Mathematical analysis and numerical methods for science and technology. Volume 1: Physical origins and classical methods. With the collaboration of Philippe Bénilan, Michel Cessenat, André Gervat, Alain Kavenoky, Hélène Lanchon. Transl. from the Frenc

Authors Robert Dautray, Jacques-Louis Lions

Publication date 13 January 2000

diffusion elliptic operators fluid motion hyperbolic operators Laplace operator linear elasticity linear partial differential equations Maxwell's equations neutron transport parabolic operators quantum physics viscoelasticity

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Higher-dimensional potential theory (31Bxx) Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to partial differential equations (35-01) Generalized solutions to partial differential equations (35Dxx) Laplace operator, Helmholtz equation (reduced wave equation), Poisson equation (35J05) Numerical methods for partial differential equations, initial value and time-dependent initial-boundary value problems (65M99) Foundations, constitutive equations, rheology, hydrodynamical models of non-fluid phenomena (76A99) Foundations, quantum information and its processing, quantum axioms, and philosophy (81P99)

Review text

The book under review is the second ``soft edition of the starting volume (1990; Zbl 0683.35001) of the series of six fundamental ones devoted to the thorough presentation of various problems, methods and structures of modern mathematics that forms the principal mathematical apparatus in a number of fields of physics such as electromagnetism, mechanics, quantum physics etc. The volume consists of two chapters. The first one is divided into two parts. Part A could be considered as ``physical. It gives a strong starting push to the whole of the series presenting a broad range of mechanical and physical problems and the corresponding mathematical models where as the natural apparatus arise various types of partial differential equations and boundary value problems. Here one will find the following themes: the mathematical models of the fluid motion including the general Navier-Stokes system along with its linearized version (Stokes' equations) corresponding to the situation when the motion is sufficiently slow and Euler's equations related to the perfect fluid; the theory of linear elasticity and viscoelasticity including the stationary and dynamical problems in classical elasticity and in particular various wave equations, thermoelasticity and the theory of materials with short and long memory; the mathematical electromagnetism models and Maxwell's equations including electromagnetism in continuous media, static electromagnetism and spectral problems leading to Helmholtz's equation; the equations of the neutron transport and diffusion, and the mathematical fundamentals of the quantum physics including the Schrödinger and Heisenberg representations, systems consisting of one and several particles (with zero and non-zero spin). For the reader's convenience a number of basic mathematical objects and results related to mechanics along with the main notions, conventions and fundamental principles are gathered in the Appendix. The short Part B of Chapter 1 could be considered as the ``mathematical counterpart of Part A. It presents the first examination and classification of the linear partial differential equations (differential operators) and constraints that arised in mathematical models described in Part A. In particular, the main classical classes of equations are distinguished: the heat or diffusion equation (parabolic operators), the wave equation (hyperbolic operators), the Schrödinger equation, Laplace's equation (elliptic operators). Also the naturally arising functional spaces, initial and boundary conditions are discussed including Cauchy, Dirichlet, Neumann and mixed conditions as well as the transmission conditions. The second chapter is devoted to a thorough description of the properties of one of the most important operators in mathematical physics -- the Laplace operator. Here, the reader will find the classical theory of harmonic functions and Newtonian potential which is then applied to the analysis of Dirichlet's problem including the investgation of the regularity of solutions and various extensions of the ideas developed to more general elliptic operators of the second-order. Though the volume is the starting one in the series apparently it could not be considered as an introductory (that is an elementary) text for the first acquaintance with the mathematical models springing from mechanics and physics. Its reading needs a substantial persistence and presumes certain maturity approximately equal to a graduate university level of mechanics and mathematics. The book can be strongly recommended to postgraduate students and researchers interested in analysis and differential equations and looking back to the initial physical origins of the important mathematical problems also to specialists in theoretical physics as a source containing the deep theory of the Laplace operator.

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