Selected Topics In The Geometrical Study Of Differential Equations

Since the first edition of this book, geometrical methods in the theory of ordinary differential equations have become very popular and some progress has been made partly with the help of computers. Much of this progress is represented in this revised, expanded edition, including such topics as the Feigenbaum universality of period doubling, the Zoladec solution, the Iljashenko proof, the Ecalle and Voronin theory, the Varchenko and Hovanski theorems, and the Neistadt theory. In the selection of material for this book, the author explains basic ideas and methods applicable to the study of differential equations. Special efforts were made to keep the basic ideas free from excessive technicalities. Thus the most fundamental questions are considered in great detail, while of the more special and difficult parts of the theory have the character of a survey. Consequently, the reader needs only a general mathematical knowledge to easily follow this text. It is directed to mathematicians, as well as all users of the theory of differential equations.

The general area of stochastic PDEs is interesting to mathematicians because it contains an enormous number of challenging open problems. There is also a great deal of interest in this topic because it has deep applications in disciplines that range from applied mathematics, statistical mechanics, and theoretical physics, to theoretical neuroscience, theory of complex chemical reactions [including polymer science], fluid dynamics, and mathematical finance. The stochastic PDEs that are studied in this book are similar to the familiar PDE for heat in a thin rod, but with the additional restriction that the external forcing density is a two-parameter stochastic process, or what is more commonly the case, the forcing is a "random noise," also known as a "generalized random field." At several points in the lectures, there are examples that highlight the phenomenon that stochastic PDEs are not a subset of PDEs. In fact, the introduction of noise in some partial differential equations can bring about not a small perturbation, but truly fundamental changes to the system that the underlying PDE is attempting to describe. The topics covered include a brief introduction to the stochastic heat equation, structure theory for the linear stochastic heat equation, and an in-depth look at intermittency properties of the solution to semilinear stochastic heat equations. Specific topics include stochastic integrals à la Norbert Wiener, an infinite-dimensional Itô-type stochastic integral, an example of a parabolic Anderson model, and intermittency fronts. There are many possible approaches to stochastic PDEs. The selection of topics and techniques presented here are informed by the guiding example of the stochastic heat equation. A co-publication of the AMS and CBMS.

This proceedings volume is a collection of papers presented at the International Conference on SPT2004 focusing on symmetry, perturbation theory, and integrability. The book provides an updated overview of the recent developments in the various different fields of nonlinear dynamics, covering both theory and applications. Special emphasis is given to algebraic and geometric integrability, solutions to the N-body problem of the “choreography” type, geometry and symmetry of dynamical systems, integrable evolution equations, various different perturbation theories, and bifurcation analysis. The contributors to this volume include some of the leading scientists in the field, among them: I Anderson, D Bambusi, S Benenti, S Bolotin, M Fels, W Y Hsiang, V Matveev, A V Mikhailov, P J Olver, G Pucacco, G Sartori, M A Teixeira, S Terracini, F Verhulst and I Yehorchenko. Contents:Parametric Excitation in Nonlinear Dynamics (T Bakri)Similarity Reductions of an Optical Model (M S Bruzón & M L Gandarias)A Regularity Theory for Optimal Partition Problems (M Conti et al.)Periodic Solutions for Zero Mass Nonlinear Wave Equations (G Gentile)Renormalization Group Symmetry and Gas Dynamics (S Murata)Refined Computation of Hypernormal Forms (J Murdock)Regularity of Pseudogroup Orbits (P J Olver & J Pohjanpelto)On Birkhoff Method for Integrable Lagrangian Systems (G Pucacco)and other papers Readership: Researchers and academics. Keywords:Nonlinear Dynamics;Perturbation;Symmetry;Mathematical Physics;Integrable Systems;Dynamical Systems;Geometry;Classical MechanicsKey Features:In-depth treatment of recent advances in “choreography” solutions to the N-body problem in classical mechanicsAccount of recent advances in the geometric theory of separable and superintegrable systemsA geometric approach to symmetry of differential equations

"The study of group actions on manifolds is the meeting ground of a variety of mathematical areas. In particular, interesting geometric insights can be obtained by applying measure-theoretic techniques. This book provides an introduction to some of the important methods, major developments, and open problems in the subject. It is slightly expanded from lectures given by Zimmer at the CBMS conference at the University of Minnesota. The main text presents a perspective on the field as it was at that time. Comments at the end of each chapter provide selected suggestions for further reading, including references to recent developments."--BOOK JACKET.

This collection of papers constitutes a wide-ranging survey of recent developments in differential geometry and its interactions with other fields, especially partial differential equations and mathematical physics. This area of mathematics was the subject of a special program at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton during the academic year 1979-1980; the papers in this volume were contributed by the speakers in the sequence of seminars organized by Shing-Tung Yau for this program. Both survey articles and articles presenting new results are included. The articles on differential geometry and partial differential equations include a general survey article by the editor on the relationship of the two fields and more specialized articles on topics including harmonic mappings, isoperimetric and Poincaré inequalities, metrics with specified curvature properties, the Monge-Arnpere equation, L2 harmonic forms and cohomology, manifolds of positive curvature, isometric embedding, and Kraumlhler manifolds and metrics. The articles on differential geometry and mathematical physics cover such topics as renormalization, instantons, gauge fields and the Yang-Mills equation, nonlinear evolution equations, incompleteness of space-times, black holes, and quantum gravity. A feature of special interest is the inclusion of a list of more than one hundred unsolved research problems compiled by the editor with comments and bibliographical information.