The variable-order fractional calculus of variations (Q1662964)

The book presents the study of the fractional calculus with emphasis to variable order operators and fractional problems of calculus of variations. It contains the preface and four chapters, all with references. The first and second chapter have the review character without proofs of the results. Basic concepts of fractional calculus are explained in Chapter 1. It contains some results from the theory of special functions and definitions of fractional operators as integrals and derivatives. Chapter 2 is devoted mainly to the classical variational calculus. Some introduction to the theory of the fractional calculus variations together with new results and fractional variational problems are presented too. Chapter 3 deals with three types of Caputo derivatives of variable order and their approximation formulas. It contains only a few proofs. The main Chapter 4 contains general fractional problems of the calculus of variations with Lagrangian depending on a combined Caputo fractional derivative of variable fractional order. The main contribution of the authors is the study of Lagrangians containing fractional operators, where the order is not a constant and may depend on time. The fundamental classical variational problems are formulated in the framework of fractional derivatives. The book has more theoretical and less engineering character. It can be recommended for graduate students and researchers who are interested in deep results of fractional calculus and their applications in variational problems.