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

In summary: This terminology comes from the theory of integral equations and has been adopted in PDEs, as many problems can be reduced to integral equations. In summary, the term "heat kernel" refers to a specific function used in solving the heat equation.
  • #1
yetar
54
0
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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  • #2
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.
 
  • #3
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:
  • #4
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

[tex]
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),
[/tex]

where

[tex]
K:[0,1]\times [0,1]\to\mathbb{C}
[/tex]

is some bounded function, then [itex]K[/itex] is called the kernel of this integral operator.
 

1. What is a bounded solution of the heat PDE?

A bounded solution of the heat PDE (partial differential equation) refers to a solution that remains within a finite range or does not grow infinitely large as time goes on. This is important in physical applications to ensure that the solution remains realistic and does not diverge.

2. What is the heat kernel?

The heat kernel is a fundamental solution to the heat PDE, also known as the fundamental solution or Green's function. It describes the distribution of heat in a given medium over time, and can be used to solve various diffusion problems in physics and engineering.

3. Is u necessarily the heat kernel for a bounded solution?

No, u is not necessarily the heat kernel for a bounded solution. While the heat kernel is a bounded solution, there may be other solutions to the heat PDE that are also bounded. The heat kernel is a specific solution that satisfies certain initial and boundary conditions.

4. What factors contribute to the boundedness of a solution to the heat PDE?

There are several factors that contribute to the boundedness of a solution to the heat PDE. These include the initial conditions, boundary conditions, and the properties of the medium such as its thermal conductivity and heat capacity.

5. How is the concept of bounded solutions of the heat PDE applied in real-world scenarios?

The concept of bounded solutions of the heat PDE is applied in various real-world scenarios, such as in heat transfer problems in engineering and physics. It is also used in modeling the spread of diseases, diffusion of chemicals, and other phenomena that can be described by the heat PDE.

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