On a class of second order integrodifferential equations (Q1192079)

The author studies an abstract second order integrodifferential equation \((*)\;u''(t)=\eta Au'(t)+\beta Au(t)+\int^ t_ 0k(t-s)Au'(s)ds+\int^ t_ 0h(t-s)Au(s)ds\), \(t\geq 0\), \(u(0)=x\), \(u'(0)=y\), where \(A\) generates an analytic semigroup and \(\eta>0\). The standard way to treat this equation is to integrate it once to get a first order equation, but the author prefers not to do this, but to work with \((*)\) directly. It is shown that the usual variation of constants formula is valid, and that the equation has a unique solution.