General solution of heat equation?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the general solution of the heat equation, specifically how to prove that a given integral representation of the solution satisfies the heat equation and the condition that it approaches a specified function as time approaches zero. The scope includes theoretical aspects of partial differential equations (PDEs) and mathematical reasoning related to the heat equation.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the integral form of the solution to the heat equation and asks how to prove it satisfies the equation and the initial condition.
  • Another participant suggests that proving the integral form satisfies the heat equation is straightforward by using the properties of the kernel K and the independence of the integration variable y from x and t.
  • A third participant notes that the lower limit of the integral must be zero and mentions that the question is typically covered in textbooks on PDEs.
  • A later reply indicates that the integral solution follows from the limiting case of linear combinations of K and that the limit relates to the Gaussian function approaching a delta function.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the specifics of the proof or the implications of the limit, indicating that multiple views and interpretations remain in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions regarding the properties of the kernel K and the behavior of the integral as t approaches zero are not explicitly stated, which may affect the completeness of the discussion.

lriuui0x0
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We know

$$
K(x,t) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{4\pi t}}\exp(-\frac{x^2}{4t})
$$

is a solution to the heat equation:

$$
\frac{\partial u}{\partial t} = \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2}
$$

I would like to ask how to prove:

$$
u(x,t) = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} K(x-y,t)f(y)dy
$$

is also the solution to the equation, and also:

$$
\lim_{t\to 0^+} u(x,t) = f(x)
$$
 
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The first part is a lot easier than you might think, you just use the fact that K satisfies the heat equation, that is that $$\frac{\partial K}{\partial t}=\frac{\partial^2K}{\partial x^2}$$ and you go ahead to prove that ##u(x,t)## as it is defined also satisfies the heat equation by working on both sides of the heat equation for this specific ##u##.
All you use is that in the expression for## u##, because we integrate with respect to## y ##which is independent variable with respect to ##x ##and## t##, the partial derivative with respect to t (or x) passes under the integral sign, that is for example $$\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}=\frac{\partial \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}K(x-y,t)f(y)dy}{\partial t}=\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\frac{\partial K(x-y,t)}{\partial t} f(y) dy$$ and similar for the first and second partial derivative with respect to x.
 
the downstairs limit of the integral must be zero. Actually the whole question is contained in textbooks in PDE
 
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: Delta2
Thanks! I found some reference on this. Basically the integral is a solution follows from the limiting case of linear combination of ##K(x-y,t)##, and the limit follows from the limit of Gaussian function is delta function.
 

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