Green's functions and Riemann's method

Abstract

Methods for solving boundary value problems in linear, second order, partial differential equations in two variables tend to be somewhat rigidly partitioned in some of the standard text-books. Problems for elliptic equations are sometimes solved by finding the fundamental solution which is defined as a solution with a given singularity at a certain point. Another approach is by way of Green's functions which are usually defined as solutions of the original homogeneous equations now made inhomogeneous by the introduction of adelta function on the right hand side. The Green's function coincides with the fundamental solution for elliptic equations but exhibits a totally different type of singularity for parabolic or hyperbolic equations. Boundary value problems for hyperbolic equations can often by solved by Riemann's method which depends on the existence of an auxiliary function called the Riemann or sometimes the Riemann-Green function. The main object of this paper is to show the close relationship between Riemann's method and the method of Green's functions. This not only serves to unify different methods of solution of boundary value problems but also provides an additional method of determining Riemann functions for given hyperbolic equations. Before establishing these relationships we shall survey the general approach to boundary value problems through the use of the Green's function.