Infinite and Semi-infinite Spatial Domains 609
The solution to the differential equation in x is
U(ω, x) = A(ω) e
ωx
+B(ω) e
−ωx
Thus, taking the inverse transform, the solution to our homogeneous partial differential
equation can be written as the Fourier integral
u(x, y) =
∞
−∞
A(ω) e
ωx
+B(ω) e
−ωx
e
iωy
2π
dω
The Fourier coefficients A(ω) and B(ω) are determined from the boundary conditions imposed
on the problem.
If the domain is semi-infinite in extent with respect to either the x or y variable, then depending
on the homogeneous boundary conditions imposed at the origin, we write our solution as either
a Fourier sine or Fourier cosine integral, and we proceed as we did in Sections 9.6 and 9.8; the
method of images is also available for use for semi-infinite intervals.
In Section 9.5, we discussed the convolution method in solving diffusion equation problems,
and we provided several examples using this method. This method can also be used to solve
Laplace equation problems. We now demonstrate the convolution method of solution for an
illustrative problem.
DEMONSTRATION: We seek the electrostatic potential distribution u(x, y) in a charge-free
region over the two-dimensional domain (the right half-plane) D ={(x, y) |0 <x<∞,
−∞ <y<∞}. The edge x = 0 has a potential distribution f(y) given as follows.
SOLUTION: The Laplace partial differential equation is
∂
2
∂x
2
u(x, y) +
∂
2
∂y
2
u(x, y) = 0
The domain is infinite in extent with respect to the y variable and semi-infinite in extent with
respect to the x variable. We require the solution to be absolutely integrable over this infinite
half-plane. In addition, there is a given potential distribution along the line x = 0. Thus, the
boundary conditions on the problem are
u(0,y)= f(y) and
∞
−∞
∞
0
|u(x, y)|dx dy<∞
Because we have a nonhomogeneous boundary condition with respect to x at the line x = 0,
and the boundary with respect to y is infinite in extent, then we write the solution u(x, y) as a