Linear Differential Operators

Originally published in 1961, this Classics edition continues to be appealing because it describes a large number of techniques still useful today. Although the primary focus is on the analytical theory, concrete cases are cited to forge the link between theory and practice. Considerable manipulative skill in the practice of differential equations is to be developed by solving the 350 problems in the text. The problems are intended as stimulating corollaries linking theory with application and providing the reader with the foundation for tackling more difficult problems. Lanczos begins with three introductory chapters that explore some of the technical tools needed later in the book, and then goes on to discuss interpolation, harmonic analysis, matrix calculus, the concept of the function space, boundary value problems, and the numerical solution of trajectory problems, among other things. The emphasis is constantly on one question: "What are the basic and characteristic properties of linear differential operators?" In the author's words, this book is written for those "to whom a problem in ordinary or partial differential equations is not a problem of logical acrobatism, but a problem in the exploration of the physical universe. To get an explicit solution of a given boundary value problem is in this age of large electronic computers no longer a basic question. But of what value is the numerical answer if the scientist does not understand the peculiar analytical properties and idiosyncrasies of the given operator? The author hopes that this book will help in this task by telling something about the manifold aspects of a fascinating field."

The basic and characteristic properties of linear differential operators are explored in this graduate-level text. No specific knowledge beyond the usual introductory courses is necessary. Includes 350 problems and solution.

A self-contained and systematic development of an aspect of analysis which deals with the theory of fundamental solutions for differential operators, and their applications to boundary value problems of mathematical physics, applied mathematics, and engineering, with the related computational aspects.

The main change in this edition is the inclusion of exercises with answers and hints. This is meant to emphasize that this volume has been written as a general course in modern analysis on a graduate student level and not only as the beginning of a specialized course in partial differen tial equations. In particular, it could also serve as an introduction to harmonic analysis. Exercises are given primarily to the sections of gen eral interest; there are none to the last two chapters. Most of the exercises are just routine problems meant to give some familiarity with standard use of the tools introduced in the text. Others are extensions of the theory presented there. As a rule rather complete though brief solutions are then given in the answers and hints. To a large extent the exercises have been taken over from courses or examinations given by Anders Melin or myself at the University of Lund. I am grateful to Anders Melin for letting me use the problems originating from him and for numerous valuable comments on this collection. As in the revised printing of Volume II, a number of minor flaws have also been corrected in this edition. Many of these have been called to my attention by the Russian translators of the first edition, and I wish to thank them for our excellent collaboration.

This book provides an introduction to those parts of analysis that are most useful in applications for graduate students. The material is selected for use in applied problems, and is presented clearly and simply but without sacrificing mathematical rigor. The text is accessible to students from a wide variety of backgrounds, including undergraduate students entering applied mathematics from non-mathematical fields and graduate students in the sciences and engineering who want to learn analysis. A basic background in calculus, linear algebra and ordinary differential equations, as well as some familiarity with functions and sets, should be sufficient.

This book contains a systematic exposition of the facts relating to partial differential equations with constant coefficients. The study of systems of equations in general form occupies a central place. Together with the classical problems of the existence, the uniqueness, and the regularity of the solutions, we also consider the specific problems that arise in connection with overdetermined and underdetermined systems of equations: the extendabiIity of the solutions into a wider region, the extendability of regularity, M-cohomology and so on. Great attention is paid to the connections and the parallels with the theory of functions of several complex variables. The choice of material was dictated by a number of considerations. Among all the facts relating to general systems of equations, the book contains none that relate to the behavior of differential operators in spaces of slowly growing functions. Missing also are results relating to a single equation in one unknown function: the correctness of the Cauchy problem, certain theorems on p-convexity, and the theory of boundary values, are all set forth in other monographs (Gel'fand and Silov [3], Hormander [10] and Treves [4]). The book consists of two parts. In the first, we set forth the analytic method which forms the basis for the contents of the second part, which itself is dedicated to differential equations. The first part is pre ceded by an introduction in which the content and methods of Part I are described. All the notes and bibliographical references are collected together in a special section.

From the reviews: "Volumes III and IV complete L. Hörmander's treatise on linear partial differential equations. They constitute the most complete and up-to-date account of this subject, by the author who has dominated it and made the most significant contributions in the last decades.....It is a superb book, which must be present in every mathematical library, and an indispensable tool for all - young and old - interested in the theory of partial differential operators." L. Boutet de Monvel in Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society, 1987. "This treatise is outstanding in every respect and must be counted among the great books in mathematics. It is certainly no easy reading (...) but a careful study is extremely rewarding for its wealth of ideas and techniques and the beauty of presentation." J. Brüning in Zentralblatt MATH, 1987.

These notes will be useful and of interest to mathematicians and physicists active in research as well as for students with some knowledge of the abstract theory of operators in Hilbert spaces. They give a complete spectral theory for ordinary differential expressions of arbitrary order n operating on -valued functions existence and construction of self-adjoint realizations via boundary conditions, determination and study of general properties of the resolvent, spectral representation and spectral resolution. Special attention is paid to the question of separated boundary conditions, spectral multiplicity and absolutely continuous spectrum. For the case nm=2 (Sturm-Liouville operators and Dirac systems) the classical theory of Weyl-Titchmarch is included. Oscillation theory for Sturm-Liouville operators and Dirac systems is developed and applied to the study of the essential and absolutely continuous spectrum. The results are illustrated by the explicit solution of a number of particular problems including the spectral theory one partical Schrödinger and Dirac operators with spherically symmetric potentials. The methods of proof are functionally analytic wherever possible.