PDEs and the smoothness of solutions

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However, for certain types of PDEs, such as elliptic equations, the smoothness of the solution is directly related to the smoothness of the boundary conditions. In summary, the smoothness of a solution to a PDE is determined by the classification of the PDE and the smoothness of the boundary conditions. There is no general theorem for the smoothness of all unique solutions, but for certain types of PDEs, the smoothness of the solution is linked to the smoothness of the boundary conditions.
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defunc
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Hi all,

Suppose the solution of a pde exists and is unique, what can be said about the smoothness thereof? In general, is there some theory regarding the smoothness of the solution and its derivatives and how it depends on the boundary and boundary values? For example, if the boundary values are continuous, wil the solution always be continuous? And what can be said about the derivatives of the solution?
 
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The smoothness of a solution depends both on the boundary conditions and the classification of the PDE. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial_differential_equation#Classification (sorry that I couldn't find a better a link).

As far as I'm aware, there is no general theorem which deals with the smoothness of all unique solutions to boundary value problems.
 

1. What are PDEs?

PDE stands for partial differential equations. These are mathematical equations that involve multiple independent variables and their partial derivatives. They are often used to describe physical systems and phenomena in fields such as physics, chemistry, and engineering.

2. How do PDEs differ from ordinary differential equations?

The main difference between PDEs and ordinary differential equations (ODEs) is that PDEs involve multiple independent variables, while ODEs only involve one independent variable. This means that solutions to PDEs can vary in multiple dimensions, whereas solutions to ODEs are one-dimensional.

3. What is the concept of "smoothness" in relation to PDE solutions?

Smoothness refers to how well-behaved a function is at a given point. In the context of PDEs, a smooth solution is one where the partial derivatives are continuous and differentiable up to a certain order. This means that the solution is free of sudden changes or discontinuities, and can be described by a smooth curve or surface.

4. How do the smoothness of PDE solutions affect their behavior?

The smoothness of PDE solutions can have a significant impact on their behavior. Generally, smoother solutions are more desirable as they are easier to work with mathematically and are more likely to accurately represent physical systems. Solutions that are not smooth may exhibit unexpected or erratic behavior, making them less useful for analysis and prediction.

5. What techniques are used to study the smoothness of PDE solutions?

There are various techniques used to study the smoothness of PDE solutions, including the method of characteristics, Fourier analysis, and Sobolev spaces. These techniques involve analyzing the equations and properties of the solutions to determine their smoothness and behavior. Computer simulations and numerical methods can also be used to approximate and visualize PDE solutions and their smoothness.

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