English

Inverse problem of potential theory

Analysis of PDEs 2018-01-15 v1

Abstract

P. Novikov in 1938 has proved that if u1(x)=u2(x)u_1(x)=u_2(x) for x>R|x|>R, where R>0R>0 is a large number, uj(x):=Djg0(x,y)dy,g0(x,y):=14πxy,u_j(x):=\int_{D_j}g_0(x,y)dy, \quad g_0(x,y):=\frac 1 {4\pi |x-y|}, and DjR3D_j\subset \mathbb{R}^3, j=1,2,j=1,2, DjBRD_j\subset B_R, are bounded, connected, smooth domains, star-shaped with respect to a common point, then D1=D2D_1=D_2. Here BR:={x:xR}B_R:= \{x: |x|\le R\}. Our basic results are: a) the removal of the assumption about star-shapeness of DjD_j, b) a new approach to the problem, c) the construction of counter-examples for a similar problem in which g0g_0 is replaced by g=eikxy4πxyg=\frac {e^{ik|x-y|}}{4\pi |x-y|}, where k>0k>0 is a fixed constant.

Cite

@article{arxiv.1801.04237,
  title  = {Inverse problem of potential theory},
  author = {A. G. Ramm},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1801.04237},
  year   = {2018}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-22T23:43:52.346Z