3.2. Heat equation (Miscellaneous)


## 3.2. Heat equation (Miscellaneous)

### 1D Heat equation on half-line

In the previous section we considered heat equation $$u_t=ku_{xx} \label{eq-3.2.1}$$ with $x\in \mathbb{R}$ and $t>0$ and derived formula $$u(x,t)=\int _{-\infty}^\infty G(x,y,t) g(y)\,dy. \label{eq-3.2.2}$$ with $$G(x,y,t)=G_0(x-y,t):= \frac{1}{2\sqrt{k\pi t}}e^{-\frac{(x-y)^2}{4kt}} \label{eq-3.2.3}$$ for solution of IVP $u|_{t=0}=g(x)$.

Recall that $G(x,y,t)$ quickly decays as $|x-y|\to \infty$ and it tends to $0$ as $t\to +0$ for $x\ne y$, but $\int G(x,y,t)\,dy=1$.

Consider the same equation (\ref{eq-3.2.1}) on half-line with the homogeneous Dirichlet or Neumann boundary condition at $x=0$: the method of continuation \begin{align} &u_D|_{x=0}=0,\tag{D}\label{eq-3.2.D}\\[3pt] &u_{N\,x}|_{x=0}=0\tag{N}.\label{eq-3.2.N} \end{align} This solution also has a form (\ref{eq-3.2.2}) but with different function $G(x,y)$ (and obviously with the different domain of integration $[0,\infty)$): \begin{align} &G=G_D(x,y,t)=G_0(x-y,t)-G_0(x+y,t),\label{eq-3.2.4}\\[3pt] &G=G_Nx,y,t)|=G_0(x-y,t)+G_0(x+y,t)\label{eq-3.2.5} \end{align} for (\ref{eq-3.2.D}) and (\ref{eq-3.2.N}) respectively.

Both these functions satisfy equation (\ref{eq-3.2.1}) with respect to $(x,t)$, \begin{align} &G_D|_{x=0}=0,\label{eq-3.2.6}\\[3pt] &G_{N\,x}|_{x=0}=0.\label{eq-3.2.7} \end{align} tend to $0$ as $t\to +0$, $x\ne y$ \begin{align} &\int_0^\infty G_D(x,y,t)\,dy\to 1 \qquad \text{as }t\to+0,\label{eq-3.2.8}\\[3pt] &\int_0^\infty G_D(x,y,t)\,dx= 1.\label{eq-3.2.9} \end{align} Further, $$G(x,y,t)=G(y,x,t) \label{eq-3.2.10}$$ One can prove it by the method of continuation. Indeed, coefficients do not depend on $x$ and equation contains only even order derivatives with respect to $x$. Recall from Subsection 2.6.3 that continuation is even under Neumann condition and odd under Dirichled condition.

### Inhomogeneous boundary conditions

Consider now inhomogeneous boundary conditions \begin{align} &u_D|_{x=0}=p(t),\label{eq-3.2.11}\\[3pt] &u_{N\,x}|_{x=0}=q(t).\label{eq-3.2.12} \end{align} Consider \begin{equation*} 0=\int_\Pi G(x,y,t-\tau) \bigl(-u_{\tau}(y,\tau)+ku_{yy}(y,\tau)\bigr)\,d\tau'dy \end{equation*} with $\Pi=\{x>0, 0< \tau < t-\epsilon \}$. Integrating by parts with respect to $\tau$ in the first term and twice with respect to $y$ in the second one we get \begin{align*} 0=&\int_\Pi \bigl( -G_t (x,y,t-\tau) + k G_{yy}(x,y,t-\tau)\bigr)u(y,\tau)\,d\tau'dy\\ -& \int_0^\infty G (x,y,\epsilon) u(y,t-\epsilon)\, dy + \int _0^\infty G (x,y,t) u(y,0)\, dy+ \\ & k \int_0^{t-\epsilon} \bigl( -G(x,y,t-\tau)u_y(y,\tau) + G_y(x,y,t-\tau)u(y,\tau)\bigr)_{y=0}\,d\tau. \end{align*} Note that, since $G$ satisfies (\ref{eq-3.2.1}) with respect to $(y,t)$ as well due to symmetry, the first line is $0$.

In the second line the first term tends to $-u(x,t)$ because of properties of $G(x,y,t)$ (really, tends everywhere but for $x=y$ to $0$ and its integral from $0$ to $\infty$ tends to $1$).

So we get \begin{multline} u(x,t)=\int_0^\infty G(x,y,t)\underbrace{u(y,0)}_{=g(y)}\,dy+\\ \int_0^{t} \bigl( -G(x,y,t-\tau)u_y(y,\tau) + G_y(x,y,t-\tau)u(y,\tau)\bigr)_{y=0}\,d\tau. \qquad \label{eq-3.2.13} \end{multline} The first line gives in the r.h.e. us solution of the IBVP with $0$ boundary condition. Let us consider the second line.

In the case of Dirichlet boundary condition $G(x,y,t)=0$ as $y=0$ and therefore we get here \begin{equation*} k \int_0^{t} G_y(x,y,t-\tau)\underbrace{u(0,\tau)}_{=p(\tau)}\,d\tau; \end{equation*} In the case of Neumann boundary condition $G_y(x,y,t)=0$ as $y=0$ and therefore we get here \begin{equation*} -k \int_0^{t} G(x,y,t-\tau)\underbrace{u(0,\tau)}_{=q(\tau)}\,d\tau. \end{equation*} So, (\ref{eq-3.2.13}) becomes $$u_D(x,t)=\int_0^\infty G_D(x,y,t)g(y)\,dy+k \int_0^{t} G_{D\,y}(x,0,t-\tau)p(\tau) \,d\tau; \qquad \label{eq-3.2.14}$$ and $$u_N(x,t)=\int_0^\infty G_N(x,y,t)g(y)\,dy- k \int_0^{t} G_{N\,y}(x,0,t-\tau)q(\tau) \,d\tau.\qquad \label{eq-3.2.15}$$

Plots of $G_{D}(x,y,t)$ and $G_{N}(x,y,t)$ as $y=0$ (for some values of $t$)

Remark 1.

1. If we consider a half-line $(-\infty,0)$ rather than $(0,\infty)$ then the same terms appear on the right end ($x=0$) albeit with the opposite sign;
2. If we consider a finite interval $(a,b)$ then there will be contributions from both ends;
3. If we consider Robin boundary condition $(u_x-\alpha u)|_{x=0}=q(t)$ then formula (\ref{eq-3.2.15}) would work but $G$ should satisfy the same Robin condition and we cannot consruct $G$ by a method of continuation.

### Inhomogeneous right-hand expression

Consider equation $$u_t-ku_{xx}=f(x,t). \label{eq-3.2.16}$$ Either by Duhamel principle or just using the same calculations as above one can prove that its contribution would be $$\int_0^t \int G(x,y,t-\tau) f(y,\tau)\,dydt \label{eq-3.2.17}$$ with the same $G$ as was used for equation (\ref{eq-3.2.1}).

### Multidimensional heat equation

Now we claim that for 2D and 3D heat equations \begin{align} &u_t=k\bigl(u_{xx}+u_{yy}\bigr), \label{eq-3.2.18}\\ &u_t=k\bigl(u_{xx}+u_{yy}+u_{zz}\bigr), \label{eq-3.2.19} \end{align} similar formulae hold: \begin{align} &u=\iint G_2 (x,y;x',y';t) g(x',y')\,dx'dy', \label{eq-3.2.20}\\ &u=\iiint G_3 (x,y,z;x',y',z';t) g(x',y',z')\,dx'dy'dz' \label{eq-3.2.21} \end{align} with \begin{align} &G_2 (x,y;x',y';t) =&& G_1(x,x',t)G_1(y,y',t), \label{eq-3.2.22}\\ &G_3 (x,y,z;x',y',z';t) =&& G_1(x,x',t)G_1(y,y',t)G_1(z,z',t); \label{eq-3.2.23} \end{align} in particular for the whole $\mathbb{R}^n$ \begin{align} &G_n (\mathbf{x},\mathbf{x}';t) =&& (2\sqrt{\pi k t})^{-n/2}e^{-\frac{|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|}{4kt}}. \label{eq-3.2.24} \end{align}

To justify our claim we note that

1. $G_n$ satisfies $n$-dimensional heat equation. Really, consider f.e. $G_2$: \begin{align*} G_{2\,t} (x,y;x',y';t) =& G_{1\,t}(x,x',t)G_1(y,y',t)+G_1(x,x',t)G_{1.t}(y,y',t)=\\ & kG_{1\,xx}(x,x',t)G_1(y,y',t)+kG_1(x,x',t)G_{1\,yy}(y,y',t)=\\ &k \Delta \bigl( G_{1\,t}(x,x',t)G_1(y,y',t) \bigr)= k\Delta G_2(x,y;x',y';t) \end{align*}

2. $G_n (\mathbf{x},\mathbf{x}';t)$ quickly decays as $|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|\to \infty$ and it tends to $0$ as $t\to +0$ for $\mathbf{x}\ne \mathbf{x}'$, but

3. $\int G(\mathbf{x},\mathbf{x}',t)\,dy\to 1$ as $t\to +0$;

4. $G(\mathbf{x},\mathbf{x}',t)=G(\mathbf{x}',\mathbf{x},t)$.

The last three properties are due to the similar properties of $G_1$.

Properties (a)-(d) imply integral representation (\ref{eq-3.2.20}) (or its $n$-dimensional variant).

### Maximum principle

Consider heat eqution in the domain $\Omega$ like below

We claim that

Proposition 1.(maximum principle). Let $u$ satisfy heat equation in $\Omega$. Then $$\max _\Omega u = \max _\Gamma u. \label{eq-3.2.25}$$

Almost correct proof. Let (\ref{eq-3.2.25}) be wrong. Then there exist point $P=(\bar{x},\bar{t})\in \Omega\setminus \Gamma$ s.t. $u$ reaches its maximum at $P$. Without any loss of the generality we can assume that $P$ belongs to an upper lid of $\Omega$. Then $$u_t(P )\ge 0 \label{eq-3.2.26}$$ (really $u(\bar{x},\bar{t})\ge u(\bar{x},t)$ for all $t: \bar{t}>t>\bar{t}-\epsilon$ and then $\bigl( u(\bar{x},\bar{t})-u(\bar{x},t)\bigr)/(\bar{t}-t)\ge 0$ and as $t\nearrow \bar{t}$) we get (\ref{eq-3.2.26}).

Also $u_{xx}( P)\le 0$ (really $u(x,\bar{t})$ reaches maximum as $x=\bar{x}$). This inequality combined with (\ref{eq-3.2.26}) almost contradict to heat equation (almost because there could be equalities).

Correct proof. Note first that the above arguments prove (\ref{eq-3.2.25}) if $u$ satisfies inequality $u_t-ku_{xx}<0$ because then there will be contradiction.

Note that $v= u-\varepsilon t$ satisfies $v_t-kv_{xx}<0$ for any $\varepsilon >0$ and therefore \begin{equation*} \max _\Omega (u-\varepsilon t) = \max _\Gamma (u-\varepsilon t). \end{equation*} Taking limit as $\varepsilon \to +0$ we get (\ref{eq-3.2.25}).

Remark 2.

1. Sure, the same proof works for multidimensional heat equation.

2. In fact, either in $\Omega \setminus \Gamma$ $u$ is strictly less than $\max _\Gamma u$ or $u=\const$. The proof is a bit more sophisticated.

Corollary 1. (minimum principle) $$\min _\Omega u = \min _\Gamma u. \label{eq-3.2.30}$$ Really, $-u$ also satisfies heat equation.

Corollary 2. $u=0$ everywhere on $\Gamma$ $\implies u=0$ everywhere on $\Omega$.

Really, then $\max _\Omega u=\min_\Omega u=0$.

Corollary 3. Let $u,v$ both satisfy heat equation. Then $u=v$ everywhere on $\Gamma$ $\implies u=v$ everywhere on $\Omega$.

Proof. Really, then $(u-v)$ satisfies heat equation.