Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 iii Paper 69 2 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Adopt the planar Fourier transform conventionExtend the disk potential to three dimensions. The Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity becomesFor , decay away from an isolated disk and continuity across it give . Integration through the plane yields , hence the razor-thin disk Poisson kernelThe given transform of is . The convolution theorem therefore gives the forward potential relationFor the reverse relation, , soInvert the transform to obtain the thin-disk potential-density inversionAn additive constant in is annihilated by . These formulas hold for suitable isolated finite disks, and in a distributional or regularized sense for less regular profiles. The uniform zero-wavenumber sheet needs a separate vertical solution; the infinite Mestel disk requires potential differences or an infrared regularization, since its absolute forward integral diverges.