Laplace's equation explained

In mathematics and physics, Laplace's equation is a second-order partial differential equation named after Pierre-Simon Laplace, who first studied its properties. This is often written as$$\backslash nabla^2\backslash !\; f\; =\; 0$$ or $$\backslash Delta\; f\; =\; 0,$$where

\Delta = \nabla ⋅ \nabla = \nabla ^{2} is the Laplace operator,^[1] \nabla ⋅ is the divergence operator (also symbolized "div"), \nabla is the gradient operator (also symbolized "grad"), and f (x, y, z) is a twice-differentiable real-valued function. The Laplace operator therefore maps a scalar function to another scalar function.

If the right-hand side is specified as a given function,

h(x, y, z) , we have$$\backslash Delta\; f\; =\; h.$$

This is called Poisson's equation, a generalization of Laplace's equation. Laplace's equation and Poisson's equation are the simplest examples of elliptic partial differential equations. Laplace's equation is also a special case of the Helmholtz equation.

The general theory of solutions to Laplace's equation is known as potential theory. The twice continuously differentiable solutions of Laplace's equation are the harmonic functions,^[2] which are important in multiple branches of physics, notably electrostatics, gravitation, and fluid dynamics. In the study of heat conduction, the Laplace equation is the steady-state heat equation.^[3] In general, Laplace's equation describes situations of equilibrium, or those that do not depend explicitly on time.

Forms in different coordinate systems

In rectangular coordinates,^[4] $$\backslash nabla^2\; f\; =\; \backslash frac\; +\; \backslash frac\; +\; \backslash frac\; =\; 0.$$

In cylindrical coordinates,^[4] $$\backslash nabla^2\; f=\backslash frac\; \backslash frac\; \backslash left(r\; \backslash frac\; \backslash right)\; +\; \backslash frac\; \backslash frac\; +\; \backslash frac\; =\; 0.$$

In spherical coordinates, using the

(r, \theta, \varphi) convention,^[4] $$\backslash nabla^2\; f\; =\; \backslash frac\backslash frac\; \backslash left(r^2\; \backslash frac\backslash right)\; +\; \backslash frac\; \backslash frac\; \backslash left(\backslash sin\backslash theta\; \backslash frac\backslash right)\; +\; \backslash frac\; \backslash frac\; =0.$$

More generally, in arbitrary curvilinear coordinates,$$\backslash nabla^2\; f\; =\backslash frac\backslash left(\backslash fracg^\backslash right)\; +\; \backslash frac\; g^\backslash Gamma^n\_\; =0,$$or $$\backslash nabla^2\; f\; =\; \backslash frac\; \backslash frac\backslash !\backslash left(\backslash sqrt$$

g^ \frac\right) =0, \qquad (g=\det\)where is the Euclidean metric tensor relative to the new coordinates and denotes its Christoffel symbols.

Boundary conditions

See also: Boundary value problem. The Dirichlet problem for Laplace's equation consists of finding a solution on some domain such that on the boundary of is equal to some given function. Since the Laplace operator appears in the heat equation, one physical interpretation of this problem is as follows: fix the temperature on the boundary of the domain according to the given specification of the boundary condition. Allow heat to flow until a stationary state is reached in which the temperature at each point on the domain does not change anymore. The temperature distribution in the interior will then be given by the solution to the corresponding Dirichlet problem.

The Neumann boundary conditions for Laplace's equation specify not the function itself on the boundary of but its normal derivative. Physically, this corresponds to the construction of a potential for a vector field whose effect is known at the boundary of alone. For the example of the heat equation it amounts to prescribing the heat flux through the boundary. In particular, at an adiabatic boundary, the normal derivative of is zero.

Solutions of Laplace's equation are called harmonic functions; they are all analytic within the domain where the equation is satisfied. If any two functions are solutions to Laplace's equation (or any linear homogeneous differential equation), their sum (or any linear combination) is also a solution. This property, called the principle of superposition, is very useful. For example, solutions to complex problems can be constructed by summing simple solutions.

In two dimensions

Laplace's equation in two independent variables in rectangular coordinates has the form $$\backslash frac\; +\; \backslash frac\; \backslash equiv\; \backslash psi\_\; +\; \backslash psi\_\; =\; 0.$$

Analytic functions

The real and imaginary parts of a complex analytic function both satisfy the Laplace equation. That is, if, and if $$f(z)\; =\; u(x,y)\; +\; iv(x,y),$$then the necessary condition that be analytic is that and be differentiable and that the Cauchy–Riemann equations be satisfied:$$u\_x\; =\; v\_y,\; \backslash quad\; v\_x\; =\; -u\_y.$$where is the first partial derivative of with respect to .It follows that $$u\_\; =\; (-v\_x)\_y\; =\; -(v\_y)\_x\; =\; -(u\_x)\_x.$$Therefore satisfies the Laplace equation. A similar calculation shows that also satisfies the Laplace equation. Conversely, given a harmonic function, it is the real part of an analytic function, (at least locally). If a trial form is$$f(z)\; =\; \backslash varphi(x,y)\; +\; i\; \backslash psi(x,y),$$then the Cauchy–Riemann equations will be satisfied if we set$$\backslash psi\_x\; =\; -\backslash varphi\_y,\; \backslash quad\; \backslash psi\_y\; =\; \backslash varphi\_x.$$This relation does not determine, but only its increments:$$d\; \backslash psi\; =\; -\backslash varphi\_y\backslash ,\; dx\; +\; \backslash varphi\_x\backslash ,\; dy.$$The Laplace equation for implies that the integrability condition for is satisfied:$$\backslash psi\_\; =\; \backslash psi\_,$$and thus may be defined by a line integral. The integrability condition and Stokes' theorem implies that the value of the line integral connecting two points is independent of the path. The resulting pair of solutions of the Laplace equation are called conjugate harmonic functions. This construction is only valid locally, or provided that the path does not loop around a singularity. For example, if and are polar coordinates and$$\backslash varphi\; =\; \backslash log\; r,$$then a corresponding analytic function is$$f(z)\; =\; \backslash log\; z\; =\; \backslash log\; r\; +\; i\backslash theta.$$

However, the angle is single-valued only in a region that does not enclose the origin.

The close connection between the Laplace equation and analytic functions implies that any solution of the Laplace equation has derivatives of all orders, and can be expanded in a power series, at least inside a circle that does not enclose a singularity. This is in sharp contrast to solutions of the wave equation, which generally have less regularity.

There is an intimate connection between power series and Fourier series. If we expand a function in a power series inside a circle of radius, this means that$$f(z)\; =\; \backslash sum\_^\backslash infty\; c\_n\; z^n,$$with suitably defined coefficients whose real and imaginary parts are given by $$c\_n\; =\; a\_n\; +\; i\; b\_n.$$Therefore$$f(z)\; =\; \backslash sum\_^\backslash infty\; \backslash left[a\_n\; r^n\; \backslash cos\; n\; \backslash theta\; -\; b\_n\; r^n\; \backslash sin\; n\; \backslash theta\backslash right]\; +\; i\; \backslash sum\_^\backslash infty\; \backslash left[a\_n\; r^n\; \backslash sin\; n\backslash theta\; +\; b\_n\; r^n\; \backslash cos\; n\; \backslash theta\backslash right],$$which is a Fourier series for . These trigonometric functions can themselves be expanded, using multiple angle formulae.

Fluid flow

See main article: Laplace equation for irrotational flow. Let the quantities and be the horizontal and vertical components of the velocity field of a steady incompressible, irrotational flow in two dimensions. The continuity condition for an incompressible flow is that $$u\_x\; +\; v\_y=0,$$and the condition that the flow be irrotational is that$$\backslash nabla\; \backslash times\; \backslash mathbf\; =\; v\_x\; -\; u\_y\; =\; 0.$$If we define the differential of a function by$$d\; \backslash psi\; =\; v\; \backslash ,\; dx\; -\; u\; \backslash ,\; dy,$$then the continuity condition is the integrability condition for this differential: the resulting function is called the stream function because it is constant along flow lines. The first derivatives of are given by$$\backslash psi\_x\; =\; v,\; \backslash quad\; \backslash psi\_y=-u,$$and the irrotationality condition implies that satisfies the Laplace equation. The harmonic function that is conjugate to is called the velocity potential. The Cauchy–Riemann equations imply that$$\backslash varphi\_x=-u,\; \backslash quad\; \backslash varphi\_y=-v.$$Thus every analytic function corresponds to a steady incompressible, irrotational, inviscid fluid flow in the plane. The real part is the velocity potential, and the imaginary part is the stream function.

Electrostatics

According to Maxwell's equations, an electric field in two space dimensions that is independent of time satisfies$$\backslash nabla\; \backslash times\; (u,v,0)\; =\; (v\_x\; -u\_y)\backslash hat\; =\; \backslash mathbf,$$and$$\backslash nabla\; \backslash cdot\; (u,v)\; =\; \backslash rho,$$where is the charge density. The first Maxwell equation is the integrability condition for the differential$$d\; \backslash varphi\; =\; -u\backslash ,\; dx\; -v\backslash ,\; dy,$$so the electric potential may be constructed to satisfy$$\backslash varphi\_x\; =\; -u,\; \backslash quad\; \backslash varphi\_y\; =\; -v.$$The second of Maxwell's equations then implies that $$\backslash varphi\_\; +\; \backslash varphi\_\; =\; -\backslash rho,$$which is the Poisson equation. The Laplace equation can be used in three-dimensional problems in electrostatics and fluid flow just as in two dimensions.

In three dimensions

Fundamental solution

A fundamental solution of Laplace's equation satisfies$$\backslash Delta\; u\; =\; u\_\; +\; u\_\; +\; u\_\; =\; -\backslash delta(x-x\text{'},y-y\text{'},z-z\text{'}),$$where the Dirac delta function denotes a unit source concentrated at the point . No function has this property: in fact it is a distribution rather than a function; but it can be thought of as a limit of functions whose integrals over space are unity, and whose support (the region where the function is non-zero) shrinks to a point (see weak solution). It is common to take a different sign convention for this equation than one typically does when defining fundamental solutions. This choice of sign is often convenient to work with because −Δ is a positive operator. The definition of the fundamental solution thus implies that, if the Laplacian of is integrated over any volume that encloses the source point, then$$\backslash iiint\_V\; \backslash nabla\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash nabla\; u\; \backslash ,\; dV\; =-1.$$

The Laplace equation is unchanged under a rotation of coordinates, and hence we can expect that a fundamental solution may be obtained among solutions that only depend upon the distance from the source point. If we choose the volume to be a ball of radius around the source point, then Gauss's divergence theorem implies that$$-1=\; \backslash iiint\_V\; \backslash nabla\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash nabla\; u\; \backslash ,\; dV\; =\; \backslash iint\_S\; \backslash frac\; \backslash ,\; dS\; =\; \backslash left.4\backslash pi\; a^2\; \backslash frac\backslash right|\_.$$

It follows that $$\backslash frac\; =\; -\backslash frac,$$on a sphere of radius that is centered on the source point, and hence$$u\; =\; \backslash frac.$$

Note that, with the opposite sign convention (used in physics), this is the potential generated by a point particle, for an inverse-square law force, arising in the solution of Poisson equation. A similar argument shows that in two dimensions$$u\; =\; -\backslash frac.$$where denotes the natural logarithm. Note that, with the opposite sign convention, this is the potential generated by a pointlike sink (see point particle), which is the solution of the Euler equations in two-dimensional incompressible flow.

Green's function

A Green's function is a fundamental solution that also satisfies a suitable condition on the boundary of a volume . For instance, $$G(x,y,z;x\text{'},y\text{'},z\text{'})$$may satisfy$$\backslash nabla\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash nabla\; G\; =\; -\backslash delta(x-x\text{'},y-y\text{'},z-z\text{'})\; \backslash qquad\; \backslash text\; V,$$ $$G\; =\; 0\; \backslash quad\; \backslash text\; \backslash quad\; (x,y,z)\; \backslash qquad\; \backslash text\; S.$$

Now if is any solution of the Poisson equation in :$$\backslash nabla\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash nabla\; u\; =\; -f,$$

and assumes the boundary values on, then we may apply Green's identity, (a consequence of the divergence theorem) which states that

$$\backslash iiint\_V\; \backslash left[G\; \backslash ,\; \backslash nabla\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash nabla\; u\; -\; u\; \backslash ,\; \backslash nabla\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash nabla\; G\; \backslash right]\backslash ,\; dV\; =\; \backslash iiint\_V\; \backslash nabla\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash left[G\; \backslash nabla\; u\; -\; u\; \backslash nabla\; G\; \backslash right]\backslash ,\; dV\; =\; \backslash iint\_S\; \backslash left[G\; u\_n\; -u\; G\_n\; \backslash right]\; \backslash ,\; dS.\; \backslash ,$$

The notations u_n and G_n denote normal derivatives on . In view of the conditions satisfied by and, this result simplifies to

$$u(x\text{'},y\text{'},z\text{'})\; =\; \backslash iiint\_V\; G\; f\; \backslash ,\; dV\; +\; \backslash iint\_S\; G\_n\; g\; \backslash ,\; dS.\; \backslash ,$$

Thus the Green's function describes the influence at of the data and . For the case of the interior of a sphere of radius, the Green's function may be obtained by means of a reflection : the source point at distance from the center of the sphere is reflected along its radial line to a point P that is at a distance

$$\backslash rho\text{'}\; =\; \backslash frac.\; \backslash ,$$

Note that if is inside the sphere, then P′ will be outside the sphere. The Green's function is then given by$$\backslash frac\; -\; \backslash frac,\; \backslash ,$$where denotes the distance to the source point and denotes the distance to the reflected point P′. A consequence of this expression for the Green's function is the Poisson integral formula. Let,, and be spherical coordinates for the source point . Here denotes the angle with the vertical axis, which is contrary to the usual American mathematical notation, but agrees with standard European and physical practice. Then the solution of the Laplace equation with Dirichlet boundary values inside the sphere is given by$$u(P)\; =\backslash frac\; a^3\backslash left(1-\backslash frac\backslash right)\; \backslash int\_0^\backslash int\_0^\; \backslash frac\; d\backslash theta\text{'}\; \backslash ,\; d\backslash varphi\text{'}$$ where$$\backslash cos\; \backslash Theta\; =\; \backslash cos\; \backslash theta\; \backslash cos\; \backslash theta\text{'}\; +\; \backslash sin\backslash theta\; \backslash sin\backslash theta\text{'}\backslash cos(\backslash varphi\; -\backslash varphi\text{'})$$is the cosine of the angle between and . A simple consequence of this formula is that if is a harmonic function, then the value of at the center of the sphere is the mean value of its values on the sphere. This mean value property immediately implies that a non-constant harmonic function cannot assume its maximum value at an interior point.

Laplace's spherical harmonics

Laplace's equation in spherical coordinates is:^[5]

$$\backslash nabla^2\; f\; =\; \backslash frac\; \backslash frac\backslash left(r^2\; \backslash frac\backslash right)\; +\; \backslash frac\; \backslash frac\backslash left(\backslash sin\backslash theta\; \backslash frac\backslash right)\; +\; \backslash frac\; \backslash frac\; =\; 0.$$

Consider the problem of finding solutions of the form . By separation of variables, two differential equations result by imposing Laplace's equation:

$$\backslash frac\backslash frac\backslash left(r^2\backslash frac\backslash right)\; =\; \backslash lambda,\backslash qquad\; \backslash frac\backslash frac\backslash frac\backslash left(\backslash sin\backslash theta\; \backslash frac\backslash right)\; +\; \backslash frac\backslash frac\backslash frac\; =\; -\backslash lambda.$$

The second equation can be simplified under the assumption that has the form . Applying separation of variables again to the second equation gives way to the pair of differential equations

$$\backslash frac\; \backslash frac\; =\; -m^2$$$$\backslash lambda\backslash sin^2\backslash theta\; +\; \backslash frac\; \backslash frac\; \backslash left(\backslash sin\backslash theta\; \backslash frac\backslash right)\; =\; m^2$$

for some number . A priori, is a complex constant, but because must be a periodic function whose period evenly divides, is necessarily an integer and is a linear combination of the complex exponentials . The solution function is regular at the poles of the sphere, where . Imposing this regularity in the solution of the second equation at the boundary points of the domain is a Sturm–Liouville problem that forces the parameter to be of the form for some non-negative integer with ; this is also explained below in terms of the orbital angular momentum. Furthermore, a change of variables transforms this equation into the Legendre equation, whose solution is a multiple of the associated Legendre polynomial . Finally, the equation for has solutions of the form ; requiring the solution to be regular throughout forces .^[6]

Here the solution was assumed to have the special form . For a given value of, there are independent solutions of this form, one for each integer with . These angular solutions are a product of trigonometric functions, here represented as a complex exponential, and associated Legendre polynomials:$$Y\_\backslash ell^m\; (\backslash theta,\; \backslash varphi)\; =\; N\; e^\; P\_\backslash ell^m\; (\backslash cos)$$which fulfill$$r^2\backslash nabla^2\; Y\_\backslash ell^m\; (\backslash theta,\; \backslash varphi)\; =\; -\backslash ell\; (\backslash ell\; +\; 1)\; Y\_\backslash ell^m\; (\backslash theta,\; \backslash varphi).$$

Here is called a spherical harmonic function of degree and order, is an associated Legendre polynomial, is a normalization constant, and and represent colatitude and longitude, respectively. In particular, the colatitude, or polar angle, ranges from at the North Pole, to at the Equator, to at the South Pole, and the longitude, or azimuth, may assume all values with . For a fixed integer, every solution of the eigenvalue problem$$r^2\backslash nabla^2\; Y\; =\; -\backslash ell\; (\backslash ell\; +\; 1)\; Y$$is a linear combination of . In fact, for any such solution, is the expression in spherical coordinates of a homogeneous polynomial that is harmonic (see below), and so counting dimensions shows that there are linearly independent such polynomials.

The general solution to Laplace's equation in a ball centered at the origin is a linear combination of the spherical harmonic functions multiplied by the appropriate scale factor,$$f(r,\; \backslash theta,\; \backslash varphi)\; =\; \backslash sum\_^\backslash infty\; \backslash sum\_^\backslash ell\; f\_\backslash ell^m\; r^\backslash ell\; Y\_\backslash ell^m\; (\backslash theta,\; \backslash varphi),$$where the are constants and the factors are known as solid harmonics. Such an expansion is valid in the ball

For

r > R , the solid harmonics with negative powers of r are chosen instead. In that case, one needs to expand the solution of known regions in Laurent series (about r =inf ty ), instead of Taylor series (about r = 0 ), to match the terms and find f ^{m} _{\ell} .

Electrostatics

Let

E be the electric field, \rho be the electric charge density, and \varepsilon _{0} be the permittivity of free space. Then Gauss's law for electricity (Maxwell's first equation) in differential form states^[7] $$\backslash nabla\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash mathbf\; =\; \backslash frac.$$

Now, the electric field can be expressed as the negative gradient of the electric potential

V ,$$\backslash mathbf\; E=-\backslash nabla\; V,$$if the field is irrotational, \nabla x E = 0 . The irrotationality of E is also known as the electrostatic condition.^[7]

$$\backslash nabla\backslash cdot\backslash mathbf\; E\; =\; \backslash nabla\backslash cdot(-\backslash nabla\; V)=-\backslash nabla^2\; V$$$$\backslash nabla^2\; V\; =\; -\backslash nabla\backslash cdot\backslash mathbf\; E$$

Plugging this relation into Gauss's law, we obtain Poisson's equation for electricity,^[7] $$\backslash nabla^2\; V\; =\; -\backslash frac.$$

In the particular case of a source-free region,

\rho = 0 and Poisson's equation reduces to Laplace's equation for the electric potential.^[7]

If the electrostatic potential

V is specified on the boundary of a region l{R} , then it is uniquely determined. If l{R} is surrounded by a conducting material with a specified charge density \rho , and if the total charge Q is known, then V is also unique.^[8]

A potential that does not satisfy Laplace's equation together with the boundary condition is an invalid electrostatic potential.

Gravitation

Let

g be the gravitational field, \rho the mass density, and G the gravitational constant. Then Gauss's law for gravitation in differential form is^[9] $$\backslash nabla\backslash cdot\backslash mathbf\; g=-4\backslash pi\; G\backslash rho.$$

The gravitational field is conservative and can therefore be expressed as the negative gradient of the gravitational potential:

Using the differential form of Gauss's law of gravitation, we have$$\backslash nabla^2\; V\; =\; 4\backslash pi\; G\backslash rho,$$which is Poisson's equation for gravitational fields.

In empty space,

\rho =0 and we have$$\backslash nabla^2\; V\; =\; 0,$$which is Laplace's equation for gravitational fields.

In the Schwarzschild metric

S. Persides^[10] solved the Laplace equation in Schwarzschild spacetime on hypersurfaces of constant . Using the canonical variables,, the solution is$$\backslash Psi(r,\backslash theta,\backslash varphi)\; =\; R(r)Y\_l(\backslash theta,\backslash varphi),$$where is a spherical harmonic function, and$$R(r)\; =\; (-1)^l\backslash fracP\_l\backslash left(1-\backslash frac\backslash right)+(-1)^\backslash fracQ\_l\backslash left(1-\backslash frac\backslash right).$$

Here and are Legendre functions of the first and second kind, respectively, while is the Schwarzschild radius. The parameter is an arbitrary non-negative integer.

See also

• 6-sphere coordinates, a coordinate system under which Laplace's equation becomes R-separable
• Helmholtz equation, a general case of Laplace's equation.
• Spherical harmonic
• Quadrature domains
• Potential theory
• Potential flow
• Bateman transform
• Earnshaw's theorem uses the Laplace equation to show that stable static ferromagnetic suspension is impossible
• Vector Laplacian
• Fundamental solution

Notes

1. The delta symbol, Δ, is also commonly used to represent a finite change in some quantity, for example, \Delta x = x _{1} - x _{2} . Its use to represent the Laplacian should not be confused with this use.
2. Stewart, James. Calculus : Early Transcendentals. 7th ed., Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2012. Chapter 14: Partial Derivatives. p. 908. .
3. Zill, Dennis G, and Michael R Cullen. Differential Equations with Boundary-Value Problems. 8th edition / ed., Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2013. Chapter 12: Boundary-value Problems in Rectangular Coordinates. p. 462. .
4. Griffiths, David J. Introduction to Electrodynamics. 4th ed., Pearson, 2013. Inner front cover. .
5. The approach to spherical harmonics taken here is found in .
6. Physical applications often take the solution that vanishes at infinity, making . This does not affect the angular portion of the spherical harmonics.
7. Griffiths, David J. Introduction to Electrodynamics. 4th ed., Pearson, 2013. Chapter 2: Electrostatics. p. 83-4. .
8. Griffiths, David J. Introduction to Electrodynamics. 4th ed., Pearson, 2013. Chapter 3: Potentials. p. 119-121. .
9. Chicone . C. . Mashhoon . B. . 2011-11-20 . Nonlocal Gravity: Modified Poisson's Equation . Journal of Mathematical Physics . 53 . 4 . 042501 . en . 10.1063/1.3702449. 1111.4702 . 118707082 .
10. Persides. S.. The Laplace and poisson equations in Schwarzschild's space-time. Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications. 1973. 43. 3. 571–578. 10.1016/0022-247X(73)90277-1 . 1973JMAA...43..571P . free.

Sources

• .
• Book: Sommerfeld, A. . Partial Differential Equations in Physics . Academic Press . New York . 1949 .
• Book: 9780486652511. Introduction to Partial Differential Equations with Applications . Zachmanoglou . E. C. . Thoe . Dale W. . 1986. Dover . New York .

Further reading

• Book: Evans, L. C. . Partial Differential Equations . American Mathematical Society . Providence . 1998 . 978-0-8218-0772-9 .
• Book: Petrovsky, I. G. . Partial Differential Equations . W. B. Saunders . Philadelphia . 1967 .
• Book: Polyanin, A. D. . Handbook of Linear Partial Differential Equations for Engineers and Scientists . Chapman & Hall/CRC Press . Boca Raton . 2002 . 978-1-58488-299-2 .

External links

• • Laplace Equation (particular solutions and boundary value problems) at EqWorld: The World of Mathematical Equations.
• Example initial-boundary value problems using Laplace's equation from exampleproblems.com.
  • Find out how boundary value problems governed by Laplace's equation may be solved numerically by boundary element method