An integral equation solution to the Dirichlet problem for Laplace's equation in an ellipse (Q752311)

The author considers an integral equation with a real symmetric \(L^ 2\) kernel which arises in the study of the Dirichlet problem for the Laplace equation on an ellipse. Under compatibility conditions existence of a solution of the Dirichlet problem is proved and two representations for it are given. The first representation is a series expansion in terms of the Chebyshev polynomials. The second is given in terms of the logarithmic derivative of the theta function. This latter is analogous to the Poisson integral representation in the case of a circular boundary.