[Math] Compatibility of initial and boundary conditions

partial differential equations

Suppose we consider the heat equation $$\partial_t u = \Delta u, x \in \operatorname{int}D^2, t > 0$$
where $D^2$ is the closed unit disc in $\mathbb{R}^2$, subject to Neumann type boundary conditions $$\partial_\eta u(x, t) = A(t), x \in \partial M, t > 0$$ and the initial condition
$$u(x, 0) = u_0(x), x \in D^2$$ Do we necessarily have to have
$$\partial_\eta u(x, 0) = \lim_{t \to 0} A(t) ?$$
Is the answer same for the wave equation $$\partial^2_t u = \Delta u$$ with the same initial and boundary conditions?

Best Answer

No, this is frequently not the case. The initial and boundary conditions may naturally disagree at the edge. For example, suppose we take a cold circular plate (temperature $0$) and start heating its edges at time $t=0$. Then the initial condition is $u(x,0)=0$ while the boundary condition is $A_\eta(x,t)=A>0$. The initial and boundary conditions do not agree along the edge of space-time cylinder, $\partial D^2\times \{0\}$. This will cause the normal derivative of $u$ to be discontinuous at the edge. But it will be a perfectly smooth solution in the open cylinder $\operatorname{int} D^2\times (0,\infty)$, will satisfy the initial condition on $\operatorname{int} D^2\times \{0\}$, and will satisfy the boundary condition on $\partial D^2\times (0,\infty)$.

Similarly for the wave equation.