Semigroup formulation and approximation of a linear age-dependent population problem with spatial diffusion (Q1328452)

The author investigates an age-structured population model with spatial diffusion. The model is linear in the age-spatial density \(u(t, a, x)\), where a corresponds to age, \(x\) to spatial position, and \(t\) to time. The model has the form \[ u_t (t, a, x) + u_a (t, a, x) + \mu(a) u(t, a, x) - k(a) \Delta_x u(t, a, x) = 0, \quad t > 0, a > 0, \quad x \in \Omega, \] with initial condition \(u(0, a, x) = \phi (a, x)\), \(a \geq 0\), \(x \in \Omega\), and boundary conditions \[ u(t, 0, x) = \int^\infty_0 \beta (a) u(t, a, x) da, \quad t > 0, \quad x \in \Omega, \] \[ \text{and }D_\nu u(t, a, x) = 0, \quad t > 0, \quad a \geq 0, \quad x \in \partial \Omega. \] Here \(\mu(a)\) is the age-dependent mortality rate, \(\beta (a)\) is the age-dependent fertility rate, and \(k(a)\) is the age- dependent diffusion coefficient. The author uses a semigroup approach to establish the existence of solutions in the Hilbert space \(L^2 ((0, \infty) \times \Omega;\;R)\). The author also develops approximate schemes for this equation using the Trotter-Kato formula.