Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2016 / iii / Paper 335 / 2 / a / Solution

Choose the time convention $e^{-i\omega t}$ and the outgoing Sommerfeld radiation condition. Define the outgoing Green function for the three-dimensional Helmholtz equation byAway from ${\mathbf{r}}^{\prime }$ it solves the homogeneous Helmholtz equation. Integrating its radial derivative over a small sphere gives $-1$ in the zero-radius limit, verifying the sign of the Dirac delta distribution. At infinity it satisfies $({\partial }_R-ik)G_k=o(R^{-1})$.

For the positive source on the right-hand side, the outgoing field isApplying the Helmholtz equation operator under this source representation gives $Q$. The minus sign is essential with the displayed Green function convention; defining the Green function to satisfy $LG=+\delta$ instead would absorb it. Here $A$ is the solid ball of radius $r_0$, as required by the volume source equation. Its finite volume and $Q\in L^2(A)$ make $Q$ integrable. The Sommerfeld radiation condition specifies the outgoing solution; without it one could add a homogeneous Helmholtz equation solution.