Forward diffusion equations and positive operators (Q1360052)

We introduce and study a new positive approximation process acting on the space \(C([0,1])\) of all continuous functions on \([0,1]\). Among other things we show that, under suitable assumptions, there exists a strongly continuous semigroup on \(C([0,1])\) which can be expressed in terms of powers of these operators. As a consequence, we are able to give a representation of the solutions of the Cauchy problems associated with a large class of forward diffusion equations and to describe their asymptotic behaviour. Finally the saturation class of both the positive approximation process and the semigroup is characterized as well.