Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2017 / Prelims / Mathematics V resit / Question 6 / c / iii / Solution

The trigonometric identityshows that only angular Fourier modes $1$ and $3$ are required. Differentiating the harmonic expansion on a disk at $r=1$ multiplies the coefficient of each nonconstant Fourier mode by $n$. Thus $B_1=3/4$ and $3B_3=-1/4$, givingEach term is a regular harmonic function, and the radial derivative isThe Neumann compatibility condition for Laplace's equation holds becauseas is necessary by the divergence theorem applied to the gradient of a harmonic function.

The additive constant is undetermined. This Neumann boundary condition is unchanged by $T\mapsto T+C$, so the paper's blanket uniqueness assertion requires a normalization in this case. The uniqueness of the Neumann problem gives uniqueness up to a constant; prescribing $T(0)=0$, or zero mean temperature, selects the displayed answer with $C=0$.