A new method for the evaluation of zeros of Bessel functions and of other solutions of second-order differential equations

Abstract

The zeros of solutions of the general second-order homogeneous linear differential equation are shown to satisfy a certain non-linear differential equation. The method here proposed for their determination is the numerical integration of this differential equation. It has the advantage of being independent of tabulated values of the actual functions whose zeros are being sought. As an example of the application of the method the Bessel functions Jn(x), Yn(x) are considered. Numerical techniques for integrating the differential equation for the zeros of these Bessel functions are described in detail.