Eigenvalue-eigenfunction problem for Steklov's smoothing operator and differential-difference equations of mixed type (Q2842005)

The paper deals with the spectrum of the Steklov smooting operator \(S_h\) (\(h>0\)) defined by \((S_hu)(t)=\displaystyle\frac{1}{2h}\int_{t-h}^{t+h}u(s)\,ds\) on the space \(L_{loc}^1(\mathbb{R})\). The authors show that, for any \(\mu\in\mathbb{C}\), the eigenvalue-eigenfunction problem (1) \(\mu u=S_hu\), \(u\in L_{loc}^1(\mathbb{R})\), has nontrivial solutions. For \(\mu\not=0\), the problem (1) leads to the study of solutions for a differential-difference equation of mixed type. By using the method of steps, the existence and uniqueness for this equation is proved, and then a transformation group defined on a countably normed space of initial functions is investigated. A more general differential-difference equation of mixed type is finally presented.