Energy Conservation and Uniqueness

Consider the wave equation utt c2 ux x = 0 with initial data u(x, 0) = 0 and ut (x, 0) = 0. We
claim that u(x, t) = 0 is the unique solution of this problem. To see this, multiply both sides of the
equation by ut and integrate (in x over R):
Z
Z
ut (utt c2 uxx ) dx =
ut 0 dx = 0
(1)
R

We first recognize that ut utt = 12 t (u2t ) (by product rule). For the ut uxx term, we integrate by
parts:
Z
Z
1
2
t (u2t ) + c2 utx ux ) dx
(2)
ut (utt c uxx ) dx =
R
R 2
(the boundary terms disappear if we assume u or ux vanishes at infinity... you can think of this as
imposing Dirihlet or Neumann boundary conditions at ). Then note that c2 utx ux = 12 t (u2x ).
So we finally get
Z
1
c2
dE
=
t (u2t ) + t (u2x ) dx = 0
(3)
dt
2
R 2
where E is the energy
E(t) = K + P =

1
2

|ut |2 + c2 |ux |2 dx

(4)

K is the kinetic energy and P is the potential (remember K = 21 mv 2 ?) The potential energy has to
do with how steep the wave is, since ux is the derivative in space. Think abouf surfing on a really
steep wave versus just hanging out on flat water. What we have shown is that E 0 (t) = 0, so E(t)
is constant... But,
Z
1
E(0) =
02 + c2 02 dx = 0
(5)
2 R
by plugging in the initial conditions. If you have a constant function which is zero at t = 0, then it
must be 0 for all t. But if E(t) 0, then u(x, t) 0. This finishes the proof.
This method can also be used to show uniqueness of solutions to the wave equation. If u and
v are both solutions of the inhomogeneous equation utt c2 uxx = f (x, t) with inital conditions
u(x, 0) = v(x, 0) = f (x), ut (x, 0) = vt (x, 0) = g(x), then their difference w = u v solves
wtt c2 wxx = 0, with initial conditions w(x, 0) = wt (x, 0) = 0. The proof above using energy
methods shows that w 0, and hence u v.
1