Undergrad Dirichlet problem boundary conditions

Click For Summary
The Dirichlet problem involves finding solutions to the Poisson or Laplace equation in an open region of R^n with boundary conditions specified on the boundary. The solution function must be two-times differentiable in the interior and continuous on the boundary. The topology for continuity of the function in the closure is identified as the subspace topology from R^n. The discussion emphasizes that the standard differential structure is essential for ensuring differentiability and continuity. Overall, the smooth structure is defined by the maximal atlas containing compatible charts, highlighting the complexity of differential structures in this context.
cianfa72
Messages
2,904
Reaction score
306
TL;DR
About boundary conditions for Dirichlet problem.
The Dirichlet problem asks for the solution of Poisson or Laplace equation in an open region ##S## of ##\mathbb R^n## with a condition on the boundary ##\partial_S##.

In particular the solution function ##f()## is required to be two-times differentiable in the interior region ##S## and continuous on the boundary ##\partial_S##. The boundary condition specifies its value ##u## at each point on it, hence ##f=u## at the boundary ##\partial_S##.

Now my question is: which is the topology w.r.t one asks the function ##f## to be continuous in the closure ##\bar S## ? I believe it is the subspace topology on ##\bar S## from ##\mathbb R^n## as subset.

Is the above correct? Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Id say that more than just topology, it's also an issue of Differential Structure, given you want your function to be (twice)differentiable. Given differentiability implies continuity, I suspect Differential Structure would be enough. I suspect you're dealing with the standard topology, but I'm not 100%.
 
WWGD said:
Id say that more than just topology, it's also an issue of Differential Structure, given you want your function to be (twice)differentiable. Given differentiability implies continuity, I suspect Differential Structure would be enough. I suspect you're dealing with the standard topology, but I'm not 100%.
Yes, as far as can I understand, the region where the PDE is solved is an open set ##S## of ##\mathbb R^n## endowed with standard differential structure/topology. Then we have boundary condition on the boundary ##\partial_S##.

The solution ##f## is required to be continuous on the closure ##\bar S##. So the question is: which is the topology on ##\bar S## w.r.t. it is closed anf ##f## is required to be continuous ? My answer: it is the subspace topology from the superset ##\mathbb R^n##.
 
Unless otherwise stated, when we speak of U \subseteq \mathbb{R}^n we mean the set together with its local affine structure (so that we can calculate derivatives) and the topology induced by the Euclidean inner product. If U \neq \mathbb{R}^n then the restriction to the subspace topology is implied.

The smooth structure is the maximal atlas which contains the charts (V, \mathrm{id}) where V is any open subset of U. (There are always at least two such structures, since (V, <br /> p \ni V \to \mathbb{R}^n : q \mapsto ((q_1 - p_1)^3,q_2 - p_2, \dots, q_n - p_n)) is not smoothly compatible with the identity chart.)
 
pasmith said:
The smooth structure is the maximal atlas which contains the charts (V, \mathrm{id}) where V is any open subset of U. (There are always at least two such structures, since (V,<br /> p \ni V \to \mathbb{R}^n : q \mapsto ((q_1 - p_1)^3,q_2 - p_2, \dots, q_n - p_n)) is not smoothly compatible with the identity chart.)
You mean fixed a point ##p =(p_1, p_2 \dots p_n) \in V##, your map V \ni q \mapsto ((q_1 - p_1)^3,q_2 - p_2, \dots, q_n - p_n)) is not smoothly compatible with the identity map. However both structures are diffeomorphic (i.e. there exists a diffeomorphism between them).
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
873
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K