Solve Laplace's Equation with Laplace Transform

In summary, the Laplace transform is not directly applicable in solving the Laplace equation, but it can be used in solving other PDEs such as the heat equation and wave equation. It is also useful in solving the Laplace equation on a half space with boundary conditions known.
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Can we solve Laplace's equation by Laplace transform ?
 
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  • #2
How did you come to this thought? because Laplace is associated with it these topics?

Here's a writeup on the Laplace Transform:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laplace_transform

where it says it was discovered during his work on probability theory.

And here's a writeup on the Laplace Equation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laplace's_equation

and its beauty:

https://www.wired.com/2016/06/laplaces-equation-everywhere/

This is a partial differential equation to which "Separation of Variables" is often applied. to extract a solution.

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/DE/LaplacesEqn.aspx

I couldn't find any example online where the Laplace equation was solved by a Laplace Transform at some point in the solution but perhaps @fresh_42 or @Mark44 know of one.
 
  • #3
the Laplace transform of the partial derivative is ##L[\frac{\partial^2U}{\partial x^2}] = \frac{d^2u}{dx^2}##. This means that the Laplace transform is not useful in solving the Laplace equation, but it can be used to solve the heat equation, wave equation, and basically any 2D PDE for U(x,t) where one partial derivative is with respect to time and the other with respect to the spatial coordinate.
 
  • #4
If you're solving your equation on the half space and you know the value of the solution and it's derivative on the boundary, then yes.
 

1. What is Laplace's equation?

Laplace's equation is a partial differential equation that describes the relationship between the values of a function and its derivatives. It is often used in physics and engineering to model phenomena that involve diffusion, heat flow, and wave propagation.

2. What is the Laplace transform?

The Laplace transform is a mathematical tool that converts a function of time into a function of frequency. It is often used to solve differential equations, such as Laplace's equation, by transforming them into algebraic equations that are easier to solve.

3. How does the Laplace transform help solve Laplace's equation?

The Laplace transform allows us to convert Laplace's equation into an algebraic equation. This makes it easier to find a solution, as we can use algebraic techniques instead of more complex differential equation methods.

4. What are the steps to solve Laplace's equation with Laplace transform?

To solve Laplace's equation with Laplace transform, the steps are as follows:

1. Take the Laplace transform of both sides of the equation.

2. Use algebraic techniques to solve for the transformed function.

3. Apply the inverse Laplace transform to the solution to find the solution in the original function.

5. What are some applications of solving Laplace's equation with Laplace transform?

Solving Laplace's equation with Laplace transform has many applications in physics and engineering. Some examples include modeling heat conduction in materials, analyzing electrical circuits, and studying fluid flow in pipes and channels.

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