For a second order PDE (lets say the Laplace equation), is there a problem with specifying neumann boundary conditions, which instead of being specified in the direction normal to the boundary are instead specified in some other direction.


For example, could one specify the derivative in the direction of the boundary.


Would this lead to a unique solution?


This seems like a stupid question, but I couldn't find any information on it.



Non-Normal derivative boundary conditions for a PDE
Suppose for definiteness we work with Laplace's equation $\triangledown^{2}u =0$ on the 
unit disk in $R^{2}$. Assuming things are somewhat smooth, suppose one specified the
tangential, instead of the normal, derivative of $u$, i.e. specified $\partial{u} / \partial{\theta}$ on the unit circle. Picking any point $\theta\_{0}$ on the circle, one
could integrate in $\theta$ to obtain $u(\theta)$ on the circle:


$u(\theta) = \int\_{\theta\_{0}}^{\theta} \partial{u}/\partial{\theta}(\alpha) d \alpha + u(\theta\_{0})$.


So a tangential derivative really specifies a Dirichlet boundary condition. The additive
constant in the above integral merely corresponds to a constant solution in the disk, i.e.
it shifts the solution $u$ by a constant amount.


You can in general freely specify Dirichlet *or* Neumann conditions, but not both. So
take your pick, a tangential *or* a normal derivative for the boundary condition.


