The differential transform and its application to an electrostatics image problem (Q1066043)

The differential transform was introduced by the first author on the basis of Caignard's method in theoretical seismology. It maps solutions of the Laplace equation into solutions of the same, and involves a Laplace transform with respect to a functional parameter. The latter transform is used to map an operational linear boundary value problem into the corresponding actual one. Demanding independence of the functional parameter serves to produce the actual solution as through separation of variables. An interesting example of its application is given: starting from the solution to a free point charge, the differential transform method is applied to the classical problem of a point charge between two infinite conducting plates, yielding the known solutions.