How to solve this question on harmonic functions?

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How can I determine $a$ so that the given function is harmonic, and find its harmonic conjugate?

$$u = e^{\pi x}\cos(av)$$

Where $v$ is itself a real valued function of x,y.

Is there any other method than using Laplace Equation and taking double derivative and solving the equation as it tends to become too complicated?

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Here is my attempt.

Use definition of Laplace equation. Solutions of Laplace's equation are harmonic functions.

$f(x,v)=e^{\pi x}cos(av)$

$\Delta f=\frac{\partial^2f }{\partial x^2}+\frac{\partial^2f }{\partial v^2}=0$

After taking second partials and plugging them into Laplace we get:

$\pi ^{2}cos(av)e^{\pi x}-a^{2}e^{\pi x}cos(av)=0$

$e^{\pi x}cos(av)(\pi ^{2}-a^{2})=0$

$a=\pm \pi$