Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / ia / Paper 3 / 12B (Vector Calculus)

Work with real-valued smooth functions on the bounded region enclosed by $S$, with the oriented surface element pointing outward. Set $\psi =\varphi -{\varphi }_1$. It is a harmonic function in $V$ and has zero Dirichlet boundary conditions on $S$. Applying Green's first identity to $\psi$ with itself givesBoth terms on the right vanish by the boundary condition and harmonicity. The integrand is nonnegative and continuous, so $\nabla \psi =0$ throughout $V$. Consequently $\psi$ is constant on each connected component; every bounded component meets the prescribed boundary, where that constant is zero. ThereforeThis is the energy proof of Uniqueness of the Dirichlet problem. Connectedness of $V$ is not essential if the boundary values are prescribed on every component. Boundedness, or suitable decay and integrability at infinity, is needed for the boundary/energy argument; the finite enclosed-volume interpretation is used here.

Put $h=u-\varphi -C$. Then $h=0$ on $S$, and the constant does not change a gradient, so $\nabla u=\nabla \varphi +\nabla h$. Expand the unnormalized Dirichlet energy:The cross term is zero by Green's first identity:Thus the useful stronger identity isEquality holds exactly when $h$ has zero gradient. It is then constant on every connected component and zero on that component’s boundary, hence $h=0$. Therefore equality holds precisely when $u=\varphi +C$ throughout $V$. This is the Dirichlet principle; an additive boundary constant does not alter the minimizing energy. The energy here omits the optional factor $1/2$, which does not affect minimizers or the inequality.

Let $E(t)={\int }_V|\nabla w{|}^{2}dV$, using real-valued smooth $w$ and a fixed bounded region. Differentiation under the integral sign and Green's first identity yieldThe boundary term vanishes because $w_t=0$ on $S$, and the heat equation gives $w_t=\Delta w$ in $V$. ConsequentlyThe integrand is continuous and nonnegative. Thus at any fixed time, equality is equivalent to $\Delta w=0$ everywhere in $V$, also giving $w_t=0$ there at that time. This proves Dirichlet energy dissipation for the heat equation.

The boundary condition fixes the boundary temperature in time; it is not a zero normal derivative condition. No sign condition on ${\partial }_{n}w$ is used. The stated smoothness licenses the time derivative, spatial integration by parts and boundary trace; without that regularity an appropriate weak energy argument would be required.