EQUATIONS OF

MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS
3 Poisson Equation

HUANG Zhen & CHEN Pingfan

Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology
Anhui University
HUANGZ@ahu.edu.cn
CHENPF@ahu.edu.cn
1
 3.4.0 Review of 3.3

 Laplacian Operator in 2D Polar System

1 𝜕 𝜕𝑢 1 𝜕2 𝑢
∆𝑢 = 𝑢𝑥𝑥 + 𝑢𝑦𝑦 = 𝑟 +
𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝑟 2 𝜕𝜃2

 Radial Solution To Laplacian Equation

𝐴 ln 𝑟 + 𝐵 = 𝐴 ln 𝒓 − 𝒓∗ + 𝐵, 𝑛 = 2
𝑢(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) = 𝑢( 𝒓 − 𝒓∗ ) =
𝐴 𝐴
+𝐵 = + 𝐵, 𝑛=3
𝑟 𝒓−𝒓∗

2
 Poisson Equation

3.4 Application of 2nd Green’s Formula

3.4.1 Prerequisite
3.4.2 Express Solutions in terms of BC
3.4.3 Green’s Function

3
 3.4 Application Of 2nd Green’s Formula
Prerequisite
1. 2nd Green’s Formula
2. Radial Solution to Laplacian Equation
3. Integral Mean-Value Theorem (IMVT)

Notes
𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢
‫׬‬Ω(𝑢∆𝑣 − 𝑣∆𝑢) 𝑑𝑟 = ‫𝜕׬‬Ω(𝑢 𝜕𝑛 − 𝑣 𝜕𝑛)𝑑𝛤

𝐴 ln 𝑟 + 𝐵 = 𝐴 ln 𝒓 − 𝒓∗ + 𝐵, 𝑛 = 2
𝑢(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) = 𝑢( 𝒓 − 𝒓∗ ) =
𝐴 𝐴
+𝐵 = + 𝐵, 𝑛=3
𝑟 𝒓−𝒓∗

‫׬‬Ω 𝑓(𝒓) 𝑑𝒓 = 𝑓(𝑟)ǁ ∙ Ω

4
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.

Notes
⚫ 𝑇𝑜 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒:

∆𝑢 = 0, 𝑟 ∈ Ω

𝑢ȁ𝜕Ω = ℎ

5
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.

Notes
⚫ 𝑇𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑡:

𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑙𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝐶 𝑢 𝒓∗ ? ?

6
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢
𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )
‫׮‬Ω(𝑢∆𝑣 − 𝑣∆𝑢)𝑑𝑟 = ‫𝜕׭‬Ω(𝑢 𝜕𝑛 − 𝑣 ) 𝑑𝛤
𝜕𝑛
Ω

✓ 𝑢 𝒓 ~ 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝜕Ω
∗ 1 1
✓ 𝑣 𝒓; 𝒓 = = ~ (𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑙𝑛. )
𝒓−𝒓∗ 𝑟
✓ 𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ~ 𝒓 ≠ 𝒓∗
7
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

0 0 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )
Ω
1 1
‫׮‬Ω\ℴ (𝑟 ∗ )[𝑢∆(𝑟 ) − (𝑟 )∆𝑢]𝑑𝑟 𝜕Ω
𝛿
𝜕 1 1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕 1 1 𝜕𝑢
= ‫𝜕׭‬Ω[𝑢 ( ) − ( ) ] 𝑑𝑠𝑟 + ‫𝜕׭‬ℴ (𝒓∗ )[𝑢 − ]𝑑𝑠𝑟
𝜕𝑛 𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝑛 𝛿 𝜕𝑛 𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝑛

① ②
8
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )
Ω
𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑙𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝐶
𝜕Ω
𝜕 1 1 𝜕𝑢 1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕 1
‫𝜕׭‬Ω[𝑢 𝜕𝑛 (𝑟 ) − ( ) ] 𝑑𝑠𝑟 = ‫𝜕׭‬ℴ ∗ [ − 𝑢 ]𝑑𝑠𝑟
𝑟 𝜕𝑛 𝛿 (𝒓 ) 𝑟 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝑛 𝑟

② ①
9
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )
𝜕 𝜕
=− 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )
① 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝑟

𝜕 1 Ω
‫𝜕׭‬ℴ (𝒓∗) 𝜕𝑛 (𝑟 ) 𝑑𝑠𝑟
𝑢 =
𝛿

𝜕Ω

10
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )
𝜕 𝜕
=− 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )
① 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝑟

𝜕 1 𝑑 1 Ω
‫𝜕׭‬ℴ (𝒓∗) 𝜕𝑛 (𝑟 ) 𝑑𝑠𝑟
𝑢 = − ‫𝜕׭‬ℴ (𝒓∗) 𝑢 𝑑𝑠𝑟
𝛿 𝛿 𝑑𝑟 𝑟
1 1
𝐼𝑀𝑉𝑇 1 𝜕Ω
= ‫𝜕׭‬ℴ (𝒓∗) 𝑢 𝑟 2 𝑑𝑠 = ‫׭‬ 𝑢𝑑𝑠= 2 ∙ 𝑢(෤𝒓) ∙ 4𝜋𝛿 2 = 4𝜋𝑢 𝒓෤
𝛿 𝛿 2 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ ) 𝛿

𝜕 1
𝐴𝑠 𝛿 → 0, ෥
𝒓→ 𝒓∗ ‫𝜕׭‬ℴ (𝒓∗) 𝑢 𝜕𝑛 (𝑟 ) 𝑑𝑠𝑟
𝛿
= 4𝜋𝑢(𝒓∗ )
11
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )
② Ω
1 𝜕𝑢 1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
‫𝜕׭‬ℴ (𝒓∗ ) 𝑟 𝜕𝑛 𝑑𝑠𝑟 = ቚ ∙ 4𝜋𝛿 2 = ቚ ∙ 4𝜋𝛿
𝛿 𝛿 𝜕𝑛 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (෤𝒓) 𝜕𝑛 𝜕ℴ𝛿 𝒓෤
𝜕Ω
1 𝜕𝑢
𝐴𝑠 𝒓෤ → 𝒓∗ , 𝛿 →0 ‫𝜕׭‬ℴ (𝒓∗) 𝑟 𝜕𝑛 𝑑𝑠𝑟 =0
𝛿

12
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝛿 → 0 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

Ω
①+②
𝜕 1
‫𝜕׭‬ℴ (𝒓∗) 𝑢 𝜕𝑛 (𝑟 ) 𝑑𝑠𝑟 = 4𝜋𝑢 𝒓∗ 𝜕Ω
𝛿

1
: 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑙𝑛
𝑟

13
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )
Ω
𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑙𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝐶

1 1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕 1 𝜕Ω
𝑢 𝒓∗ = ‫׭‬ [ − 𝑢 ]𝑑𝑠𝑟
4𝜋 𝜕Ω 𝒓−𝒓∗ 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝑛 𝒓−𝒓∗

14
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

𝑇𝑤𝑜 𝐵𝐶? ? 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

Ω
1 1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕 1
𝑢 𝒓∗ = ‫[ ׭‬ − 𝑢 ]𝑑𝑠𝑟
4𝜋 𝜕Ω 𝒓−𝒓∗ 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝑛 𝒓−𝒓∗
𝜕Ω

? ℎ(𝒓)

15
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes
⚫ 2𝑛𝑑 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛′ 𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛：
Ω
𝜕𝑔 𝜕𝑢
0 = ‫׮‬Ω(𝑔∆𝑢 − 𝑢∆𝑔) 𝑑𝒓 = ‫𝜕׭‬Ω(𝑢 𝜕𝑛 − 𝑔 )𝑑𝑠𝑟
𝜕𝑛 𝜕Ω
∆𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) = 0
1
𝑔ȁ𝑟∈𝜕Ω =
4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗
16
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes
1 1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕 1
𝑢 𝒓∗ = ‫[ ׭‬ − 𝑢 ]𝑑𝑠𝑟 ①
4𝜋 𝜕Ω 𝒓−𝒓∗ 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝑛 𝒓−𝒓∗ Ω
𝜕𝑔 𝜕𝑢
0 = ‫׮‬Ω(𝑔∆𝑢 − 𝑢∆𝑔) 𝑑𝒓 = ‫𝜕׭‬Ω(𝑢 𝜕𝑛 − 𝑔 )𝑑𝑠𝑟 ② 𝜕Ω
𝜕𝑛
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦：① + ② ∆𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) = 0
𝜕 1
𝑢 𝒓∗ = − ‫𝜕׭‬Ω 𝑢 ∙ ( − 𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ))𝑑𝑠𝑟 𝑔ȁ𝑟∈𝜕Ω =
1
𝜕𝑛 4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗ 4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗

17
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

𝜕 1
Ω
𝑢 𝒓∗ = − ‫𝜕׭‬Ω 𝑢 ∙ ( − 𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ))𝑑𝑠𝑟
𝜕𝑛 4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗
∆𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) = 0 𝜕Ω
1
𝑔ȁ𝑟∈𝜕Ω =
4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗

18
 Poisson Equation
Express Solutions in terms of BC
1. Laplacian/Harmonic Eqn.
2. 2nd Green’s Formula (3D case)

Notes 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

𝜕 1
Ω
𝑢 𝒓∗ = − ‫𝜕׭‬Ω 𝑢 ∙ ( − 𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ))𝑑𝑠𝑟
𝜕𝑛 4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗
∆𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) = 0 𝜕Ω
1
𝑔ȁ𝑟∈𝜕Ω =
4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗

𝐺 𝒓; 𝒓∗ ~ 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛′ 𝑠 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

19
 Poisson Equation
Green’s Function
1. Why be introduced?

Notes 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

⚫ 𝐿𝑎𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝐸𝑞𝑛. Ω
∆𝑢 = 0, 𝑟 ∈ Ω
𝜕Ω
𝑢ȁ𝜕Ω = ℎ
⚫ 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛′ 𝑠 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ∆𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) = 0
1 1
𝐺(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) = − 𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) 𝑔ȁ𝑟∈𝜕Ω =
4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗
4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗
20
 Poisson Equation
Green’s Function
2. How to use

⚫ 𝐼𝑓 𝑤𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 Notes 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )

Ω
∆𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) = 0 ∆𝐺(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) = 0
1
𝑜𝑟
𝑔ȁ𝑟∈𝜕Ω = 𝐺 ȁ𝑟∈𝜕Ω = 0 𝜕Ω
4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗

⚫ 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
1
𝑢 𝒓∗ = − ‫𝜕׭‬Ω ℎ ∙
𝜕𝐺
𝑑𝑠𝑟 𝐺(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) = − 𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ )
𝜕𝑛 4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗
21
 Poisson Equation
Green’s Function
3. Features

Notes
⚫ 𝐶𝑜 − 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝒓∗ , 𝐿𝑎𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 Ω
⚫ 𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 (𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡)
1
➢ − 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑎 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝒓∗ (𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑙𝑛. )
4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗

➢ 𝐺 ȁ𝜕Ω = 0 − 𝜕Ω 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑠𝑜 − 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒

➢ −𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ ) −𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠

22
 Poisson Equation
Green’s Function
4. Challenges

Notes

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑔 𝒓; 𝒓∗ 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑛

𝑎𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑎𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑚

23
 Poisson Equation
Green’s Function
5. Potential Applications

Notes

⚫ 𝐵𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑 𝐵𝐸𝑀

⚫ 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑 − 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑠𝑜 − 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒

24
 3.4 Summary
𝜕𝐺
∆𝑢 = 0, 𝑟 ∈ Ω 𝑢 𝒓∗ = − ‫𝜕׭‬Ω 𝑢 ∙ 𝑑𝑠𝑟 𝜕ℴ𝛿 (𝒓∗ )
𝜕𝑛
Ω
1
𝑢ȁ𝜕Ω = ℎ 𝐺= − 𝑔(𝒓; 𝒓∗ )
4𝜋 𝒓−𝒓∗
𝜕Ω
⚫ 𝑭𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔
➢ 𝐶𝑜 − 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝒓∗ , 𝐿𝑎𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 Ω

⚫ 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔
➢ 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑔 𝒓; 𝒓∗ 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑎𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑚

⚫ 𝑷𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
➢ 𝐵𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑 𝐵𝐸𝑀
➢ 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑 − 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑠𝑜 − 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
25
 Poisson Equation

3.5.1 Maximum Principle

3.5.2 Solution Uniqueness

26
 Poisson Equation
Prerequisite
1. Prove Uniqueness of Solution to Linear Problems

Notes
➢ Linear Problems:
Eqn. IC/BC both linear 𝑢≡0

➢ Strategy
Homogeneous eqn. + homogeneous IC/BC
27
 Poisson Equation
Prerequisite
1. Prove Uniqueness of Solution to Linear Problems
2. Boundary/Inner Point of a Region

Notes
➢ Boundary point: 𝐵𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
On 𝜕Ω Ω

𝐼𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
➢ Inner point:
{𝑅𝑛 \𝜕Ω} ∩ Ω 𝜕Ω

28
 Poisson Equation
Prerequisite
1. Prove Uniqueness of Solution to Linear Problems
2. Boundary/Inner Point of a Region
3. Maximum Value Over an Open Set Ω

Notes

𝑠𝑢𝑝 𝑢 𝑣. 𝑠. max 𝑢 𝑖𝑛𝑓 𝑢 𝑣. 𝑠. min 𝑢

𝑢 𝑟 ∗ = max 𝑢, 𝑟∗ ∈ Ω

Maximum Principle for Heat Equation

29
 Poisson Equation
Properties of Harmonic Function
1. The net flux across 𝜕Ω is zero

Notes ∆𝑢 = 0
➢ At a thermally – equilibrium state, the net flux
across 𝜕Ω is zero 𝜕𝑢
‫𝜕׬‬Ω 𝜕𝑛 𝑑Γ = ‫׬‬Ω ∆𝑢𝑑𝒓 = 0
➢ Existence of harmonic function with Neumann-
𝜕𝑢
type BC ቚ =ℎ ‫ ׬‬ℎ𝑑Γ = 0
𝜕𝑛 𝜕Ω 𝜕Ω
30
 Poisson Equation
Properties of Harmonic Function
1. The net flux across 𝜕Ω is zero
2. Mean – value formula

Notes
For any ℴ𝑎 (𝒓∗ ) ∈ Ω
∗ 1
3D 𝑢 𝒓 =
4𝜋𝑎 2 ‫׭‬𝜕ℴ (𝒓 ∗) 𝑢 (𝑟) 𝑑𝑠𝑟
𝑎

Value at Averaged value over

the center spherical surface
31
 Poisson Equation
Maximum Principle
1. With Dirichlet Boundary Condition

Condition: Notes
1. ∆𝑢 = 0, 𝑖𝑛 Ω 𝒓∗
2. 𝑢 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝜕Ω
3. 𝑢 ≡ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡, 𝑖𝑛 Ω Ω

Conclusion:
𝑁𝑒𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑝 𝑢 𝑛𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑓 𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
32
 Poisson Equation
Maximum Principle
1. With Dirichlet Boundary Condition

Condition: Notes
1. ∆𝑢 = 0, 𝑖𝑛 Ω 𝒓∗
ℴ𝑎 (𝒓∗ )
2. 𝑢 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝜕Ω 𝑎
𝑠
3. 𝑢 ≡ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡, 𝑖𝑛 Ω Ω

Conclusion:
𝑁𝑒𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑝 𝑢 𝑛𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑓 𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
33
 Poisson Equation
Maximum Principle
1. With Dirichlet Boundary Condition

Notes 𝒓∗
ℴ𝑎 (𝒓∗ )
𝑎
𝑠
Idea behind its proof:
Ω

𝑠𝑢𝑝 𝑢 = 𝑀 = 𝑢 (𝒓∗ ) 𝑢 ≡ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡

𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛!
34
 Poisson Equation
Maximum Principle
1. With Dirichlet Boundary Condition

Notes
Ω 𝑠
For any point 𝐾1 𝒓∗ 𝐾𝑛
𝑎 𝒓∗∗∗
if 𝒔 ∈ 𝜕ℴ𝑎 (𝒓∗ ) ∈ Ω 𝒓∗∗
𝐾2

∗ 1
𝑢 𝒓 = 2 ‫׭‬𝜕ℴ (𝒓 ∗) 𝑢 (𝒓) 𝑑𝒓 ≤ 𝑀 → 𝑢 𝑠 = 𝑀
4𝜋𝑎 𝑎

35
 Poisson Equation
Maximum Principle
1. With Dirichlet Boundary Condition

Notes Ω 𝑠
𝐾1 𝒓∗ 𝐾𝑛
For any point
𝑎 𝒓∗∗∗
𝒓 →𝒓 ∗ ∗∗ 𝒓∗∗
Else a path 𝐾2
𝐾1 → 𝐾2
𝒔 ∈ 𝐾𝑛 → 𝑢 𝒔 = 𝑀
∗ 1
𝑢 𝒓 = 2 ‫׭‬𝜕ℴ (𝒓 ∗) 𝑢 (𝒓) 𝑑𝒓 ≤ 𝑀 → 𝑢 𝑠 = 𝑀
4𝜋𝑎 𝑎
36
 Poisson Equation
Maximum Principle
1. With Dirichlet Boundary Condition

Notes 𝑢

For any point 𝒓∗ 𝑜𝑟 𝒓∗∗

𝑥
𝑜𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑛𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠
37
 3.5.2 Solution Uniqueness
Solution Uniqueness
1. Dirichlet-type BC

Notes

∆𝑢 = 0, 𝑟 ∈ Ω
0 = 𝑖𝑛𝑓 𝑢 ≤ 𝑢 ≤ 𝑠𝑢𝑝 𝑢 = 0
𝑢ȁ𝜕Ω = 0
𝑢≡0
38
 3.5.2 Solution Uniqueness
Solution Uniqueness
1. Dirichlet-type BC
2. Neuman-type BC (strong maximum principle)

Notes

∆𝑢 = 0, 𝑟 ∈ Ω
𝜕𝑢
ቚ
𝜕𝑛 𝜕Ω
=0 ？？

39
 3.5.2 Solution Uniqueness
Strong Maximum Principle
1. Condition & Conclusion

Notes
Condition: Conclusion:
1. ∆𝑢 = 0, 𝑖𝑛 Ω
𝜕𝑢
2. 𝑢 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝜕Ω ቤ >0
3. 𝑢 ≡ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡, 𝑖𝑛 Ω 𝜕𝑛 𝑟 ∗
4. 𝑢(𝑟 ∗ ) = 𝑠𝑢𝑝 𝑢 , 𝑟 ∗ ∈ 𝜕Ω (𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙)
40
 3.5.2 Solution Uniqueness
Strong Maximum Principle
1. Condition & Conclusion

Notes
Conclusion: 𝑢 𝑢 𝜕𝑢
𝜕𝑢
ቚ >0 ቚ =0
𝜕𝑛 𝑟 ∗ 𝜕𝑛 𝑟 ∗
𝜕𝑢
ቤ >0
𝜕𝑛 𝑟 ∗
(𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙) 𝑟 ∗ 𝑟∗
41
 3.5.2 Solution Uniqueness
Strong Maximum Principle
1. Condition & Conclusion

Notes
Conclusion: 𝑢 𝑢 𝜕𝑢
𝜕𝑢
ቚ >0 ቚ =0
𝜕𝑛 𝑟 ∗ 𝜕𝑛 𝑟 ∗
𝜕𝑢
ቤ >0
𝜕𝑛 𝑟 ∗
(𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙) 𝑟 ∗ 𝑟∗
42
 3.5.2 Solution Uniqueness
Strong Maximum Principle
1. Condition & Conclusion
2. Solution Uniqueness

Notes

∆𝑢 = 0, 𝑟 ∈ Ω Unique up to a constant.
𝜕𝑢
ቚ =0 𝑢 ≡ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝜕𝑛 𝜕Ω

43
 3.5.2 Solution Uniqueness
Strong Maximum Principle
1. Condition & Conclusion
2. Solution Uniqueness

Notes
𝑖𝑓 𝑢 ≡ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑟∗ ∈ Ω

∆𝑢 = 0, 𝑟 ∈ Ω 𝑢(𝑟 ∗ ) = 𝑠𝑢𝑝 𝑢

𝜕𝑢 (𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑒)

ቚ =0
𝜕𝑛 𝜕Ω 𝜕𝑢
ቚ ∗ >0 𝑢 ≡ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝜕𝑛 𝑟
44
 3.5 Summary

Poisson Equation
3.5.1 Maximum Principle
3.5.2 Solution Uniqueness

45