A short note on harmonic functions and zero divisors on the Sierpinski fractal (Q5964802)

The Sierpinski triangle (ST) along with its higher dimensional analog is one of the most well-known and important fractals in the theory of fractals. They are both known as the Sierpinski gasket (SG). The present note originated from the following property: two functions \(u\) , \(v\) belonging to \(H^1(\text{ST})\) and satisfying \(u\cdot v=0\) are necessarily orthogonal with respect to the semi-inner product of this Sobolev-type space. In fact, this property also holds for the higher dimensional analog of the ST. The case where \(u\) or \(v\) is harmonic was examined first while attempting to prove the above property. In that case one of the two functions has to be the constant zero function. The present paper goes through the proof of this fact; some interesting features of harmonic functions on the SG are mentioned, emphasizing their close relationship with the self-similar structure of this fractal.