(i) Define the concept of "fundamental solution" of a linear constant-coefficient partial differential operator and write down the fundamental solution for the operator −Δ on R3.
(ii) State and prove the mean value property for harmonic functions on R3.
(iii) Let u∈C2(R3) be a harmonic function which satisfies u(p)⩾0 at every point p in an open set Ω⊂R3. Show that if B(z,r)⊂B(w,R)⊂Ω, then
u(w)⩾(Rr)3u(z).
Assume that B(x,4r)⊂Ω. Deduce, by choosing R=3r and w,z appropriately, that
B(x,r)infu⩾3−3B(x,r)supu.
[In (iii), B(z,ρ)={x∈R3:∥x−z∥<ρ} is the ball of radius ρ>0 centred at z∈R3⋅]