In this chapter we consider orthogonal polynomials with respect to a weight function defined on the unit sphere, the structure of which is not covered by the discussion in the previous chapter. Indeed, if dμis a measure supported on the unit sphere of ℝd then the linear functional ℒ(f) = ∫ f dε is not positive definite in the space of polynomials, as ∫(1 − ∥x∥2)2 dµ = 0. It is positive definite in the space of polynomials restricted to the unit sphere, which is the space in which these orthogonal polynomials are defined.

We consider orthogonal polynomials with respect to the surface measure on the sphere first; these are the spherical harmonics. Our treatment will be brief, since most results and proofs will be given in a more general setting in Chapter 7. The general structure of orthogonal polynomials on the sphere will be derived from the close connection between the orthogonal structures on the sphere and on the unit ball. This connection goes both ways and can be used to study classical orthogonal polynomials on the unit ball. We will also discuss a connection between the orthogonal structures on the unit sphere and on the simplex.

Spherical Harmonics

The Fourier analysis of continuous functions on the unit sphere Sd−1 := {x:∥x∥ = 1} in ℝd is performed by means of spherical harmonics, which are the restrictions of homogeneous harmonic polynomials to the sphere. In this section we present a concise overview of the theory and a construction of an orthogonal basis by means of Gegenbauer polynomials. Further results can be deduced as special cases of theorems in Chapter 7, by taking the weight function there as 1.