Laplace’s equation in the exterior of a convex polygon. The equilateral triangle
Authors:
A. Charalambopoulos, G. Dassios and A. S. Fokas
Journal:
Quart. Appl. Math. 68 (2010), 645-660
MSC (2000):
Primary 35C15, 35J05, 35J25
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1090/S0033-569X-2010-01168-X
Published electronically:
September 21, 2010
MathSciNet review:
2761508
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Abstract:
A general method for studying boundary value problems for linear and for integrable nonlinear partial differential equations in two dimensions was introduced in Fokas, 1997. For linear equations in a convex polygon (Fokas and Kapaev (2000) and (2003), and Fokas (2001)), this method: (a) expresses the solution $q(x,y)$ in the form of an integral (generalized inverse Fourier transform) in the complex $k$-plane involving a certain function $\hat q(k)$ (generalized direct Fourier transform) that is defined as an integral along the boundary of the polygon, and (b) characterizes a generalized Dirichlet-to-Neumann map by analyzing the so-called global relation. For simple polygons and simple boundary conditions, this characterization is explicit. Here, we extend the above method to the case of elliptic partial differential equations in the exterior of a convex polygon and we illustrate the main ideas by studying the Laplace equation in the exterior of an equilateral triangle.
Regarding (a), we show that whereas $\hat q(k)$ is identical with that of the interior problem, the contour of integration in the complex $k$-plane appearing in the formula for $q(x,y)$ depends on $(x,y)$. Regarding (b), we show that the global relation is now replaced by a set of appropriate relations which, in addition to the boundary values, also involve certain additional unknown functions. In spite of this significant complication we show that, for certain simple boundary conditions, the exterior problem for the Laplace equation can be mapped to the solution of a Dirichlet problem formulated in the interior of a convex polygon formed by three sides.
References
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- A. S. Fokas and A. A. Kapaev, A Riemann-Hilbert approach to the Laplace equation, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 251 (2000), no. 2, 770–804. MR 1794770, DOI https://doi.org/10.1006/jmaa.2000.7052
- A. S. Fokas, A unified transform method for solving linear and certain nonlinear PDEs, Proc. Roy. Soc. London Ser. A 453 (1997), no. 1962, 1411–1443. MR 1469927, DOI https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.1997.0077
- A. S. Fokas and A. A. Kapaev, On a transform method for the Laplace equation in a polygon, IMA J. Appl. Math. 68 (2003), no. 4, 355–408. MR 1988152, DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/imamat/68.4.355
- A. S. Fokas, Two-dimensional linear partial differential equations in a convex polygon, R. Soc. Lond. Proc. Ser. A Math. Phys. Eng. Sci. 457 (2001), no. 2006, 371–393. MR 1848093, DOI https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2000.0671
- A. S. Fokas and M. Zyskin, The fundamental differential form and boundary-value problems, Quart. J. Mech. Appl. Math. 55 (2002), no. 3, 457–479. MR 1919978, DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmam/55.3.457
- S. R. Fulton, A. S. Fokas, and C. A. Xenophontos, An analytical method for linear elliptic PDEs and its numerical implementation, J. Comput. Appl. Math. 167 (2004), no. 2, 465–483. MR 2064703, DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cam.2003.10.012
- A. G. Sifalakis, A. S. Fokas, S. R. Fulton, and Y. G. Saridakis, The generalized Dirichlet-Neumann map for linear elliptic PDEs and its numerical implementation, J. Comput. Appl. Math. 219 (2008), no. 1, 9–34. MR 2437692, DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cam.2007.07.012
- S.A. Smitheman, E.A. Spence and A.S. Fokas, “A spectral collocation method for the Laplace and Modified Helmholtz equations in a convex polygon”, IMA J. Num. Anal. doi:10.1093/imanum/dm079
References
- G. Dassios and A.S. Fokas, “The Basic Elliptic Equations in an Equilateral Triangle”, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London A, 461, pp. 2721-2748, 2005. MR 2165508 (2006f:35048)
- A.S. Fokas and A.A. Kapaev, “A Riemann-Hilbert Approach to the Laplace Equation”, Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, 251, pp. 770-804, 2000. MR 1794770 (2001k:35241)
- A.S. Fokas, “A Unified Transform Method for Solving Linear and Nonlinear PDE’s”, Proceeding of the Royal Society of London A, 453, pp. 1411-1443, 1997. MR 1469927 (98e:35007)
- A.S. Fokas and A.A. Kapaev, “On a Transform Method for the Laplace Equation in polygon”, IMA Journal in Applied Mathematics, 68, pp. 355-408, 2003. MR 1988152 (2004c:37176)
- A.S. Fokas, “Two-Dimensional Linear Partial Differential Equations in a Convex Polygon”, Proceeding of the Royal Society of London A, 457, pp. 371-393, 2001. MR 1848093 (2002j:35084)
- A.S. Fokas and M. Zyskin, “The Fundamental Differential Form and Boundary-Value Problems”, Quarterly Journal of Mechanics and Applied Mathematics, 55, pp. 457-479, 2002. MR 1919978 (2003f:35267)
- S.R. Fulton, A.S. Fokas and C.A. Xenophontos, “An Analytical Method for Linear Elliptic PDEs and its Numerical Implementation”, Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics, 167, pp. 465-483, 2004. MR 2064703 (2005d:65216)
- A.G. Sifalakis, A.S. Fokas, S.R. Fulton and Y.G. Saridakis, “The Generalized Dirichlet-Neumann Map for Linear Elliptic PDEs and its Numerical Implementation”, J. Comp. Appl. Math, 219, 9-34, 2008. MR 2437692
- S.A. Smitheman, E.A. Spence and A.S. Fokas, “A spectral collocation method for the Laplace and Modified Helmholtz equations in a convex polygon”, IMA J. Num. Anal. doi:10.1093/imanum/dm079
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Additional Information
A. Charalambopoulos
Affiliation:
Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Greece
MR Author ID:
328137
G. Dassios
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
MR Author ID:
54715
A. S. Fokas
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Keywords:
Laplace equation,
equilateral triangle,
exterior domain
Received by editor(s):
January 29, 2009
Received by editor(s) in revised form:
February 18, 2009
Published electronically:
September 21, 2010
Additional Notes:
The second author is on leave from the University of Patras and ICE-HT/FORTH Greece. His current address is the Division of Applied Mathematics, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, GR 265 04 Patras, Greece
The present work was performed under the Marie Curie Chair of Excellence Project BRAIN, granted to the second and the third author by the European Commission under code number EXC 023928
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Brown University