Problems of mathematical physics which depend on a parameter and Jacobi series (Q762341)

Let us be given a problem of mathematical physics which depends on a physical parameter \(\epsilon\) where \(\epsilon\) varies in the interval \(0<\epsilon <\infty\). Assume that the problem is singularly perturbed as \(\epsilon \to 0^+\). It is rigorously shown how to obtain one uniform approximation for a solution for the entire range of the physical parameter \(\epsilon\). Three tools provide the desired approximation. i) Expansion of the solution in a Taylor series about a regular point of the parameter \(\epsilon\), away from the singular point \(\epsilon =0\). ii) The Taylor coefficients are utilized to expand the solution in terms of orthogonal Jacobi polynomials. This with respect to the physical parameter \(\epsilon\) and not with respect to a space variable. iii) A recovery of the numerical values of a solution for every value of the parameter \(\epsilon\). This, including the singular limiting value as \(\epsilon \to 0^+\) whenever it exists. This is obtained by summability methods. A model problem with multi-turning points is worked out. It is also shown that a surprising nonuniqueness phenomenon occurs when we expand a solution in orthogonal polynomials formally with respect to a physical parameter. The method has a built in mechanism which reproduces boundary and internal discontinuities. It is designed for linear and nonlinear problems with ''turning points''. In the language of fluid dynamics one may stipulate that ''our method can recover the viscous and in particular the inviscid flow by averaging on a sequence of flows evaluated for one value of the physical parameter (the Reynold's number). Shocks, contact discontinuities and boundary layers are automatically accounted for''.