Harmonic functions in the half-plane

analysisharmonic functionspartial differential equations

Denote by $\mathbb{H}$ the upper half-plane
$$
\mathbb{H} := \left\{ x \in \mathbb{R}^n : x_n > 0\right\}.
$$

Suppose that $u \in C^2(\mathbb{H}) \cap C(\bar{\mathbb{H}})$ is a bounded harmonic function such that $u \leq 0$ on $\partial\mathbb{H} = \{ x_n = 0\}$. Is it possible to conclude that $u \leq 0$ in all of $\mathbb{H}$? I know this is the case for $n = 2$ but am unable to establish the general case $n \geq 3$.

Best Answer

That's not true in $n=2$. For example, $u(x,y)=y$ is harmonic in $\mathbb{R}^2$, and positive for $y > 0$, even though $u(x,0) \le 0$. And it's not true in $\mathbb{R}^n$ for the same reason.

By assuming that $u$ is bounded, then you get the Poisson integral representation of $u$ from its boundary function, and that will give you what you want.