D. R.

Wilton
ECE Dept.
ECE 6382
Greens Functions for the
Stretched String Problem
Motivation: System Impulse Response
( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
1
0
in in
( ) , ( ) ( ) ( ) 0,
lim
'
N
h t t t t h t t h t t h t t
t t
v t v t t t dt
c
o
c
o o

' ' ' ' ' ' = = = = =

' '
' ' '
-
-
}
Impulse response :
where
General solution:
Since is a weighted superposition of s,
the output is a similarly - weig
L
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
out in
out in in in
( )
( )
v t v t h t t dt
v t v t h t t dt v t t t dt v t o

' ' ' =
' ' ' ' '
-
' = = =
}
} }
to check
hted superposition of the impulse response :
A similar idea can be applied to boundary value problems
L L
linear
in
v
+

out
v
+

L
out in
N
v v =
th order
linear diff. eq.
L
( ) t o
+

( ) h t
+

L
t
( ) t o
t
( ) h t
A causal output signal and its derivatives
are zero just before any input signal is applied
Stretched String with Fixed Ends
2
2
( )
(0) ( ) 0
d u
T f x
dx
u u
-
-
-
-
=
= =
tension
force per unit length
curvature
A string is stretched between two fixed end points
String equation:
(Homo.) Dirichlet BC's:
It is known that a
unique solution
to this problem
exists
x
0
( ) u x
( ) f x
( ) 0 u =
(0) 0 u =
Stretched String with Sliding Ends
x
0
( ) u x
( ) f x
( ) 0 u
'
= (0) 0 u
'
=
2
2
2
( )
(0) ( ) 0
( ) 0, ( )
d u
T f x
dx
u u
f x u x C
d u
d

-
-
-
=
=
-
' ' = =
=
String equation:
(Homo.) Neumann BC's:
Note that for (any constant) is a non- trivial solution
( ; i.e., many solutions exist)
Since
Uniqueness problem
2
0 0
0
1
( ) (0) 0 ( )
( ) 0.
dx u u f x dx
x T
f x dx

' ' = = =
=
} }
}

(Physically, net force must vanish so string doesn't
slide (

). )
no solution exists if
Existence problem
Possible string
positions
String position with
net force = 0
Stretched String, Fixed Ends,
Constant Force Density
2
2
2
2
,
( )
2
(0) 0 0
( ) 0 0
2 2
( )
( ) 0
2
T
d u
T q
dx
qx
u x A Bx
T
u A
q q
u B B
T T
qx x
u x
T

-

-


=
= + +
= =
= + = =

=
string displacement due to gravity
vanishe
Solution of string equation with constant force density :
a constant
BC's:
s as tension is increased
x
0
( ) u x
( ) f x
( ) 0 u = (0) 0 u =
quadratic
Stretched String, Fixed Ends,
Concentrated Force Density
0
2
0
2
2
( )
( ) ( )
x
x
x
x x
d u x
u x dx u x
dx
c
c c
'
' '
+
' '
= +
-
-
}
Solution for string equation
with constant force density
over a small line segment of
length centered at :
Solution has a continuous
slope at and
since
0
0
1
( ) ( )
( )
x
x
f x dx u x
T
f x

'
= +
}
and is piecewise continuous
- But slope becomes
more nearly discontinuous
as force becomes more
concentrated
x
0
( ) u x
( ) f x
( ) 0 u =
(0) 0 u =
quadratic
linear
2c
x
'
Greens Function for
Dirichlet Problem
( )
2
2
( , )
(0, ) ( , ) 0
d g x x
T x x
dx
g x g x
x
o
'
-
-
'
=
' ' = =
'
Green's function problem:
BC's:
Note that is just a fixed
parameter, the source
location
x
0
( , ) g x x
'
( )
( )
f x
x x o
'
=
( , ) 0 g x
'
=
(0, ) 0 g x
'
=
slope
discontinuity
x
'
0
1
lim ,
( )
2
0, otherwise
( )
x x x
f x
x x
c
c c
c
o

' ' < < +

'
Greens Function for Dirichlet Problem (cont.)
( )
2
2
( , )
0, 0 ,
, 0
( , )
,
(0, ) 0
( , ) 0
, 0
( , )
,
( , )
d g x x
T x x x x
dx
Ax B x x
g x x
Cx D x x
g x B
g x C D D C
Ax x x
g x x
C x x x
g x x x x
Ax C
'
' '
= s < < s
'
+ s <

'
=

'
+ <
-

-
s

'
= =
'
= + = =
'
s <

'
=

'
< s

' '
=
' '
=
Since and
Apply BC's:
Enforce continuity of at
( )
1 x
Greens Function for Dirichlet Problem (cont.)
( )
( , )
,
g x x
x x c c
c
'
' +
-
'
The slope discontinuity of is determined by
integrating over the interval on both sides of the
differential equation. Since the result is independent of we
take the limit as
( )
( )
2
2
0 0
0
( , ) ( , ) ( , )
lim lim 1
1 1
2
1 2
, 0
( , )
,
x
x
x x x x
d g x x dg x x dg x x
T dx T
dx dx dx
dg dg
C A
dx dx T T
x x
A C
T T
x x
x x
T
g x x
x x
x x
T
c
c c
c
c
c c
'+

'
= + = ' '

' ' ' ' ' +

(
= =
(

= =
' '
= =
'

-

' s <

' =

'

' < s

}
:
Solving and yields ,

( ) ,
,
x x
x x x
x x x T
> <
<
>

'

'

the smaller of
or ,
the larger of
Alternative Greens Function Approach
2
2
( , )
( , )
0, and
1
x x x x
t x x
x x
d t x x
T x x x x
dx
dt dt
dx dx T
= + = ' '
'
' =
'
' ' = < >
=
-
-
A is
a pair of homogeneous solutions
with the correct slope discontinuity
at :
E.g., the fo
fundamental solution
without regard for BCs
0,
,
( , ) ( , ) ( , )
2 ,
0,
x x x x
x x x x
t x x t x x t x x
T
x x
T x x
x x
T
+
' ' <

' ' <

' ' ' = = =
'
' >

' >

llowing are three common choices:
symmetric form causal form anticausal form
slope
-1
-3/4
-1/2
-1/4
0
slope
0
1/4
1/2
3/4
1
Pieced-together homogeneous solutions
with identical -1 slope discontinuities
Causal solution
= 0 for x < x
x'
Anticausal solution
= 0 for x < x
( )
1
2
t t t
+
= + No t e !
Alternative Greens Function Approach (cont.)
( , ) ( , )
(0, ) ( , ) 0
(0, ) 0 (0, )
(0, ) ( , )
( , ) 0
(0, ) ( , )
( , ) ( , ) (0, )
2
:
g x x t x x Ax B
g x g x
t x B B t x
t x t x
t x A B A
t x t x
g x x t x x x t x
x x
' ' = + +
' ' = =
' ' + = =
' '
' + + = =
' '
' ' ' =
-

+
'
=

Add homogeneous solutions and apply BCs. E.g., if

BCs
( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2
2
( , )
2 2
, 0
,
x x x
x
T T T
x x x x x
g x x
T T
x x
x x
T
x x
x x
T
' ' ' +
+ +
' ' ' +
' = +
'
' s <

=

'

' <

(i.e., symmetric form is used)

as before
Plot of Greens Function for Dirichlet Problem
x
x
'
0
0
( )
, g x x
'
max
,
2 2 4
g g
T
| |
= =
|
\ .
( , ) g x x
x
x
'
'
- is the string displacement
as a function of for every
possible point source location !
Using the Greens Function to Treat the
General Excitation
0
,
0
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
lim ( ) ( )
i
i i i
i
i
x
f x
f x f x x x dx
f x x x x
o
o

A
' ' ' =
= A
-
}

A general forcing function can be viewed as a

superposition of concentrated ("delta- function") sources:
i
x
( )
( )
(
)
)
(
i i
i i
f x x
f x
f x
x
x
x o
A
' A
x
( ) f x
0
i
x A
Using the Greens Function to Treat the
General Excitation (cont.)
,
0
( ) ( )
( ) ( , )
lim ( ) ( )
i
i i i
i i i
i i i
i
i
x
f x x x x
f x x g x x
f x x x x
o
o

A

A
- A
A

The displacement due to a single delta- excitation, ,

is . Hence the response to the sum over all sources,
,
is, by superposition, a su
,
0
0
( ) lim ( ) ( , )
( ) ( ) ( , )
i
i i i
i
i
x
u x f x x g x x
u x f x g x x dx

A
= A
' ' '
-
=

}
mmation of all their responses,
The above result hinges on the linearity of the differential equation
operator; we may (non- rigorously)
2 2
2 2
0 0
( ) ( , )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
d u x d g x x
T T f x dx f x x x dx f x
dx dx
o
'
' ' ' ' ' = = =
} }
check the solution as follows:
To Illustrate Use of the Greens Function, Apply
to the Constant Source Case Treated Earlier
( ) ( )
0 0
0
( )
( ) ( ) ( , ) ( , )
x
x
f x q
u x f x g x x dx q g x x dx
x x x x
q dx q dx
T T
x
q
=
' ' ' ' ' = =
' '
' ' = +

=
-

} }
} }
Let , a constant

( )
( )
2
2 2
1
2
2
x x
q x x
T T
| |
+
|
\ .
( )
( )
x x
q
T
(
(

= (as before!)
The Greens Function as an Inverse Operator
2
2
0
( ) ( ) ( , )
( )
d u
T u f
dx
u x f x g x x dx
u f
=
' ' ' =
=
-
-

}
Recall the operator form of the string equation:
Note that the solution,
can also be written in operator form,
where is the linear
L
G
G
G
integral operator
1 2 1 2
0
1 1
( ) ( , ) ( ) ( ) (
, (
) g x x dx af bf a f b f
u f f f u u
u u

' ' + = +
= = = =
= = =
= =
-

}
(linearity : )
Since
and
we see that
, the , , and that
i.e., and are a
G G G
L LG G GL
LG GL I I
G= L L= G L G
identity operator
transformations transform pair )
Summary of Greens Function Properties
( , ) ( , )
( ) ( ) (
g x x g x x
u x f x g x
-
-
-
' ' =
' =
The Green's function is not only the response due to a concentrated
source, but also incorporates boundary conditions
Symmetry ("reciprocity") property :
The equation
0
0
, )
( )
( ) ( ) ( , )
( )
n
n
x dx
f x dx
u x f x g x x dx
f x f
-
' '
' '
' ' ' =
=
}
}
expresses the solution
as a superposition of many small, concentrated loads
The solution also applies
to (a superposition of) discrete load

s,

( )
( ) ( , )
n
n n
n
x x
u x f g x x
o
=
-

The Green's function can also be used to

solve the BC case . . . inhomogeneous
x
0
1
x
3
x
2
x
1
f
2
f
3
f
The Inhomogeneous Boundary Condition Case
( )
( )
0
0
1
2
1 2
1
( ), (0) , ( )
( ), (0, (
2
) , ) 0
Tu f x u a u b
Tg x x g x g x
g u
g u dx
d
T g u ug dx T
dx
o
'' = = =
'' ' ' ' = = =

'' ''
-
=
}
}
(inhomogeneous BC)
(homogeneous BC)
Multiply by and by , subtract and integrate;
i.e., form :
LHS:
( )
0
( , )
g u ug dx
T g x
' '
' =
}
( ) ( ) ( , ) (0, )
b
u u g x T g x
=
| |
|
' ' ' ' +
|
|
\ .
| |
0 0
0
(0) (0) (0, )
( , ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( , ) ( )
( ) ( , ) ( ) (0, ) ( , )
a
u u g x
g x x f x u x x x dx u x g x x f x dx
u x g x x f x dx Tag x Tbg x
o
=
| |
| ' ' '
|
\ .
' ' ' ' = +
' ' ' ' ' ' = +
} }
}
RHS:
The Inhomogeneous Boundary Condition
Case (cont.)
0
0
0
( ) ( , ) ( ) (0, ) ( , )
( , ) ( , )
,
( , 0) ( , )
( ) ( , ) ( )
( , ) ( )
u x g x x f x dx Tag x Tbg x
g x x g x x
x x x x
dg x dg x
u x g x x f x dx Ta Tb
dx dx
g x x f x dx a
' ' ' ' ' ' = +
' ' =
' '
' '
-
' = +
' '

' ' ' = +

}
}
}
Use the symmetry property, ,
then interchange variables ( )
( , ) ( )
a b
x x
b
g x x u x ' -
+
equation of straight
line connecting and
Question: What conditions should satisfy if
satisfies inhomogeneous Neumann conditions?
The Inhomogeneous Boundary Condition Case (cont.)
0
( ) ( , ) ( )
a b
x x
u x g x x f x dx a b

' ' ' = + +

-
}
equation of straight
line connecting and
The above result suggests solving as two separate,
homogeneous problems and adding the solutions:
partially
1 1 1
1
0
2 2 2
( ), (0) 0, ( ) 0
( ) ( , ) ( )
0, (0) , ( )
Tu f x u u
u x g x x f x dx
Tu u a u b
'' = = =
' ' ' =
'' = =

=
}
(inhomo. eq., homo. BC)
Use Green's function to solve
(homo. eq., inhomo. BC)
Use homogeneous solution and BC's to solve
2
1 2
( ) ,
( ) ( ) ( )
x x
u x a b
u x u x u x

= +
=

+ Adding results yields

2
( ) u x
x 0
1
( ) u x
( )
( )
f x
x x o ' =
x'
( ) u x
Two Approaches to Finding a Greens Function
( )
( )
( )
( ) ( )
2
2
1 1 1
2 2 2
1 2
2
2
0 0
( ) ( )
, 0, ( ) 0,
,
, 0, ( ) 0
0
lim lim ( ) ( )
x
x
d d
p x q x
dx dx
Au x x x u u a
g x x
Bu x x x u u b
Au x Bu x x x
d g dg d
g dx p x q x g dx
dx dx
c
c c
c
'+

'
= + +
' < = =

' =

' > = =

' ' ' = =

| |
= + + =
|
\ .

}
, Homo. Dirichlet B.C.s
where
1) (continuity at )
L
L
L
L
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
1 2
1 2 2 1
1 2 1 2 1 2
2 1
1 2
1
1 2
1 2
( , ) ( , )
1
0
,
1 [ , ; ] [ , ; ]
,
[ , ; ]
(
,
,
[ , ; ]
x
x
g x x dg x x
dx dx
Au x Bu x
u x u x A u x u x
A B
u x u x B W u u x W u u x
u x u x
x x
W u u x
u x
g x x
u x u x
x x
W u u x
c
c
'+ +
'
' ' ' '

' ' ' ' + =

' ' ' ' (
( (
= = =
(
( (
' ' ' ' ' '

'
' <

'

' = =

'

' >

'

}

2)
1 2
2
1 2 1 2 1 2
[ , ; ]
) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) [ , ; ]
W u u x
u x
u x u x u x u x W u u x
< >
'
' ' ' ' ' ' ' =
(Wronskian)
x
a
b
x'
2
Bu
1
Au
Method 1
Two Approaches to Finding a Greens Function,
(contd)
Method 2
x
a
b
x'
n=1
n=2
n=3
n=4
( )
2
, , ,
m n n mn n n n n
g x x g
u u u u u u u
o o
o
- ' =
< > = < >
To solve , expand and in generalized Fourier
(eigenfunction) series and employ orthogonality properties,
( of ) ,
to determine all the coefficients.
L both
norm
2
,
,
n
n
n
n
n m
m n
n m
u
u
u
u u
u u
|
| |

< >
< > =
-
=

Note that is ortho since normal
2
mn
n
u
o
mn
o = !
, ( ) ( ) 0
n n n n n
u u u a u b
-
= = =
Find eigenfunctions satisfying B.C.'s:
L
The Eigenvalue Problem
, (0) 0, ( ) 0
1
1
Tu u u u
u u
u u u
u u

'' =
-
-
= =
=
= =
= =
=
Consider the eigenvalue problem
or
But since we can also write
or
Thus if is an eigenvalue of the differential operator ,
then is an eigen
L
LG= GL= I
GL G
G
L
0
:
1
( ) ( , ) ( ) u x g x x dx u x

' ' ' =

}
value of its integral operator inverse,
and the eigenvalue problem may be equivalently formulated this way.
Note that the boundary conditions are included in the operator
G
G.
The Eigenvalue Problem (cont.)
{ } 1, 2,
1
1 0.
n n
n
n
n

=
-

In many boundary value problems a of eigenvalues

exists such that For the corresponding
integral operator, however, the eigenvalues have the
property Such d
, .
discrete set
n m
n m = = -
istinctive eigenvalue behaviors
are often used to characterize operators ( ).
If the eigenvalues are distinct ( if ), then distinct, orthogonal


operator spectral analysis
eigenfunctions
1,
,
0,
n
n n n n m mn
m n
m n
u f
|
| | | | o
=

= < > = =
=
=
-

( ) also exist and can be normalized such that

and
If the eigenvalues form a set, we can find a solution of
& BCs
or, alternatively, a

Gree
L
L
eigenvectors
complete
( ) g x x o ' =
n's function,
& BCs
in terms of them.
Lg
Constructing Greens Functions from
Eigenvalue Solutions
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
1
0
1
,
( )
( ) , ( )
( ) ( )
n n n n m mn
n n
n
n n n n
n n
n
g x x
x x
x x d x
d x x x dx x
x x x x
| | | | o
o
o
o |
o | o | |
o | |

=
= < > =
' =
'
' =
' ' = = < > =
-
' ' =
-

Given:
& BCs where
To solve & BCs :
First expand in eigenfunctions :
Assume
(
L
L
complete )
We've simply this can be done, but it must be to
guarantee the eigenfunctions are a .
ness relation
assumed proved
complete set
General approach:
Expand everything in sight
in terms of eigenfunctions!
Constructing a Greens Functions from
Eigenvalue Solutions (contd)
( )
( )
( )
( )
1
0
1 1 1 1
( )
,
, ( )
, ( ) ,
( ) ( ) ( )
n n
n
n n n
n n n n n n n n n
n n n n
x x
g x x
g x x g x
g g x x x dx g
g x x g g g x x x
o
|
| |
o | | | | |

=

= = = =

'
' =
' = = < >
| |
' ' = = = =
|
\ .
-

}

key
step!
Next expand in eigenfunctions:
Assume
Hence
Equating
L L L
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
1
1
0
( )
( ) ( )
,
( )
, , ,
n
n
n
n n
n
n
n
n
n
n
x
g
x x
g x x
x
u x g x x f x dx g f f
|

| |

|
|

=
'
=
'
' =
' ' ' = = < > = <

| |

.
>
|
\

}
coeffs., or using orthogonality
eigenfunction expansion
of the Green's function
Specialization to the String Problem
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
2 2
2 2
2
0
0, 0 0
sin
2
sin , ,
sin
2
, ,
n
n n n n n n n n
n n
n n
n n m mn
d d
T
dx dx T
n n
A x T
T T
n x
n x
u x g x x f x dx g f
T

| | | | | | |
t t
|
t
| | | o
t
= = + = = =
| |
= = =
|
\ .
= < > =
' ' ' = = < >
-

}
For the clamped string problem,
where
With normalization, and
L
( )
( )
( )
( )
2
1
0
2
1
sin
sin sin
2
,
n
n
n x
f x dx
n
n x n x
g x x
T
n
t
t
t t
t

=
'
' '
'
' =
-

Note the above expresses the solution as a Fourier sine series

1
( )
(1/ )
p
p f x
n
+
O
If derivatives of exist, then
its Fourier series terms are
The Vibrating String Problem
2 2
2 2 2
1
( , )
( , )
( , )
y y
f x t
x v t
f x t
y x t
c c
=
c
-

c
Time- domain wave equation:
Assume forcing function varies sinusoidally in time;
then the response for will also be
sinusoidal and we can use phasors to
steady state
2 2 2
2
( )
( )
( , ) Re ( ) , ( ) ( )
( )
( , ) Re ( ) , ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ,
cos sin
F
Y
i t
i t
i x
i x
f x t F x e F x F x e
t i
y x t Y x e Y x Y x e
Y x k Y x F x k
v
A kx B kx
e
e
|
|
e
e

( = =

c c
`
( = =


)
'' + = =

-
+

represent both:
where
with solutions of the form
Assum
homogeneous
2
(0) 0, ( ) 0
( , ) ( , ) ( ), (0, ) 0, ( , ) 0
Y Y
G x x k G x x x x G x G x o
= =
'' ' ' ' ' ' + = = =
ing a clamped string,
(Homogeneous Dirichlet B.C.s)
the corresponding Green's function must thus satisfy
Greens Function for the Vibrating String
2
( , ) ( , ) ( ), (0, ) 0, ( , ) 0
sin ,
( , )
sin ( )
G x x k G x x x x G x G x
A kx x x
G x x
B k x
o '' ' ' ' ' ' + = = =
' <
'
-
=

Given the form of solutions of the homogeneous wave

equation and the boundary conditions, we may immediately
write
2
0 0
,
( , ) ( , ) sin sin ( )
lim ( , ) ( , ) lim ( )
( , ) ( , )
x x
x x
x x
G x x G x x A kx B k x
G x x k G x x dx x x dx
G x x G x x
c c
c c
c c
o
+
' ' + +

' '
+

' >

' ' ' ' ' ' = =

'' ' ' ' ( + =
-

' ' ' '
-
' = '
} }
Continuity of Green's function:
Slope discontinuity condition:
1 cos ( ) cos 1
sin sin ( ) 0
cos cos ( ) 1
kB k x kA x
kx k x A
k x k k x B
' ' =
' '
( ( (
=
( ( (
' '

-

In matrix form,
Method 1:
2 2 2 2
sin ( ) sin cos cos sin
cos sin
sin cos s
B k x B k kx B k kx
D kx E kx
x d dx d d
B k C k B
, ,
, ,
=
+
=
-

-
=
+
Note
is of the form , a homo. solt'n
Alternatively, note with the change of variables
and homo. solt'ns
are & BC's in ( ) k x
Vibrating String, Method 1 Solution
sin sin ( ) 0
cos cos ( ) 1
sin ( ) sin ( )
sin cos ( ) cos sin ( )
sin
kx k x A
k x k k x B
k x k x
A
k kx k x k x k x
k kx
' '
( ( (
=
( ( (
' '

' '
= =
' ' ' ' '

( k x' +
sin ( )
sin
)
sin sin
sin cos ( ) cos sin ( ) sin
sin sin ( )
,
sin sin ( )
sin
( , )
sin sin ( ) sin
,
sin
k x
k k
kx kx
B
k kx k x k x k x k k
kx k x
x x
kx k x
k k
G x x
kx k x k k
x x
k k
< >
'
=
(

' '
= =
' ' ' '
'

' <

'
' = =

'

' >

x 0
( , ) G x x'
( ) x x o '
( , ) 0 G x
'
=
(0, ) 0 G x
'
=
x'
x
0
( , ) G x x ' '
x'
x
0
( , ) G x x '' '
x'
( ) x x o '
Vibrating String, Method 2 Solution
Method 2:
2
2
2 2
2
( , ) ( , ) ( ), (0, ) 0, ( , ) 0
( ) ( ) ( ) (0) 0, ( ) 0
( ) ( ) 0
n n n n n n
n n
n n n
G x x k G x x x x G x G x
y x k y x y x y y
k
y x y x
o

o
o
'' ' ' ' ' ' + = = =
'' +
-
= = =
=
'' + =
First solve the corresponding eigenvalue problem,
,
For convenience, define
, w
( ) ( )
2 2
2
0
2 2
2 2
( ) sin , ; , 1, 2,
2
( ) sin ( ) , 1
( ) ( ), 1, 2,
n n n n n
n n n n
n n
n
n
y x x k n
n x
x x dx
d dx k x k n x n

t
o o o
t
| | | |
| t |
= = = =
= = < > =
( (

-
+ = =

}
hich is the harmonic eq. with solutions
or in orthonormal form,
since
where
( )
( )
n
x k n | t = Note are homogeneous solutions of wave eq. unless ! not
Vibrating String, Method 2 Solution, contd
( )
1
2
2 2
1
( , ) ( ) ( )
( , ) ( , ) ( ) ( ) ( )
n n
n
n n
n
G x x G x x
G x x k G x x G x k n x x x
|
t | o

=
' ' =
(
'' ' ' ' ' + = =

-

Next expand the Green's function in an eigenfunction series, and

substitute into the defining equation above:

( )
2
2
( )
( )
( ) ( ), ( ) (
m
m
n n n
x
x m n
G x k n x x x
|
|
t | o |

(
' ' = < > =

Form the inner product with on both sides of the equation (i.e., project
both sides onto ), use orthogonality, and finally let in the result :
( )
( ) ( )
2
2
2 2
2 2
1 1
)
( )
( )
sin sin
( ) ( ) 2
( , )
n
n
n n
n n
x
x
G x
k n
n x n x
x x
G x x
k n k n
|
t
t t
| |
t t

= =
'
'
' =

'
'
' = =


Comments on Greens Functions
( )
2
2
1
sin sin ( )
,
sin sin ( )
sin
( , )
sin sin ( ) sin
,
sin
( ) ( )
( , )
( )
n n
n
kx k x
x x
kx k x
k k
G x x
kx k x k k
x x
k k
x x
G x x
k n
Y x
| |
t
< >

=
'

' <

'
' = =

'

' >

'
' =

= -

Method 1: Homo. solt'n construction

Method 2: Eigenfunction construction
( )
( )
0 0
2
2
1
( , ) ( ) ( , ) ( )
( ) ,
x
x
n n
n
G x x F x dx G x x F x dx
x F
k n
k n n
| |
t
t

=
| |
' ' ' ' ' ' = +
|
\ .
-
-
< >
=

} } }

(Method1)
(Method 2)
Both Green's functions predict an infinite response as for any
The eigenfunction representatio

n sho
( )
( )
n
x k n | t
ws that the response function
is dominated by the mode when is near
Comments on Greens Functions, contd
C

- Note that the slope discontinuity of the Green's function is explicitly

incorporated in method 1, whereas in method 2, an infinite number
of functions (continuous with an infinite number of c
-
ontinuous
derivatives) are summed to create a slope- discontinuous function.
In solving 2- or 3- D (partial) differential equations by the method
of separation of variables, the Green's function often involves
products of 1- D Green's functions; method 1 is often used
for one dimension, whereas the eigenfunction representation is
used in the remaining dimensions!