Estimating the division rate and kernel in the fragmentation equation (Q1618257)

The fragmentation equation \(\frac{\partial f}{\partial t}(t,x)=-B(x)f(t,x)+\int_x^\infty k(y,x)B(y)f(t,y)dy\) is studied under some assumptions on the division rate \(B\) (a power function \(B(x)=\alpha x^\gamma\)), selfsimilar form of the kernel \(k\) (\(k(y,x)=y^{-1}k_0(xy^{-1})\)). The authors solve an inverse problem consisting in determination of the triple \((\alpha,\gamma,k_0)\) from measurements of the size distribution \(f (t,\cdot)\) at various times. This natural from the point of view of applications problem is solved using the asymptotic behavior of solutions shown in [the second author et al., Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré, Anal. Non Linéaire 22, No. 1, 99--125 (2005; Zbl 1130.35025)] and some delicate constructions including the inversion of some Mellin transforms through the use of the Cauchy integral.