Application of Fourier Series to Differential Equations

Since the beginning Fourier himself was interested to find a powerful tool to be used in solving differential equations. Therefore, it is of no surprise that we discuss in this page, the application of Fourier series differential equations. We will only discuss the equations of the form y(n) + an-1y(n-1) + ........+ a1y' + a0 y = f(x),

where f(x) is a

-periodic function.

Note that we will need the complex form of Fourier series of a periodic function. Let us define this object first: Definition. Let f(x) be -periodic. The complex Fourier series of f(x) is

where

We will use the notation

If you wonder about the existence of a relationship between the real Fourier coefficients and the complex ones, the next theorem answers that worry.

Theoreme. Let f(x) be and

-periodic. Consider the real Fourier coefficients . We have

of f(x), as well as the complex Fourier coefficients

TARUN GEHLOT (B.E, CIVIL HONORS)

The proof is based on Euler's formula for the complex exponential function. Remark. When f(x) is 2L-periodic, then the complex Fourier series will be defined as before where

for any

Example. Let f(x) = x, for coefficients . Answer. We have d0 = 0 and

and f(x+2) = f(x). Find its complex Fourier

Easy calculations give

Since

, we get

. Consequently

TARUN GEHLOT (B.E, CIVIL HONORS)

Back to our original problem. In order to apply the Fourier technique to differential equations, we will need to have a result linking the complex coefficients of a function with its derivative. We have: Theorem. Let f(x) be 2L-periodic. Assume that f(x) is differentiable. If

then

Example. Find the periodic solutions of the differential equation y' + 2y = f(x),

where f(x) is a Answer. Set

-periodic function.

Let y be any

-periodic solution of the differential equation. Assume

Then, from the differential equation, we get

Hence

TARUN GEHLOT (B.E, CIVIL HONORS)

Therefore, we have

Example. Find the periodic solutions of the differential equation

Answer. Because

we get

with

Let y be a periodic solution of the differential equation. If

then

. Hence

TARUN GEHLOT (B.E, CIVIL HONORS)

Therefore, the differential equation has only one periodic solution

The most important result may be stated as: Theoreme. Consider the differential equation

where f(x) is a 2c-periodic function. Assume

for given by

. Then the differential equations has one 2c-periodic solution

where

TARUN GEHLOT (B.E, CIVIL HONORS)