1. Chapter 9 Differential equations
November 7 First order differential equations
Terminologies:
1) Ordinary vs. partial differential equations
An ordinary differential equation (ODE) involves only one independent variable and contains only total differentials.
A partial differential equation (PDE) involves more than one independent variable and contains partial differentials.
2) Linear vs. nonlinear differential equations
A linear differential equation contains only terms that are linear in the dependent variable or its derivatives.
A nonlinear differential equation contains nonlinear function of the dependent variable.

2. 3) Order of a differential equation
The order of a differential equation is determined by the highest derivative in the equation.
4) Homogeneous vs. inhomogeneous differential equations
A linear differential equation is homogeneous if every term contains the dependent variable or its derivatives.
A homogeneous differential equation can be written as where L is a linear differential operator.
A homogeneous differential equation always has a trivial solution y(x) = 0.
Superposition principle: If y1(x) and y2(x) are solutions to a linear homogeneous differential equation, then ay1(x) +by2(x) is a solution to the same equation.

3. An inhomogeneous differential equation has at least one term that contains no dependent variable.
Inhomogeneous equations are often called “driven” equations. They describe the response of the system to an external force.
The general solution to a linear inhomogeneous differential equation can be written as the sum of two parts: Here yh(x) is the general solution of the corresponding homogeneous equation, and yp(x) is any particular solution of the inhomogeneous equation.

4. 9.2 First-order differential equations
A first-order ordinary differential equation can be generally written as
I. Separable variables
If the equation has the form , then

6. II. Exact differential equations
A first-order ordinary differential equation can be generally written as
The differential is exact if we can find j (x, y) so that
The solution of the differential equation is thus simply
The condition for the differential to be exact is

7. Integrating factor
Many times the differential
is not exact. We can possibly multiply an integrating factor a(x,y) to both P and Q and make them exact:

8. Read: Chapter 9: 1-2
Homework: 9.2.2,9.2.3,9.2.4
Due: November 18

9. November 9, 11 Linear first order ODEs
9.2 First-order differential equations
Linear first order ODEs:
The general form of a linear first order ODE is
All linear first order ODEs have a formulated solution.

12. Method of the variation of the constant in solving inhomogeneous ODEs:

13. Theorem: The solution of an inhomogeneous ODE is unique up to an arbitrary multiple of the solution of the corresponding homogeneous ODE.
Linear dependence and Wronskian:
Two solutions are linearly independent if has the only solution a= b=0. Otherwise the two solutions are linearly dependent.
Theorem: A first order homogeneous ODE has only one linearly independent solution.

14. In general, for n functions the Wronskian is defined as

15. Theorem: A second order homogeneous ODE has at the most two linearly independent solutions.
Theorem: An nth-order homogeneous ODE has at the most n linearly independent solutions.
Corollary: The general solution of a second order homogeneous ODE is
Corollary: The general solution of a second order inhomogeneous ODE is

16. Read: Chapter 9: 2
Homework: ,9.2.13,9.2.14
Due: November 18

17. November 14 Separation of variables
9.3 Separation of variables (for partial deferential equations)
Separation of variables is a technique which converts a PDE into a set of related ODEs. We look for the solution of the PDE that takes the form
As an example let us consider the wave equation
Let us first separate the space from the time dependence of the wave function.
Now the lhs is a function of r while the rhs is a function of t. For them to be equal, they must each equals to a constant, called the constant of separation.

18. I. Cartesian coordinates

19. II. Spherical polar coordinates

20. More about separation constants:
A separation constant does not necessarily need to be exactly a constant. It can be a function and the differential equation may still be separable.
Example:

21. Read: Chapter 9: 3
Homework: 9.3.4,9.3.9
Due: December 2

22. November 16,18 Series solution
9.4 Singular points
Before we learn the series solution of differential equations, it is necessary to understand the singular points of differential equations. This is because singular points can possibly cause trouble when a series solution is attempted.
We consider a point x = x0 for a second-order homogeneous differential equation
If P(x) and Q(x) are both finite at x = x0, then x = x0 is an ordinary point.
If either P(x) or Q(x) is infinite at x = x0, then x = x0 is a singular point.
If both (x-x0)P(x) and (x-x0)2Q(x) are finite as xx0, then x = x0 is a regular singular point.
If either (x-x0)P(x) or (x-x0)2Q(x) is infinite as xx0, then x = x0 is an irregular (essential) singular point.
It can be shown that at an ordinary point or a regular singular point, it is possible to use the series solution approach. However, at an essential singular point the series solution method will most likely fail.

23. Singularity at infinity:
We use variable z =1/x, and study the behaviors of the new coefficients of the differential equation as z 0 .

25. 9.5 Series solutions – Frobenius’ method
The series solution method can be used to solve homogeneous ODEs that we have difficulty in solving them using other ways.

27. Question: What happens if we choose k = − m? Do we get another solution?
The recurrence relation is then
It does not work for j = 2m if m is an integer.
Fuchs’ theorem:
The Frobenius’ method can always obtain at least one power-series solution, provided we are expanding about a point that is an ordinary point or a regular singular point. If we attempt an expansion about an irregular or essential singularity, the method will most likely not work.

28. Read: Chapter 9: 4-5
Homework: 9.4.1,9.4.2,9.5.6(a),9.5.16
Due: December 2

29. November 28 A second solution
For a second-order homogeneous ODE
we can always find a second linearly independent solution y2(x), provided that we have known a first solution y1(x) from other methods such as series solution.
The Wronskian can be directly obtained from the differential equation without knowing its solutions.
Solving a linear first-order ODE

31. Series form of the second solution:

32. Second order inhomogeneous differential equation: variation of constants
Suppose a second-order homogeneous ODE
has the solution y(x) = c1 y1(x)+ c2 y2(x), and the second-order inhomogeneous ODE
has the solution
y(x) = c1 y1(x)+c2 y2(x)+yp(x) = C1(x) y1(x)+ C2(x) y2(x),
where C1(x) and C2(x) are going to be determined.

33. Read: Chapter 9: 6
Homework: 9.6.6,9.6.9,9.6.15,9.6.19
Due: December 9

34. November 30 Green’s function
9.7 Nonhomogeneous equation − Green’s function
A nonhomogeneous linear differential equation can be written as
L = Linear differential operator
y(r) = Field to be found (response)
f (r) = Source function (driving force)
Because of the linearity of the equation, if f (r) can be decomposed into a series of function f (r) =Si fi(r), with each fi(r) causes a field of yi(r), i.e., then the solution of the original differential equation will be y1(r) + y2 (r)+…. We also know that any source function f (r) can be decomposed into a number of d functions by Therefore if we can find the solution of the
Green’s function
the solution of the original differential equation will be
Proof:

35. Notes to Green’s functions:
The Green’s function G(r, r') can be thought as the field distribution at r caused by a point source located at r'.
Since any source function is a sum of many point sources, the actual solution of a nonhomogeneous linear differential equation is a superposition of the Green’s function caused by each of the point sources.
The Green’s function is not one specific function. It is problem-specific, depending on the initial differential equation we are asked to solve.
Examples of Green’s functions:
Electrostatics.

36. Falling objects. An object is dropped at t =0.
Though this seems to be cumbersome, it can be directly applied to solve an varying force problem. The power of Green’s function is then revealed:

37. Imaging process. How a camera works
Imaging process. How a camera works. The Green’s function for a point source is called a point-spread function, which is usually an Airy spot with some rings. The image is a superposition of the point-spread function, weighted by the source intensity. Though I do not know the actual differential equation involved. y
d (y-y',z-z') z Y
G (Y,Z;y',z') Z y
S (y,z) z Y
I (Y,Z) Z

38. Read: Chapter 9: 7
Homework: 9.7.5,6,15
Due: December 9

39. December 2 Helmholtz equation
Example of Green’s functions: Helmholtz equation.

42. Quantum mechanical scattering: Neumann series solution and Born approximation

43. Read: Chapter 9: 7
No homework