How do we show that it is finite?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the initial and boundary value problem for the heat equation in a bounded interval with homogenous Neumann boundary conditions. Participants are exploring how to demonstrate that the integral of the square of the initial value function $\phi$ is finite, given certain conditions on its derivative at the boundaries.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the inequality they wish to prove regarding the solution to the heat equation and the conditions on the initial value function $\phi$.
  • Another participant questions whether the continuity of $\phi$ on the interval implies that $\phi$ is bounded, suggesting that if $|\phi(x)|
  • Some participants discuss the necessity of knowing the values of $\phi(0)$ and $\phi(\ell)$ to conclude that $\phi$ is bounded, with one arguing that continuity alone suffices for boundedness on a closed interval.
  • There is a clarification that the existence of $\phi(0)$ and $\phi(\ell)$ is implied by the function being defined on a closed interval, and that continuity guarantees boundedness.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that continuity of $\phi$ on a closed interval implies boundedness, although there is some initial uncertainty regarding the necessity of knowing the boundary values $\phi(0)$ and $\phi(\ell)$.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the assumption that $\phi$ is piecewise continuously differentiable and that the conditions on its derivative at the boundaries are sufficient for the analysis, but there is no explicit resolution of all mathematical steps involved in proving the finiteness of the integral.

evinda
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Hello! (Wave)

We consider the initial and boundary value problem for the heat equation in a bounded interval $[0, \ell]$ with homogenous Neumann boundary conditions and $k=1$, and we suppose that the initial value $\phi$ is piecewise continuously differentiable and that $\phi'(0)=\phi'(\ell)=0$. I want to show that for the solution holds the following inequality.

$$|u(x,t)-\frac{1}{\ell} \int_0^{\ell} \phi(x) dx| \leq C e^{-\left( \frac{\pi}{\ell}\right)^2 t}, 0 \leq x \leq \ell, t \geq 1$$

where $C$ is a constant that depends on the quantity $\int_0^{\ell} [\phi(x)]^2 dx$.

I have done the following.

Our initial and boundary value problem is the following:

$\left\{\begin{matrix}
u_t=u_{xx}, & 0<x<\ell,t>0,\\
u_x(0,t)=u_x(\ell,t)=0, & t \geq 0,\\
u(x,0)=\phi(x), & 0 \leq x \leq \ell
\end{matrix}\right.$

We know that the solution of the problem is

$$u(x,t)=\frac{a_0}{2}+ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n e^{-\left( \frac{n \pi}{\ell}\right)^2 t} \cos{\left( \frac{n \pi x}{\ell}\right)}$$

with $a_n=\frac{2}{\ell} \int_0^{\ell} \phi(x) \cos{\left( \frac{n \pi x}{\ell}\right)}dx$ and $\phi(x)=\frac{a_0}{2}+\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n \cos{\left( \frac{n \pi x}{\ell}\right)}$.I have shown that $$\left| u(x,t)-\frac{1}{\ell} \int_0^{\ell} \phi(x) dx\right| \leq e^{-\left( \frac{\pi}{\ell}\right)^2 t} \left( \frac{2}{\ell} \int_0^{\ell} \phi^2(x) dx\right)^{\frac{1}{2}} \left( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} e^{-2 \left( \frac{\pi}{\ell}\right)^2 (n^2-1)}\right)^{\frac{1}{2}}$$How can we show that $\int_0^{\ell} \phi^2(x) dx<+\infty$ given the information that $\phi'(0)=\phi'(\ell)=0$ and not that $\phi(0)=\phi(\ell)=0$ ?
 
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evinda said:
We consider the initial and boundary value problem for the heat equation in a bounded interval $[0, \ell]$ with homogenous Neumann boundary conditions and $k=1$, and we suppose that the initial value $\phi$ is piecewise continuously differentiable and that $\phi'(0)=\phi'(\ell)=0$.

How can we show that $\int_0^{\ell} \phi^2(x) dx<+\infty$ given the information that $\phi'(0)=\phi'(\ell)=0$ and not that $\phi(0)=\phi(\ell)=0$ ?

Hey evinda!

As $\phi$ is continuous on the bounded interval $[0,\ell]$, doesn't that imply that $\phi$ is bounded? (Wondering)

Suppose $|\phi(x)|<M$ on the interval.
Doesn't that imply that $\left|\int_0^\ell \phi^2(x)\,dx\right| < M^2 \ell < +\infty$? (Wondering)
 
I like Serena said:
Hey evinda!

As $\phi$ is continuous on the bounded interval $[0,\ell]$, doesn't that imply that $\phi$ is bounded? (Wondering)

So don't we need to know anything about $\phi(0)$ and $\phi(\ell)$ , in order to deduce that $\phi$ is bounded? (Thinking)
 
evinda said:
So don't we need to know anything about $\phi(0)$ and $\phi(\ell)$ , in order to deduce that $\phi$ is bounded?

No. It suffices that they exist, which is implied by the fact that $\phi$ is a function on a closed interval.
And its continuity implies that the function is bounded on the interval itself. (Nerd)
 
I like Serena said:
No. It suffices that they exist, which is implied by the fact that $\phi$ is a function on a closed interval.
And its continuity implies that the function is bounded on the interval itself. (Nerd)

Ah I see... thank you! (Smile)
 

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