In mathematics and mathematical physics, potential theory is the study of harmonic functions.
An important topic in potential theory is the study of the local behavior of harmonic functions.
There are results which describe the local structure of level sets of harmonic functions.
The above chords, despite their differences, share the same harmonic function and can be used interchangeably.
This definition ties minimal surfaces to harmonic functions and potential theory.
The quantity measures how far off the temperature is from satisfying the mean value property of harmonic functions.
Like for minimal surfaces, there exist a close link to harmonic functions.
By the maximum principle, u is the only such harmonic function on D.
This result can be used to prove the maximum principle for harmonic functions.
Such a solution is called a harmonic function and such solutions are the topic of study in potential theory.