In a region R of R3 bounded by a closed surface S, suppose that ϕ1 and ϕ2 are both solutions of ∇2ϕ=0, satisfying boundary conditions on S given by ϕ=f on S, where f is a given function. Prove that ϕ1=ϕ2.
In R2 show that
ϕ(x,y)=(a1coshλx+a2sinhλx)(b1cosλy+b2sinλy)
is a solution of ∇2ϕ=0, for any constants a1,a2,b1,b2 and λ. Hence, or otherwise, find a solution ϕ(x,y) in the region x⩾0 and 0⩽y⩽a which satisfies:
ϕ(x,0)=0,ϕ(x,a)=0,x⩾0ϕ(0,y)=sinanπy,ϕ(x,y)→0 as x→∞,0⩽y⩽a
where a is a real constant and n is an integer.