Theory and applications of partial differential equations (Q1380185)

The book gives a complete exposition of the theory of partial differential equations which is based on a long time experience of the authors with teaching this subject to students of mathematics, physics and engineering. The text contains applications that have not appeared outside of the research literature. The first chapter has an introductory character. It contains a short discussion of some typical examples (population diffusion problem, vibrating string equation, equations for isentropic flow of a perfect gas) and a brief description of classification and characteristics of second order partial differential equations. The second chapter is devoted to the wave equation, the exposition of linear hyperbolic systems with constant coefficients in two variables and an application to transmission-reflection problems in layered media are included. Chapter 3 concerns the heat equation and contains a variety of problems from applications. Chapter 4 is devoted to potential theory and the Laplace equation. The Perron's method of subharmonic functions for the Dirichlet problem is explained and the boundary integral equations method for the Dirichlet and Neumann problems is discussed, some applications to aerodynamics are included. A proof of Wiener's criterion for regularity of boundary points for the Laplace equation is given. The Widman's theorem ensurig the continuity of the first derivatives of harmonic functions up to the boundary is proved. Chapter 5 deals with second order elliptic equations. The proof of the De Giorgi-Nash-Moser theorem for linear elliptic divergence structure operators and a self-contained exposition of the existence for the nonparametric Plateau problem using Perron's method are included. Some results on surfaces with constant mean curvature and capillary surfaces are described. Chapter 6 is devoted to abstract evolution equations. The Hilbert space theory of parabolic equations is described, the initial value problem for a quasilinear viscous conservation law is studied. Chapter 7 concerns hyperbolic systems of conservation laws in one space variable. It contains a new exposition of a local existence of Lipschitz continuous solutions of quasilinear hyperbolic systems in one space variable along with a companion continuation theorem. The proof of Kruzhkov's theorem concerning entropy solutions and the proof of the Glimm's theorem on existence of weak solutions are given. The last chapter represents an Appendix containing all information on Lebesgue integration, distributions, Fourier transforms and Sobolev spaces used in the book such that it is self-contained.