On the semigroup for age dependent population dynamics with spatial diffusion (Q1331013)

In our previous paper, Manuscr. Math. 66, No. 2, 161-181 (1989; Zbl 0698.92021), we established the semigroup framework of age-size structured population dynamics with spatial diffusion in terms of the completeness of the eigenfunctions of the Laplacian operator in the state space. However, its success is based on the crucial assumptions that both birth and death functions are independent of the spatial variable, which is not an exact description in practice. The objective of this paper is to develop the corresponding semigroup framework in a manner different from that paper; in particular, to develop the positive semigroup theory. The infinitesimal generator is identified and its spectrum studied, and accordingly, we determine its dominant eigenvalue and hence the asymptotic expression is obtained.