\(q\)-fractional calculus and equations (Q435243)

This well-written monograph is a rigorous study, within a selection of topics, of \(q\)-fractional calculus as well as \(q\)-fractional difference equations. Due to its relative small size it is clear that it is not an encyclopaedic treatise. From the back cover: ``This nine-chapter monograph introduces a rigorous investigation of \(q\)-difference operators in standard and fractional settings. It starts with elementary calculus of \(q\)-differences and integration of Jackson's type before turning to \(q\)-difference equations. The existence and uniqueness theorems are derived using successive approximations, leading to systems of equations with retarded arguments. Regular \(q\)-Sturm-Liouville theory is also introduced; Green's function is constructed and the eigenfunction expansion theorem is given. The monograph also discusses some integral equations of Volterra and Abel type, as introductory material for the study of fractional \(q\)-calculi. Hence fractional \(q\)-calculi of the types Riemann-Liouville; Grünwald-Letnikov; Caputo; Erdélyi-Kober and Weyl are defined analytically. Fractional \(q\)-Leibniz rules with applications in \(q\)-series are also obtained with rigorous proofs of the formal results of Al-Salam-Verma, which remained unproved for decades. In working towards the investigation of \(q\)-fractional difference equations; families of \(q\)-Mittag-Leffler functions are defined and their properties are investigated, especially the \(q\)-Mellin-Barnes integral and Hankel contour integral representation of the \(q\)-Mittag-Leffler functions under consideration, the distribution, asymptotic and reality of their zeros, establishing \(q\)-counterparts of Wiman's results. Fractional \(q\)-difference equations are studied; existence and uniqueness theorems are given and classes of Cauchy-type problems are completely solved in terms of families of \(q\)-Mittag-Leffler functions. Among many \(q\)-analogs of classical results and concepts, \(q\)-Laplace, \(q\)-Mellin and \(q^2\)-Fourier transforms are studied and their applications are investigated.'' From the preface we get the layout of the book, namely: ``This book consists of nine chapters. Chapter 1 provides some basic definitions and properties of \(q\)-analysis as the \(q\)-difference operator, the \(q\)-integral operator, \(q\)-special functions, and \(q\)-integral transforms. Chapter 2 is a study of the existence and uniqueness of the solutions of first-order systems of \(q\)-difference equations and linear \(q\)-difference equations. This chapter also includes some results on zeros of \(q\)-trigonometric functions and \(q\)-Bessel functions. Chapter 3 includes the basic Sturm-Liouville problem formulated and studied in [\textit{M. H. Annaby} and \textit{Z. S. Mansour}, J. Phys. A Math. Gen. 38, No. 17, 3775--3797 (2005; Zbl 1073.33012)]. It also includes the reformulation of the \(q^2\)-Fourier transform introduced by \textit{R. L. Rubin} in [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 212, No. 2, 571--582 (1997; Zbl 0877.33009)] and [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 135, No. 3, 777--785 (2007; Zbl 1109.39021)]. In Chapter 4, we survey the developments in the fractional \(q\)-theory since Al-Salam and Agarwal introduced their generalization to Jackson \(q\)-integral and derivatives to fractional orders. It contains the fractional \(q\)-calculus associated with Al-Salam and Agarwal fractional \(q\)-analogue of the Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives. Chapter 5 is devoted to other approaches of extending the notion of \(q\)-integrals and \(q\)-derivatives to fractional orders like \(q\)-Caputo fractional derivatives and \(q\)-Weyl fractional derivatives. In this chapter we show that a generalization to Grünwald-Letnikov fractional derivatives in the \(q\)-settings leads to Al-Salam-Agarwal fractional \(q\)-derivatives. We outline the generalization of the Askey-Wilson \(q\)-difference operator to fractional orders introduced by \textit{M. E. H. Ismail} and \textit{M. Rahman} in [J. Approximation Theory 114, No. 2, 269--307 (2002; Zbl 0997.33008)]. We conclude this chapter with a generalization of the \(q\)-difference operator introduced by Rubin in [loc. cit.] to fractional orders. In Chapter 6, we give a rigorous proof of Al-Salam-Verma fractional \(q\)-Leibniz rule [\textit{W.A. Al-Salam} and \textit{A. Verma}, Pac. J. Math. 60, No. 2, 1--9 (1975; Zbl 0328.44005)] and a generalization of the fractional \(q\)-Leibniz rule introduced by Agarwal. We also introduce a fractional \(q\)-Leibniz rule associated with Weyl fractional \(q\)-operator. This result is a generalization of the result introduced by \textit{S. D. Purohit} in [Kyungpook Math. J. 50, No. 4, 473--482 (2010; Zbl 1225.33022)]. At the last section of this chapter, we derive some \(q\)-identities using the fractional \(q\)-Leibniz formulae represented in this chapter. Chapter 7 is fully devoted to \(q\)-Mittag-Leffler functions and their major properties. We explore the Mellin-Barnes contour representations and Hankel contour representations of the two \(q\)-analogues of the Mittag-Leffler functions considered in this book. Chapter 8 includes fundamental existence and uniqueness theorems for linear and nonlinear fractional \(q\)-difference equations as well as first-order systems of fractional \(q\)-difference equations, where the \(q\)-derivative is either the Riemann-Liouville fractional \(q\)-derivative or Caputo fractional \(q\)-derivative. Most of the results of this chapter are a generalization of the results mentioned in Chapter 2. In Chapter 9, the last chapter, we investigate the applications of the \(q\)-Laplace, \(q\)-Mellin, and \(q^2\)-Fourier integral transforms to constructing explicit solutions of certain classes of linear fractional \(q\)-difference equations. In the appendix, we include tables of fractional \(q\)-derivatives of \(q\)-special functions and generalized Rodrigues-type formulae for some \(q\)-special functions. The bibliography consists of 302 books and articles, including some recent pre-prints submitted for publications, up to 2011. However, it cannot be considered as a complete bibliography since this discipline is a fast-growing area. But, on the other hand, we believe that the references of the bibliography and references mentioned therein are enough to get a complete overview of the developments occurred in this subject up to the year 2011.''