The Malgrange–Ehrenpreis theorem states that every nonzero constant-coefficient linear partial differential operator on has a fundamental solution of a linear differential operator: there is an such that .
Write . After an orthogonal change of coordinates and multiplication by a nonzero constant, its polynomial symbol may be written as a monic polynomial in the last frequency,
For each real , this polynomial has complex roots counted with multiplicity. Among a fixed finite collection of horizontal lines at bounded heights, one can choose a line that stays a positive distance from all those roots. Continuity of the roots preserves the choice on a neighborhood . Take a countable locally finite cover by such neighborhoods, refine it to a measurable disjoint partition , and let be the chosen height on . The resulting Hörmander staircase
has bounded heights and may be chosen so that on each step.
For a test function , define
The Paley–Wiener–Schwartz theorem gives rapid decay in the real frequency directions and at most a fixed exponential factor in the bounded imaginary direction. Together with , this proves that the integral defines a continuous distribution. Applying cancels the denominator. The remaining integrand is entire in , so the Cauchy integral theorem shifts every horizontal contour to the real axis; the partition then recombines into . The Fourier inversion theorem gives
which proves the theorem.
Let and , so mass conservation for the two-dimensional incompressible flow is automatic. Write for buoyancy and introduce the diffusive operators
The Linearized Boussinesq equations are
Taking the curl of the momentum conservation equations eliminates the pressure and gives
Apply and use . Since the constant-coefficient linear partial differential operators commute,
This is the viscous-diffusive internal gravity wave equation.