Volterra equations and inverse problems (Q1975135)

A large part of this monograph deals with classes of generalized linear Volterra integral operators, e.g., operators of the form \( (Au)(t) = \int_0^t k(t,\tau) u(\tau) d\tau\), \(0 \leq t \leq T\), where \(u:[0,T] \to Y \) with \( Y \) being some Banach space, and \( k(t,\tau): Y \to Y \) is a linear bounded operator. The associated mapping properties are considered and results on the existence of invariant subspaces and the summability properties of singular values are presented. The existence, solvability and stability of the solutions for the associated Volterra integral equations of the first and second kind, respectively, are also considered. The classical fractional integration operator provides as one of the applications. The book also deals with general concepts for ill-posed problems and with nonlinear equations which in some sense are generalized Volterra equations of the second kind. Other chapters deal with linear multidimensional Volterra equations of the first kind and with the stability and uniqueness of solutions to the abstract Cauchy problem for first- and second-order equations. The estimation of parameters in second-order hyperbolic equations is also considered as well as the uniqueness and stability of the solutions associated with inverse problems for the Helmholtz equation. This monograph in fact is a translation of the Russian original (1983; Zbl 0553.45001).