Circular waveguide wave-equation

[n0_3sc]

I am solving the wave-equation (more specifically Helmholtz Eq.) in cylindrical coordinates.
I've separated the equation into 3 ODE's.
- The radial differential equation
- The phase differential equation
- The z differential equation (direction of which the EM wave propagates)

My issue is the solution to the phase's differential equation. It has the simple solution:
Ae^{im\phi}+c.c. (easy to prove).

Why is 'm' an integer?
Are the phases 'quantised'?

I've read in many books that m must be an integer to allow continuity at 2\pi, but that's as far as they go...I'm very confused...

 

[Dick]

Ae^{im\phi}+c.c. is just 2Acos(m*phi) (at least if A is real). As phi is an angular coordinate then the value of the solution at phi must equal to the value of the solution at phi+2pi because they represent the same point. Hence, m is an integer. The phase isn't quantized, 'm' is quantized by the requirement that solution be single valued.

 

[n0_3sc]

Your exact explanation to 'm' is what's confusing me...
I understand that phi must equal phi+2pi, but how do you go about saying that m*phi allows the relation (or phase continuity) phi+2pi to be satisfied??

 

[meopemuk]

Your exact explanation to 'm' is what's confusing me...
I understand that phi must equal phi+2pi, but how do you go about saying that m*phi allows the relation (or phase continuity) phi+2pi to be satisfied??

The condition

\cos[m (\phi + 2 \pi)] \equiv \cos[m \phi + 2 m \pi] = \cos[m \phi]

can be satisfied only if m is integer.

Eugene.

 

[n0_3sc]

Thanks Eugene, I was thinking about the problem in too much depth.