A rigorous derivation of some invariant imbedding equations of transport theory (Q2536963)

In this paper it is shown that, starting with the corresponding Boltzmann equation, the invariant imbedding equations for the following transport problems are found without actually using any perturbation schemes, whereas the author's approach is influenced by the work of \textit{R. Bellman} and \textit{R. Kalaba} [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 47, 336--338 (1961; Zbl 0103.30604)], the time-dependent neutron transport in a rod, transport in a slab, steady transport in a spherical shell with an absorbing core, and steady transport in a hollow spherical shell or solid sphere. In the problem of seeking the reflected flux of particles, the characteristic feature of this treatment consists in the independence of his results from any supposed properties of a symbolic function, because the principal part of his mathematical manipulation is carried out with the aid of ordinary functions. The remnant of the invariance principle seems to be Duhamel's principle. While the author treats ingeniously the formal procedure of deriving the invariant imbedding equations, he furthermore justifies rigorously the existence and uniqueness of the solution. A comparison of his result in spherical geometry with one previously obtained by the particle-counting procedure [cf. \textit{R. Bellman}, \textit{R. Kalaba} and \textit{G. M. Wing}, J. Math. Phys. 1, 280--308 (1960; Zbl 0105.23202)] reveals a hitherto overlooked term \[ [(1+\mu^2)/x\mu^2] R(x,\mu,\mu_0), \] where \(R\) is the reflection coefficient. In this context the author and \textit{G. M. Wing} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 8, 170--174 (1964; Zbl 0186.58601) (see the following review)] discuss clearly the source of the trouble.