# Newton potential

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in the broad sense

A potential with Newton kernel $1/|x-y|^{N-2}$, where $|x-y|$ is the distance between two points $x$ and $y$ of the Euclidean space $\mathbf R^N$, $N\geq3$, that is, an integral of the form

$$u(x)=\int\limits_S\frac{d\mu(y)}{|x-y|^{N-2}},\label{1}\tag{1}$$

where integration is with respect to a certain Radon measure $\mu$ on $\mathbf R^N$ with compact support $S$. When the measure $\mu$ is non-negative, the Newton potential \eqref{1} is a superharmonic function in the whole space $\mathbf R^n$ (see Subharmonic function).

Outside the support $S$ of $\mu$ the Newton potential \eqref{1} has derivatives of all orders in the coordinates of $x$ and is a regular solution of the Laplace equation $\Delta u=0$, that is, $u$ is a harmonic function on the open set $CS$ and is regular at infinity with $u(\infty)=0$. When $\mu$ is absolutely continuous, then $u$ has the form

$$u(x)=\int\limits_D\frac{1}{|x-y|^{N-2}}f(y)\,d\omega(y),\label{2}\tag{2}$$

where $d\omega$ is the volume element in $\mathbf R^N$ and $D$ is a certain bounded domain. If here the density $f$ is Hölder continuous in the closed domain $D$ and if the boundary $\partial D$ consists of finitely many closed Lyapunov hypersurfaces (cf. Lyapunov surfaces and curves), then $u$ has continuous second-order derivatives inside $D$ and satisfies the Poisson equation $\Delta u(x)=-(N-2)2\pi^{N/2}f(x)/\Gamma(N/2)$.

In Newton's work the concept of a "potential" does not yet occur. The existence of a force function for Newtonian gravitational forces was first proved by J.L. Lagrange in 1773. The terms "potential function" and "potential" applied to integrals of the form \eqref{2} for $N=3$ were first used by G. Green in 1828 and C.F. Gauss in 1840. The term "Newton potential" is sometimes used in the narrow sense, applied only to volume potentials of the form \eqref{2}, and sometimes only to the physically real case of a potential \eqref{2} of gravitational forces for $N=3$, created by masses distributed in $D$ with density $f(y)$.

If an integral of type \eqref{2} or \eqref{1} is over a hypersurface $S\subset\mathbf R^N$, that is, if

$$u(x)=\int\limits_S\frac{1}{|x-y|^{N-2}}f(y)\,d\sigma(y),\label{3}\tag{3}$$

then one speaks of a simple-layer Newton potential; it is a regular harmonic function everywhere outside $S$. If $S$ is a closed Lyapunov hypersurface and the density $f(y)$ is Hölder continuous on $S$, then the simple-layer Newton potential is continuous everywhere on $\mathbf R^N$, and its derivatives are continuous outside $S$. Moreover, its normal derivative in the direction of the outward normal $n_0$ to $S$ at $y_0\in S$ has different limits on approaching $S$ from the inside and the outside. These are expressed by the formulas

$$\lim_{x\to y_0}\left.\frac{du}{dn_0}\right|_i=\frac{du(y_0)}{dn_0}+\frac{(N-2)\pi^{N/2}}{\Gamma(N/2)}f(y_0),$$

$$\lim_{x\to y_0}\left.\frac{du}{dn_0}\right|_o=\frac{du(y_0)}{dn_0}-\frac{(N-2)\pi^{N/2}}{\Gamma(N/2)}f(y_0),$$

where

$$\frac{du(y_0)}{dn_0}=(N-2)\int\limits_Sf(y)\frac{\cos(y-y_0,n_0)}{|y-y_0|^{N-1}}\,d\sigma(y),\qquad y_0\in S,$$

is the so-called direct value of the normal derivative of the simple-layer Newton potential, and $(y-y_0,n_0)$ is the angle between the vector $y-y_0$ and the normal $n_0$; the normal derivative $du(y_0)/dn_0$ is continuous on $S$.

A double-layer Newton potential has the form

$$v(x)=\int\limits_Sf(y)\frac{\cos(y-x,n)}{|y-x|^{N-1}}\,d\sigma y,\label{4}\tag{4}$$

where $n$ is the outward normal to $S$ at $y\in S$. It is also a harmonic function outside $S$, but upon approaching $S$ it has a discontinuity. Under the same assumptions on $S$ and $f(y)$ it has limits from the inside and the outside of $S$. These are expressed by the formulas

$$\lim_{x\to y_0}\left.v(x)\right|_i=v(y_0)+\frac{\pi^{N/2}}{\Gamma(N/2)}f(y_0),$$

$$\lim_{x\to y_0}\left.v(x)\right|_o=v(y_0)-\frac{\pi^{N/2}}{\Gamma(N/2)}f(y_0),$$

where

$$v(y_0)=\int\limits_Sf(y)\frac{\cos(y-y_0,n)}{|y-y_0|^{N-1}}\,d\sigma(y)$$

is the so-called direct value of the double-layer Newton potential at $y_0\in S$. Under somewhat more stringent conditions on $S$ and $f(y)$ the normal derivative of the double-layer Newton potential is, however, continuous on passing through $S$.

#### References

 [1] N.M. Günter, "Potential theory and its applications to basic problems of mathematical physics" , F. Ungar (1967) (Translated from French) [2] L.N. Sretenskii, "Theory of the Newton potential" , Moscow-Leningrad (1946) (In Russian) [3] N.S. Landkof, "Foundations of modern potential theory" , Springer (1972) (Translated from Russian) [4] M. Brélot, "Eléments de la théorie classique du potentiel" , Sorbonne Univ. Centre Doc. Univ. , Paris (1959) [5] J. Wermer, "Potential theory" , Lect. notes in math. , 408 , Springer (1974) [6] O.D. Kellogg, "Foundations of potential theory" , F. Ungar (1929) (Re-issue: Springer, 1967)

#### Comments

The "analogue" in dimension 2 is the logarithmic potential.

#### References

 [a1] C.F. Gauss, "Allgemeine Lehrsätze in Beziehung auf die im verkehrte Verhältnisse des Quadrats der Entfernung wirkenden Anziehungs- und Abstossungskräfte" , Werke , 5 , K. Gesellschaft Wissenschaft. Göttingen (1876) pp. 195–242 [a2a] G. Green, "An essay on the application of mathematical analysis to the theories of electricity and magnetism I" J. Reine Angew. Math. , 39 (1850) pp. 73–89 (Re-issued by Lord Kelvin) [a2b] G. Green, "An essay on the application of mathematical analysis to the theories of electricity and magnetism II" J. Reine Angew. Math. , 44 (1852) pp. 356–374 (Re-issued by Lord Kelvin) [a2c] G. Green, "An essay on the application of mathematical analysis to the theories of electricity and magnetism III" J. Reine Angew. Math. , 47 (1854) pp. 161–221 (Re-issued by Lord Kelvin) [a3] J.-L. Lagrange, "Sur l'équation séculaire de la lune" Mém. Acad. Roy. Sci. Paris (1773)
How to Cite This Entry:
Newton potential. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Newton_potential&oldid=43644
This article was adapted from an original article by E.D. Solomentsev (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article