Royal Holloway University of London Department of Physics
The Laplacian in different coordinate systems
The Laplacian
The Laplacian operator, operating on Ψ is represented by
∇2Ψ .
This operation yields a certain numerical property of the spatial variation of the field
variable Ψ. Previously we have seen this property in terms of differentiation with
respect to rectangular cartesian coordinates. But it is important to appreciate that the
laplacian of Ψ is a physical property, independent of the particular coordinate system
adopted. We know the mathematical form of ∇ 2 in rectangular cartesian coordinates,
and this can be used to find the mathematical expression for ∇ 2 in other coordinate
systems.
The fundamental point is that ∇ 2 Ψ gives a scalar quantity at a given point
independent of the coordinate system used. In that sense we are saying that ∇ 2 Ψ is a
physical property.
Rectangular cartesian coordinates
We encountered the Laplacian, originally, in rectangular cartesian coordinates.
z
z
x y
y
x
rectangular cartesian coordinates
In rectangular cartesian coordinates the element of volume is given by
dv = dx dy dz
and the space is covered by letting the coordinates span the ranges
−∞ < x < ∞
−∞ < y < ∞
−∞ < z < ∞.
1 6
The Laplacian, operating on Ψ x , y , z is given by
∇ Ψ1 x , y , z 6 =
2
∂Ψ ∂Ψ ∂Ψ
2 2
2
+ + .
∂x
2
∂y 2
∂z 2
PH2130 Mathematical Methods 1
Royal Holloway University of London Department of Physics
If we were to transform to a different rectangular cartesian coordinate frame (by a
rotation of the axes) then the discussion above requires that ∇ 2 Ψ would still have the
same numerical. You can prove that this is so.
Cylindrical polar coordinates
The cylindrical polar coordinates ρ , ϕ , z are given, in terms of the rectangular
cartesian coordinates x, y, z by
z
U x = ρ cos ϕ
y = ρ sin ϕ
z
z = z.
x
cylindrical polar coordinates
In cylindrical polar coordinates the element of volume is given by
dv = ρ dρ dϕ dz .
The angle element dϕ is the length of the circular arc subtended at the origin divided
by the radius. And the volume element is the product of the arc length ρ dϕ by the
radial increment dρ and the height increment dz . The entire space is covered when
the cylindrical polar coordinates span the ranges
0<ρ<∞
0 < ϕ < 2π
−∞ < z < ∞.
The derivatives in the laplacian then transform, to give ∇ 2 Ψ in cylindrical polar
coordinates as
1
∇2 Ψ ρ,ϕ , z = + 6
∂ 2 Ψ 1 ∂Ψ 1 ∂ 2 Ψ ∂ 2 Ψ
+
∂ρ 2 ρ ∂ρ ρ 2 ∂ϕ 2 ∂z 2
+ .
Spherical polar cordinates
The spherical polar coordinates r, ϑ , ϕ are given, in terms of the rectangular cartesian
coordinates x, y, z by
PH2130 Mathematical Methods 2
Royal Holloway University of London Department of Physics
r
y
M
x = r sin ϑ cos ϕ
y = r sin ϑ sin ϕ
z = r cosϑ .
x
spherical polar coordinates
In spherical polar coordinates the element of volume is given by
dv = r 2 sin ϑ dr dϑ dϕ .
The solid angle element dΩ is the area of spherical surface element subtended at the
origin divided by the square of the radius:
dΩ = sin ϑ dϑ dϕ .
And the volume element is the product of the spherical surface area element
r 2 sin ϑ dϑ dϕ by the radial increment dr . The entire space is covered when the
cylindrical polar coordinates span the ranges
0<r <∞
0<ϑ <π
0 < ϕ < 2π .
The derivatives in the ∇ 2 Ψ then transform, to give the Laplacian in spherical polar
coordinates as
1 6
∂ 2 ∂Ψ 1 ∂ ∂Ψ
1 ∂2 Ψ
∇ 2 Ψ r ,ϑ , ϕ =
∂r
r
∂r +
sin ϑ ∂ϑ
sin ϑ
∂ϑ + 2
sin ϑ ∂ϕ 2
.
PH2130 Mathematical Methods 3
