Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2008 / Paper 2 / 2 / Solution

Let $s(\theta )$ be the $2\pi$-periodic ramp represented by $\theta$ on $(-\pi ,\pi )$. The Fourier series of a periodic sawtooth givesBoth boundary data are multiples of this odd function, so their angular means and cosine coefficients vanish. Consequently $A_0=C_0=A_n=C_n=0$. Put $h_n=2(-1{)}^{n+1}/n$. Matching the sine coefficients at the two radii gives $B_n{a}^n+D_n{a}^{-n}=h_n{\mu }_a$ and $B_n{b}^n+D_n{b}^{-n}=h_n{\mu }_b$. Solving this two-by-two linear system yieldsEquivalently, two-boundary annular harmonic interpolation expresses the same solution asEvery term is a harmonic function, and the radial factors enforce the specified boundary values. For a radius strictly between $a$ and $b$, their geometric decay makes the series smooth. At the boundary discontinuity $\theta =\pi$, the limiting Fourier value is the mean of the two one-sided values, zero. The boundary data are imposed away from that exceptional point, as stated.