Linear functional differential equations with abstract Volterra operators (Q1891583)

The author develops the basic \(L^p\)-theory of linear functional differential equations with abstract Volterra operator, i.e. \(\dot x(t)= (Lx)(t)+ f(t)\) on \(\mathbb{R}_+\), under initial condition \(x(0)= x^0\in \mathbb{R}^n\). The operator \(L\) is acting continuously on the space \(L^p(\mathbb{R}_+, \mathbb{R}^n)\), and it is assumed linear. No other restriction is imposed on \(L\). The map \(f\) is acting from \(\mathbb{R}_+\) into \(\mathbb{R}^n\) and is locally in \(L^p\). The existence and uniqueness of solution is proven by successive approximations and the convergence is in \(L^p_{\text{loc}}\). The continuous dependence of solutions with respect to data is also obtained (local uniform convergence). An integral representation of the solution is, basically, the variation of parameters formula. Properties of the kernel of the representation (the translation operator along the solutions of the homogeneous equation) are obtained using admissibility results. An application to the theory of equations with infinite delay is indicated and briefly discussed. These equations are of the form \(\dot x(t)= \sum^\infty_{j= 0} A_j(t) x(t- t_j)+ \int^t_0 B(t, s) x(s) ds+ f(t)\), \(t> 0\), with the initial condition \(x(t)= h(t)\) for \(t< 0\), \(x(0)= x^0\in \mathbb{R}^n\). The methods used are based on functional analytic results and the theory of integral operators.