Resolvent operators and weak solutions of integrodifferential equations (Q1316974)

Some equations describing heat conduction or viscoelastic flows can be written in the form \[ x'(t)=A \left[ x(t)+\int^ t_ 0 F(t-s)x(s)ds \right]+f(t),\quad t \geq 0, \quad x(0)=x_ 0, \] where the action takes place in a Banach space \(X\). The operator \(A\) is unbounded, but \(F(t)\) is bounded for each \(t>0\). In this paper various notions of well-posedness of this equation is studied, and they are proved to be equivalent to each other under quite natural assumptions on \(A\), \(F\) and \(f\). Among the different concepts that are discussed are well-posedness of the same equation with \(F=0\), existence of a resolvent operator, integral, weak, and strong solutions. The reader may also want to consult the new book by \textit{J. Prüss} [Evolutionary integral equations and applications, Birkhäuser Verlag, (1993; Zbl 0784.45006)] for other similar results.