Bounded Solution of the Heat PDE: Is u Necessarily the Heat Kernel?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of solutions to the heat partial differential equation (PDE) and the characterization of bounded solutions in relation to the heat kernel. Participants explore whether a bounded solution necessarily takes the form of an integral involving the heat kernel and the initial condition.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that a bounded solution u to the heat PDE can be expressed as an integral involving the heat kernel K and the initial condition f.
  • Others suggest using Green's Formula to represent u, indicating that it may include additional terms related to the initial condition.
  • There is confusion regarding the term "heat kernel," with some participants questioning its meaning and relation to other types of kernels in mathematics, such as the Poisson kernel and Dirichlet kernel.
  • One participant clarifies that in this context, "kernel" refers to functions used in convolutions, rather than a mathematical object that maps elements to zero.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the bounded solution must take the specific integral form involving the heat kernel. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the necessity of this representation.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made about the boundedness of solutions and the specific conditions under which the integral representation holds. The relationship between different types of kernels is also not fully clarified.

yetar
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Lets say we have a solution u, to the cauchy problem of the heat PDE:
u_t-laplacian(u) = 0
u(x, 0) = f(x)

u is a bounded solution, meaning:
u<=C*e^(a*|x|^2)
Where C and a are constant.

Then, does u is necesseraly the following solution:

u = integral of (K(x, y, t)*f(y))

Where K is the heat kernel?

Thanks in advance.
 
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yetar said:
Lets say we have a solution u, to the cauchy problem of the heat PDE:
u_t-laplacian(u) = 0
u(x, 0) = f(x)

u is a bounded solution, meaning:
u<=C*e^(a*|x|^2)
Where C and a are constant.

Then, does u is necesseraly the following solution:

u = integral of (K(x, y, t)*f(y))

Where K is the heat kernel?

Thanks in advance.

Use the Green's Formula (integral form of the Lagrange's Identity) for the Heat Operator, and realize that u can be represented as your integral plus a term involving the initial condition.
 
I am confused about the usage of the word "kernel" in this context. Where does the term "heat kernel" come from? Is kernel being used in the sense of "all elements that get mapped to 0" by some function or in some other sense? Another PDE example is the "Poisson kernel". I've also seen the "Dirichlet kernel" in analysis. Is there a relation between these "kernels"?
 
Last edited:
ehrenfest said:
I am confused about the usage of the word "kernel" in this context. Where does the term "heat kernel" come from? Is kernel being used in the sense of "all elements that get mapped to 0" by some function or in some other sense?

In other sense. It is common to call functions, that are used in convolutions, kernels. For example if you have an operator

<br /> T:L^{\infty}([0,1],\mathbb{C})\to L^{\infty}([0,1],\mathbb{C}),\quad (Tf)(x) = \int\limits_0^1 dy\; f(y)K(x,y),<br />

where

<br /> K:[0,1]\times [0,1]\to\mathbb{C}<br />

is some bounded function, then K is called the kernel of this integral operator.
 

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