Beyond Scalar, Vector and Tensor Harmonics in Maximally Symmetric Three-Dimensional Spaces
Beyond scalar, vector and tensor harmonics in maximally symmetric three-dimensional spaces Cyril Pitrou1, ∗ and Thiago S. Pereira2, y 1Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS UMR 7095, 98 bis Bd Arago, 75014 Paris, France. 2Departamento de F´ısica, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rod. Celso Garcia Cid, Km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, Paran´a,Brazil. (Dated: October 1, 2019) We present a comprehensive construction of scalar, vector and tensor harmonics on max- imally symmetric three-dimensional spaces. Our formalism relies on the introduction of spin-weighted spherical harmonics and a generalized helicity basis which, together, are ideal tools to decompose harmonics into their radial and angular dependencies. We provide a thorough and self-contained set of expressions and relations for these harmonics. Being gen- eral, our formalism also allows to build harmonics of higher tensor type by recursion among radial functions, and we collect the complete set of recursive relations which can be used. While the formalism is readily adapted to computation of CMB transfer functions, we also collect explicit forms of the radial harmonics which are needed for other cosmological ob- servables. Finally, we show that in curved spaces, normal modes cannot be factorized into a local angular dependence and a unit norm function encoding the orbital dependence of the harmonics, contrary to previous statements in the literature. 1. INTRODUCTION ables. Indeed, on cosmological scales, where lin- ear perturbation theory successfully accounts for the formation of structures, perturbation modes, Tensor harmonics are ubiquitous tools in that is the components in an expansion on tensor gravitational theories. Their applicability reach harmonics, evolve independently from one an- a wide spectrum of topics including black-hole other.
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