Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-year-2-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2018/paper-2/2/a/solution

Put in the Laplace equation in polar coordinates. After multiplication by , separation of variables gives
The angular function is -periodic and single-valued, so its nonconstant modes are with integer . Their radial Euler differential equation has solutions ; finiteness at the origin excludes .
The zero angular mode has constant angular part and radial solutions . The logarithmic term is again excluded at the origin. Superposition therefore yields
This is the regular harmonic expansion inside the disk.

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