The Dirichlet problem for the two-dimensional Helmholtz equation for an open boundary

Abstract

Development of a complete theory of the two-dimensional Dirichlet problem for an open boundary. It is shown that the solution of the Dirichlet problem for an open boundary requires the solution of a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. Although a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind usually has no solution if the kernel is continuous, owing to the logarithmic singularity of the kernel, the equation in this case is converted to a singular integral equation with a Cauchy kernel. It is proven that the homogeneous adjoint equation of the singular integral equation has no nonzero solution. By virtue of this result, and with the aid of an existence theorem known in the theory of singular integral equations, the existence of solutions of the singular integral equation, and then of the unique solution of the Fredholm integral equation of the first kind is proved.