On the Cauchy-Kowalevski theorem (Q5916362)

The author gives a modified proof of a theorem of \textit{S. Mizohata} [Adv. Math., Suppl. Stud. 7B, 617-652 (1981; Zbl 0471.35002)] on the converse of Cauchy-Kowalevski's theorem in view of characterizing equations with finite speed of propagation. The homogeneous Cauchy problem \(Lu(t,z)=0\), \(\partial_ t^{j-1}u(t_ 0,z)=\varphi_ j(z)\), \(j=1,\dots,m\), is assumed to be well posed. Here the linear operator \(L:=\partial_ t^ m-\sum_{j=1}^ m a_ j(t,z,\partial_ z)\partial_ t^{m-j}\), where \(a_ j(t,z,\zeta)\) are polynomials in \(\zeta\) with holomorphic coefficients in a neighbourhood of the origin of \(\mathbb{C}^{d+1}\). \(L\) is Kowalevskian if its weight \(p_ 0:=\sup_{j,(t,z)}{1\over j} {\underset \zeta {\text{order}}} a_ j(t,z,\zeta)\) satisfies \(p_ 0\leq 1\). Theorem 1: If the Cauchy problem is well posed at the origin, then \(L\) is Kowalevskian. Theorem 2: If the real analytic Cauchy problem is well posed in a common domain of existence and has the property of unicity of order, then \(L\) is Kowalevskian. Since uniform well-posedness is not assumed in Theorem 2, this result is a refinement of the result of \textit{S. Mizohata} [Isr. J. Math. 13, No. 1-2, 173-187 (1972; Zbl 0271.35003)].