ ) . (8)
20 m=−∞
∂ρ ρ ∂ρ ρ ρ
21
22 Now, one multiplies both sides with the factor
23
24
25
26
27
28
and integrates over dϕ, resulting in the equation
 2
∂
∂ρ2
+
1 ∂
ρ ∂ρ
m′2
ρ

an
− 2 fm′ (ρ, ρ′ , ϕ′ ) =
1 −im′ ϕ
2π

1
e

2πρ
,

′ ′
δ(ρ − ρ′ ) e−im ϕ .
(9)

(10)
dM
29
30
Setting
31
32 fm′ (ρ, ρ′ , ϕ′ ) = gm′ (ρ, ρ′ ) e−im ϕ ,
′ ′
(11)
33
34 and renaming m′ → m after this operation, one obtains the radial equation
35
m2
 
36 1 ∂ ∂ 1
ρ − 2 gm (ρ, ρ′ ) = δ(ρ − ρ′ ) . (12)
37 ρ ∂ρ ∂ρ ρ 2πρ
38
Inspired by textbook treatments [2, 3] of the three-dimensional Green function, one uses the following ansatz for
39
nonzero m,
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40
41  |m|
ρ<
42 gm (ρ, ρ′ ) = C , m=6 0, (13)
ρ>
43
44 where ρ< = min(ρ, ρ′ ) and ρ> = max(ρ, ρ′ ), and integrates Eq. (12) from ρ = ρ′ − ǫ to ρ = ρ′ + ǫ,
45
′ ′
46 ρ=ρ
Z +ǫ ρ=ρ
Z +ǫ
m2

∂ ∂ ′ 1
47 ρ − 2 gm (ρ, ρ ) dρ = δ(ρ − ρ′ ) dρ . (14)
48 ∂ρ ∂ρ ρ 2π
ce

ρ=ρ′ −ǫ ρ=ρ′ −ǫ
49
50 This results in the relation
51  ρ=ρ′ +ǫ
52 ∂ ′ 
 1
ρ gm (ρ, ρ )  = , (15)
53 ∂ρ ρ=ρ′ −ǫ 2π
Ac

54
55 and amounts to the condition
56
" 
 ′ |m| # "  |m| # |m|
57 ∂ ρ ∂ ρ  = C (−|m| − |m|) ρ ρ 1
C ρ − ρ = , (16)
 
∂ρ ρ ∂ρ ρ′ ρ |m|+1 2π
 
58 
ρ=ρ′

ρ=ρ
′
59
60
Page 3 of 8 AUTHOR SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPT - JPCO-100443
3
1
2 with the result
3 1 1
4 C =− . (17)
2π 2|m|

pt
5
6 The case m = 0 requires special treatment. One sets
7 ρ 
>
8 gm (ρ, ρ′ ) = D ln , (18)
9 L

cri
10 because this term matches the asymptotic limit of Eq. (2) for ρ → ∞, ρ′ → 0. In this case, Eq. (15) translates into
11 the condition
12   ′  !
13 ∂  ρ  
∂ ρ  1
D ρ ln  − ρ ln  =D−0= , (19)
14 ∂ρ L ρ=ρ′ ∂ρ L ρ=ρ′ 2π
15
16 with the result D = 1/(2π). Adding the terms for m = 0 and m 6= 0, one has

us
17
∞ |m|
18

′ 1 ρ 
>
X 1 ρ< ′
19 g(~
ρ − ρ~ ) = ln − ei m (ϕ−ϕ )
2π L 4π|m| ρ>
20 m = −∞
m 6= 0
21
∞
"  m #
22 1 ρ 
>
X 1 ρ< ′
= ln − cos (m (ϕ − ϕ )) . (20)
23
24
25
26
27
28
T1 = g(~ ρ−ρ
2π

′
~ )=
1
ln

L

|~
ρ−ρ
anm=1

~ ′|
m ρ>


~ ′ = 1.1 êx + 1.5 êy , the expression in
A numerical check of this relations is successful. For ρ~ = 0.2 êx + 0.1 êy and ρ
Eq. (2) evaluates to

= −0.296159 . (21)
dM
29 2π L
30
31 while the m = 0 term from Eq. (20) is
32
33 1 ρ 
>
T2 = ln = −0.278459 . (22)
34 2π L
35 Adding the sum over the nonzero m, one obtains
36
37 ∞  m
X 1 ρ<
38 T3 = − cos[m (ϕ − ϕ′ )] = −0.017700. (23)
m=1
2πm ρ >
39
pte

40
We have checked the equality T1 = T2 + T3 for a number of example cases. It is interesting to note that Eq. (20) does
41 not seem to have appeared in the literature before.
42
43
44 III. THREE–DIMENSIONAL CASE
45
46
Let ~r and ~r′ denote coordinate vectors in three-dimensional space. It is well known that
47
48
ce

1 1 ~k) = − d3 r e−i~k·(~r−~r′ ) 1 1 1
Z
49 g(~r − ~r′ ) = − , g( =− , (24)
′
4π |~r − ~r | ′
4π |~r − ~r | ~k 2
50
51 fulfills the Poisson equation
52
53 ~ 2 g(~r − ~r′ ) = δ (3) (~r − ~r′ ) .
∇ (25)
Ac

54
55 The well-known expansion into (three-dimensional) spherical harmonics reads as follows,
56 ∞ X
ℓ ℓ
57
X 1 r<
g(~r − ~r′ ) = − ℓ+1
∗
Yℓm (θ, ϕ) Yℓm (θ′ , ϕ′ ) , (26)
58 2ℓ + 1 r>
ℓ=0 m=−ℓ
59
60
 AUTHOR SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPT - JPCO-100443 Page 4 of 8
4
1
2 where r< = min(r, r′ ), r> = max(r, r′ ). The Laplacian in three dimensions reads as
3 2 ~2
4 ~2 = ∂ + 2 ∂ − L ,
∇ (27)

pt
∂r 2 r ∂r r2
5
6 ~ = −i~r × ∇.
where L ~ The radial part of the Green function (26) is assembled from homogeneous solutions of the radial
7 equation, in much the same way as in the derivation extending from Eq. (13) to Eq. (17). The transformation from
8 P3
Cartesian to spherical coordinates is, with ~r = i=1 xi êi ,
9

cri
10 x1 = r sin θ cos ϕ , (28a)
11
x2 = r sin θ sin ϕ , (28b)
12
13 x3 = r cos θ , (28c)
14
The infinitesimal solid angle element is
15
16 d2 Ω = sin θ dθ dϕ . (29)

us
17
18 The well-known spherical harmonics are given as
19 s
20 2ℓ + 1 (ℓ − m)! m
21 Yℓm (θ, ϕ) = P (cos (θ)) eimϕ , (30)
4π (ℓ + m)! ℓ
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
with the orthonormality and completeness properties
Z

ℓm
an
d2 Ω Yℓ∗′ m′ (θ, ϕ) Yℓm (θ, ϕ) = δℓℓ′ δmm′ ,

Yℓ m (θ, ϕ) Yℓ∗m (θ′ , ϕ′ ) =

1
sin θ
δ(θ − θ′ )δ(ϕ − ϕ′ ).
(31a)

(31b)
dM
29
30 The summation limits are ℓ = 0, . . . , ∞ and m = −ℓ, . . . , ℓ. The generating function for the Legendre polynomials [4]
31 is
32 ∞
33 1 X
Pℓ0 (x) = Pℓ (x) , √ = Pℓ (x) tℓ , (32)
34 1 − 2xt + t2 ℓ=0
35
36 while the associated Legendre polynomials are given by
37

m / 2 dm Pℓ (x)
38 Pℓm (x) = (−1)m 1 − x2 . (33)
39 dxm
pte

40 They have the property

41
m2
 
42 1 ∂ ∂
sin θ − Pℓm (cos θ) = −ℓ (ℓ + 1) Pℓm (cos θ) . (34)
43 sin θ ∂θ ∂θ sin2 θ
44
45 These formulas are recalled with the notion of clarifying the analogies with the four-dimensional case, as will be done
46 in the following.
47
48
ce

IV. FOUR–DIMENSIONAL CASE

49
50
51 Let us denote four-dimensional vectors like ξ and ξ ′ in bold face. Just for clarity, we should stress that we are
52 assuming a Euclidean metric. The formula analogous to Eq. (24) is
53 1 1
Z
′ 1 1 1
′
g(ξ − ξ ) = − 2 , g(k) = − d4 ξ e−ik·(ξ−ξ ) 2 =− 2, (35)
Ac

54
4π (ξ − ξ ′ )2 4π (ξ − ξ ′ )2 k
55
56 where ξ, ξ ′ ∈ R4 . The Green function g(ξ − ξ ′ ) fulfills the equation
57
58 ∇2 g(ξ − ξ ′ ) = δ (4) (ξ − ξ ′ ) . (36)
59
60
Page 5 of 8 AUTHOR SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPT - JPCO-100443
5
1
2 The expansion into (four-dimensional) spherical harmonics [1] introduces an additional quantum number, which we
3 denote as n, and the analogue of Eq. (26) is
4 n
X 1 ξ<
g(ξ − ξ ′ ) = − ∗ ′ ′ ′

pt
5 n+2 Ynℓm (χ, θ, ϕ) Ynℓm (χ , θ , ϕ ) ,
2(n + 1) ξ>
(37)
nℓm
6
7 where the Ynℓm (χ, θ, ϕ) are four-dimensional spherical harmonics, and ξ< = min(|ξ|, |ξ ′ |), and ξ> = max(|ξ|, |ξ ′ |).
8 The summation limits are n = 0, . . . , ∞, ℓ = 0, . . . , n, and m = −ℓ, . . . , ℓ. The four-dimensional Laplacian is
9 !
∂2 3 ∂ 1 1 ∂ ∂ ~2
L

cri
10 2
∇ = 2+ + 2 2
sin χ − , (38)
11 ∂ξ ρ ∂ξ ξ sin2 χ ∂χ ∂χ sin2 χ
12
and the radial part of the decomposition (37) is assembled from homogeneous solutions of the radial component of
13
the four-dimensional Laplacian. The transformation from Cartesian to spherical coordinates is, with ξ = 4i=1 xi êi ,
P
14
15 x1 = r cos ϕ sin θ sin χ, (39a)
16 x2 = r sin ϕ sin θ sin χ, (39b)

us
17
18 x3 = r cos θ sin χ, (39c)
19 x4 = r cos χ . (39d)
20
The infinitesimal solid angle element is
21
22 d3 Ω = sin2 χ sin θ dθdϕ . (40)
23
24
25
26
27
28
Ynℓm (χ, θ, ϕ) =
r s

π
with the orthonormality and completeness properties
an
The four-dimensional spherical harmonics can be given in terms of the analogue of Eq. (30) as

2 (n + 1) (n − ℓ)! ℓ
(n + ℓ + 1)!
Qn (cos χ) Yℓm (θ, ϕ) , (41)
dM
29 Z
30 d3 Ω Yn∗′ ℓ′ m′ (χ, θ, ϕ) Ynℓm (χ, θ, ϕ) = δnn′ δℓℓ′ δmm′ , (42a)
31
∞ X
n ℓ
32 X X 1
33 Yn ℓ m (χ, θ, ϕ) Yn∗ℓ m (χ′ , θ′ , ϕ′ ) = δ (χ − χ′ ) δ (θ − θ′ ) δ (ϕ − ϕ′ ) . (42b)
n=0 ℓ=0 m=−ℓ
sin2 χ sin θ
34
35 The generating function for the Gegenbauer-type Q polynomials is an analogue of Eq. (32),
36 ∞
37 1 X
Q0n (x) = Qn (x) , = Qn (x) tℓ . (43)
38 1 − 2xt + t2 n=0
39
The associated Gegenbauer–type polynomials can be defined in complete analogy with Eq. (33),
pte

40
41
ℓ/2 dℓ Qn (x)
42 Qℓn (x) = (−1)ℓ 1 − x2 . (44)
dxℓ
43
They have a property analogous to Eq. (34),
44  
45 1 ∂ 2 ∂ ℓ (ℓ + 1)
sin χ − Qℓn (cos χ) = −n (n + 2) Qℓn (cos χ) . (45)
46 sin2 χ ∂χ ∂χ sin2 χ
47
48 Steps toward a unified treatment of the four-dimensional spherical harmonics were made in Ref. [5], but it appears
ce

49 that the normalization prefactor in Eq. (41) was not given in explicit form. The connection to the usual associated
Gegenbauer polynomials Cnℓ (x) (in the canonical form, see Ref. [4]) is found as
50
51 Qn (x) = Cn1 (x) , (46a)
52 ℓ+1
Qℓn (x) n ℓ
= (−1) 2 ℓ! (1 − x ) 2 ℓ/2
Cn−ℓ (−x) . (46b)
53
Ac

54 Finally, we should mention the addition theorem

55 X n+1
∗
56 Ynℓm (χ, θ, ϕ) Ynℓm (χ′ , θ′ , ϕ′ ) = Qn (x · x′ ) . (47)
2π 2
57 nℓm
58 Connections of these formulas to the hydrogen wave functions are discussed in the Appendix.
59
60
 AUTHOR SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPT - JPCO-100443 Page 6 of 8
6
1
2 V. CONCLUSIONS
3
4 The most important formulas of this brief paper can be found in Eqs. (20), (26) and (37): We derive [and in the

pt
5 case of Eq. (26), just recall] the decomposition of the two-, three- and four-dimensional Green functions of the Poisson
6 equation into radial and angular parts. For D = 2, only one “quantum number” is introduced, namely, the “magnetic”
7 (azimuthal) quantum number m; for D = 3, one has the orbital angular momentum ℓ and its magnetic projection m,
8 while in D = 4, a third additional quantum number has to be introduced which can be associated with a “principal”
9 quantum number n; it is associated with the additional angular coordinate χ in four dimensions [see Eq. (39)]. The

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10 latter interpretation is ramified by the fact that indeed, the momentum-space wave functions of the nonrelativistic
11 hydrogen atom can be written as [cf. p. 39 of Ref. [6]]
12
13 4[~/(a0 n)]5/2
p) = (2π)3/2
ψnℓm (~ Y(n−1) ℓm (χ, θ, ϕ) , (48)
14 ([~/(a0 n)]2 + p~ 2 )2
15
16 where

us
17
[~/(a0 n)] − p~ 2
18 cos χ = , (49)
19 [~/(a0 n)] + p~ 2
20
and θ and ϕ are the polar and azimuth angles of the unit vector in the momentum direction, i.e., in the direction
21
of the unit vector p̂ = p~/|~
p|. The Bohr radius in a0 = ~/(αme c), where α is the fine-structure constant, me is the
22
electron mass, and c is the speed of light. These wave functions are normalized as (2π)−3 d3 p |ψnℓm (~ p)|2 = 1.
R
23
24
25
26
27
28
an
In our treatment of the four-dimensional Green function, we find it useful [see Eqs. (43) and (44)] to define polyno-
mials Qn (x), and associated function Qℓn (x), which are related to, but not equal to, the Gegenbauer, and associated
Gegenbauer, polynomials [4]. Hence, we refer to them as “Gegenbauer-type” functions. Analogies to the three-
dimensional case (Legendre and associated Legendre functions) are highlighted. The most intriguing problem in the
calculation of the two-dimensional Green function lies in the matching of the m = 0 term from Eq. (18) with the
m 6= 0 term from Eq. (13); the consideration of the asymptotic limit ρ> → ∞ helps in finding the matching coefficients
dM
29
[see Eq. (23)].
30
The angular-momentum decomposition (20) for D = 2 reveals that the dominant logarithmic term in the interaction
31
of vortices in the two-dimensional sine–Gordon model is exclusively due to S-wave interactions. The result might
32
become useful as one tries to augment previous studies on high-Tc Josephson-coupled, and magnetically coupled
33
superconductors [7, 8] by the inclusion of higher-order derivative terms [9].
34
35
36
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
37
38
39 This research has been supported by the National Science Foundation (Grants PHY–1403973 and PHY–1710856)
and by the Missouri Research Board.
pte

40
41
42
43 Appendix A: Remarks of Schwinger’s Derivation
44
45 In this appendix, we provide the clarification of three points which we found to be in need of some further explana-
46 tion, in regard to Schwinger’s derivation [1, 10, 11] of the Schrödinger–Coulomb Green function, which is based on the
47 SO(4) symmetry. First, one may observe that a certain prefactor in the definition of the Schrödinger–Coulomb Green
48 function may be in need of a reconsideration. Namely, if we assume that the defining equation of the Schrödinger–
ce

49 Coulomb Green function in coordinate space is

50  2 
51 p
~
+ V − E G(~r, ~r′ ) = δ (3) (~r − ~r′ ) , (A1)
52 2m
53
where V = − Zα
Ac

54
r is the Coulomb potential, then the defining equation of the momentum-space Green function incurs
55 a prefactor (2π)3 , in comparison to Ref. [1]. The following conventions for the Fourier transforms
56
57 Z
3 −i~
k·~
r
Z
d3 p i~p·~r
58 f (~
p) = d re f (~r) , f (~r) = e f (~ p) , (A2)
(2π)3
59
60
Page 7 of 8 AUTHOR SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPT - JPCO-100443
7
1
2 with an “asymmetric” distribution of the factors 2π, are almost universally adopted in the physical literature. With
3 ~ = c = ǫ0 = 1, the Coulomb potential, in momentum space, is V (~ p − p~′ ) = − (~p4πZα
−~p′ )2 . The defining equation for the
4 Green function thus becomes, in momentum space,

pt
5  2
p
~
 Z 3 ′′
d p 4πZα
′
6 − E G(~ p, ~
p )− p′′ , p~′ ) = (2π)3 δ (3) (~
G(~ p − p~′ ) . (A3)
2m (2π)3 (~
p − p~′′ )2
7
8 The factor (2π)3 is not present in the first (unnumbered) equation of Ref. [1].
9 The fifth (unnumbered) equation of Ref. [1] contains two nontrivial identities. It is useful to derive the equation

cri
10 3
d Ω = d|ξ0ξ| for the area element on the three-dimensional unit sphere, embedded in four-dimensional space. Here,
3
11
one should remember that the three-dimensional components of the four-dimensional vector (ξ0 , ξ) ~ may have varying
12
13 magnitude, but one considers them, according to Ref. [1], on the four-dimensional unit sphere ξ02 + ξ~ 2 = 1. One
14 needs to remember that the appropriate generalization to the three-dimensional “surface” of a manifold embedded
15 into four-dimensional space is, with x = x(t1 , t2 , t3 ), y = y(t1 , t2 , t3 ), z = z(t1 , t2 , t3 ), a = a(t1 , t2 , t3 ) being the fourth
16 coordinate, where a is the fourth coordinate,

us
17
êx êy êz êa 
  
18

 
 ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂a 
19

∂t ∂t ∂t ∂t
d3 Ω = det 
  1 1 1 1
 
20  ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂a  dt1 dt2 dt3 . (A4)

21
  ∂t2 ∂t2 ∂t2 ∂t2 
 ∂y

∂x ∂z ∂a
22 
∂t3 ∂t3 ∂t3 ∂t3

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q an
One calculates first the four-dimensional vector described by the determinant, and then calculates its vector modulus.
The three-dimensional unit sphere, embedded in four-dimensional space, can be interpreted as a three-dimensional
manifold, parameterized by the coordinates x = ξx = t1 , y = ξy = t2 , and z = ξz = t3 , while a = ξa =
1 − ξx2 − ξy2 − ξz2 . One finds that

dξx dξy dξz d3 ξ

dM
29
d3 Ω = q = . (A5)
30 1 − ξx2 − ξy2 − ξz2 |ξ0 |
31
32 This finally shows the first identity in the fifth equation of Ref. [1]. In order to show the second identity, one has to
33 calculate a further Jacobian, transforming d3 ξ into d3 p (in the conventions of Ref. [1], keeping the zeroth (or fourth)
34 component X = p0 of the four-dimensional (Euclidean) momentum constant.
35 There is a second nontrivial point which we found to be not very well explained in Ref. [1], and it concerns the
36 fourth unnumbered equation (from the bottom) on the second page of Ref. [1]. The “version of the expansion” referred
37 to in Ref. [1] necessitates the use of the following trick, which is to enter the angular-momentum expansion formula
38 given for D(ξ − ξ ′ ) = −g(ξ − ξ ′ ) with the following values for ξ = r1 , and ξ ′ = r2 , as follows,
39
r̂1 = ξˆ ,
pte

40 r1 = ρ ξ , |ξ| = 1 , |r1 | = ρ ,
41
r2 = ξ ′ , |ξ ′ | = 1 , |r2 | = 1 , r̂2 = ξ̂ ′ , (A6)
42
43 with 0 < ρ < 1, so that r1 = ρ = r< , and r2 = 1 = r> . The identity
44
45 |r1 − r2 |2 = |r1 |2 + |r2 |2 − 2ρ (ξ · ξ ′ )
46 = (1 − ρ)2 + ρ(ξ − ξ ′ )2 , (A7)
47
48 then follows, leading to
ce

49 1 1 X ρn ∗
50 = Ynℓm (χ, θ, ϕ) Ynℓm (χ′ , θ′ , ϕ′ ) , (A8)
4π 2 (1 − ρ)2 + ρ(ξ − ξ ′ )2 2(n + 1)
51 nℓm
52
which is the desired identity used in Ref. [1]. We note that a representation of the Ynℓm (χ, θ, ϕ) in terms of elementary
53
functions is not given in Ref. [1].
Ac

54
The calculations of Ref. [1] culminate in the integral representation [see also Eq. (B2) of Ref. [12]]
55
56 
ieiπν
 Z 0+
∂ (1 − ρ2 )/ρ
57 p, ~p′ ) = 4πmX 3
G(~ dρ ρ−ν i2 , (A9)
2 sin(πν) ∂ρ
h 2
58 1 p − p~′ )2 + (1−ρ)
X 2 (~ 4ρ (X 2+p~ 2 ) (X 2 + ~
p ′ 2)

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 AUTHOR SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPT - JPCO-100443 Page 8 of 8
8
1 √
2 where E = −X 2 /(2m) is the energy argument of the Green function (X = p0 ), and ν = Zαm/ −2mE. In
3 comparison to Ref. [1], the result for G adds the prefactor (2π)3 ; in the latter form, it has been useful in Lamb shift
4 calculations [12, 13].

pt
5 The hydrogen wave functions in momentum space can be expressed as [cf. Eq. (48)]
6 s −2 n2 a20 p
~2
!
16 π a30 n2 (n − 1 − ℓ)! n2 a20 p~ 2 1 −

7 ψnℓm (~p) = 1+ Qℓn−1 Z 2
Yℓm (θ, ϕ) , (A10)
8 Z3 (n + ℓ)! Z2 1+
n2 a20 p
2
~2
Z
9

cri
10 where a0 is the Bohr radius, and Z is the nuclear charge number. In comparison to p. 39 of [6], we absorb the overall
11 prefactor (−1)n−1 into the global phase of the wave function.
12
13
14
15
16 [1] J. Schwinger, “Coulomb Green’s Function,” J. Math. Phys. 5, 1606–1608 (1964).
[2] J. D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics, 3rd ed. (J. Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, 1998).

us
17
[3] U. D. Jentschura, Advanced Classical Electrodynamics: Green functions, regularizations, multipole decompositions (World
18
Scientific, Singapore, 2017).
19 [4] M. Abramowitz and I. A. Stegun, Handbook of Mathematical Functions, 10th ed. (National Bureau of Standards, Wash-
20 ington, D. C., 1972).
21 [5] G. F. Torres del Castillo and J. L. Calvario Acócal, “The hydrogen atom via the four-dimensional spherical harmonics,”
22 Rev. Mexicana Fisica 53, 407–414 (2007).
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28
an
[6] H. A. Bethe and E. E. Salpeter, Quantum Mechanics of One- and Two-Electron Atoms (Springer, Berlin, 1957).
[7] I. Nándori, U. D. Jentschura, S. Nagy, K. Sailer, K. Vad, and S. Mészáros, “On the applicability of the layered sine–gordon
model for josephson-coupled high-tc -layered superconductors,” J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 19, 236226 (2007).
[8] I. Nándori, K. Vad, S. Mészáros, U. D. Jentschura, S. Nagy, and K. Sailer, “Applicability of layered sine-gordon models
to layered superconductors: Ii. the case of magnetic coupling,” J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 19, 496211 (2007).
[9] U. D. Jentschura, S. Nagy, and I. Nandori, in preparation (2017).
[10] M. Lieber, “SO(4) Symmetry of the Hydrogen Atom and the Lamb Shift,” Phys. Rev. 174, 2037 (1968).
dM
29 [11] M. Lieber, “The Coulomb Green’s Function,” in AIP Conf. Proc. 189, edited by W. R. Johnson, P. J. Mohr, and J. Sucher
30 (A. I. P., Woodbury, NY, 1989) pp. 445–459.
31 [12] K. Pachucki, “Higher-Order Binding Corrections to the Lamb Shift,” Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 226, 1–87 (1993).
32 [13] U. Jentschura and K. Pachucki, “Higher-order binding corrections to the Lamb shift of 2P states,” Phys. Rev. A 54,
33 1853–1861 (1996).
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