The interior initial-boundary value problem for the wave equation in m ≧ 1 space dimension is considered for vanishing boundary values. Certain regularity, dependent on m, is required for the solution and additionalboundary conditions, the number of which being also dependent on m, are imposed on the given right hand side. Emphazising the case m = 3, the Rothe method is applied after the problem has been rewritten as a hyperbolic first order evolution problem for m + 1 unknown functions. The sequence of discrete solutions obtained is shown to be discretely convergent to the continuous solution in the sense of uniform convergence if the solution of the continuous problem is assumed to exist. A priori estimates are derived both for the discrete solutions and the continuous solution.

The following theorem is proved: Let S(t), t≧0 be a dynamical system in an infinite dimensional Banach space X such that S(t) = S1(t)+S2(t) for t≧0, where (1) uniformly in bounded sets of x in X, and (2) S2(t) is compact for t sufficiently large. Then, if the orbit {S(t)x: t ≧0} of x ∈ X is bounded in X, it is precompact in X. Applications are made to an age dependent population model, a non-linear functional differential equation on an infinite interval, and a non-linear Volterra integrodifferential equation.

In this paper we study the wave equation, in particular the propagation of discontinuities. Two problems are considered: diffraction of a normally incident plane pulse by a plane screen and diffraction of a spherical wave by the same screen. It is shown that when an incident wave front strikes the edge of the screen a diffracted wave front is produced. The discontinuities are precisely computed in a neighbourhood of the edge for a small time interval after the arrival of the incident wave front and a theorem of Hörmander on the propagation of singularities is used to obtain a globalresult.

The definition of Cohen elements in a commutative Banach algebra with a countable bounded approximate identity given by Esterle is modified slightly to be more analogous to the invertible elements in a unital Banach algebra. With the modified definition the n1-Cohen factorization results that were proved by Esterle are shown tohold in the semigroup of Cohen elements. If is the algebra of continuous complex valued functions vanishing at infinity on a σ-compact locally compact Hausdorff space X, then the Cohen elements in are identified and a natural quotient of a subsemigroup of Cohen elements is shown to be a group, isomorphic to the abstract index group of C(X∪{∞}).

The equivalence between solutions of functional differential equations and an abstract integral equation is investigated. Using this result we derive a general approximation result in the state space C and consider as an example approximation by first order spline functions. During the last twenty years C1-semigroups of linear transformations have played an important role in the theory of linear autonomous functional differential equations (cf. for instance the discussion in [9, Section 7.7]). Applications of non-linear semigroup theory to functional differential equations are rather recent beginning with a paper by Webb [17]. Since then a considerable number of papers deal with problems in this direction. A common feature of the majority of these papers is that as a first step with the functional differential equation there is associated a non-linear operator A in a suitable Banach-space. Then appropriate conditions are imposed on the problem such that the conditions of the Crandall-Liggett-Theorem [5] hold for the operator A. This gives a non-linear semigroup. Finally the connection of this semigroup tothe solutions of the original differential equation has to be investigated [c.f. 8, 15, 18]. To solve thislast problem in general is the most difficult part of this approach.

In the present paper we consider the given functional differential equation as a perturbation of the simple equationx = 0. The solutions of this equation generate a very simple C1-semigroup. The solutions of the original functional differential equation generate solutions of an integral equation which is the variation of constants formula for the abstract Cauchy problem associated with the equation x = 0. Under very mild conditions we can prove a one-to-one correspondence between solutions of the given functional differential equation and solutions of the integral equation in the Lp-space setting. In the C-space setting the integral equation inthe state space has to be replaced by a ‘pointwise’ integral equation. Using the pointwise integral equation together with a theorem which guarantees continuous dependence of fixed points on parameters we show under rather weak hypotheses that the original functional differential equation can be approximated by a sequence of ordinary differential equations. Using 1st order spline functions we finally get results which are very similar to those obtained in [1 and 11] in the L2-space setting.

If the conic α, a0x2 + a1y2 + a2z2 + 2a3yz + 2a4zx + 2a5xy=0, is represented by the point (a0, a1, a2, a3, a4, a5) of S5, the transforms of α by projectivities that fix a second conic ω will generally be represented by points of a threefold in S5 containing (a0, a1,…, a5). It is shown that this threefold is in general a rational sextic belonging to an ∞2 family, that is composed of ∞1 sets of projectively equivalent threefolds. Special, exceptional members of the family are discussed.

Equations for the threefold are found in terms of the mutual projection invariants of ω and α.

Two non-singular conies ω and α are said to be related by a pentagram if there exist pentads ofdistinct points {Oi} on ω and {Ai} on α (1 ≦ i ≦ 5) such that A1 ≡ O2O4. O3O5, A2 ≡ O3O5. O1O4, A3 ≡ O1O4. O2O5, A4 ≡ O2O5. O1O3 and A5 ≡ O1O3. O2O4. It is shown that relation by a pentagram is a poristic property; and a necessary condition on their mutual projective invariants that two nonsingular conies be so related is derived. Some ramifications are discussed.

A weighted, formally self-adjoint ordinary differential operator l of order 2n is considered, and conditions are given on the coefficients of l which ensure that all self-adjoint operators associated with l have a spectrum which is discrete and bounded below. Both finite and infinite singularities are considered. The results are obtained by the establishment of certain conditions which imply that l is non-oscillatory.

Let D be a bounded simply connected domain in the plane and Ω the unit disk. Let F(Θ;k) be the far field pattern arising from the scattering of an incoming plane wave by the obstacle D and let an(k) denote the nth Fourier coefficient of F. Then if f conformally maps ℝ2\D onto ℝ2\Ω, a “moment” problem is derived which expresses an(k) in terms of f−1 for small values of the wave number k. The solution of this moment problem then gives the Laurent coefficients of f−1 and hence ∂D.

We consider a mildly nonlinear elliptic boundary value problem depending on a parameter. Given appropriate hypotheses concerning the asymptotic behaviour of the nonlinearity, we derive lower bounds on the number of solutions. The results complement an earlier theorem due to Kazdan and Warner [6].

Following an earlier paper (Curle 1978) we consider a compressible laminar boundary layer with uniform pressure when the distance x along the wall satisfies x < x0 and a prescribed large adverse pressure gradient when x > x0. The viscosity and absolute temperature are again taken to be proportional, but the Prandtl number is no longer assumed to be unity. After applying the Illingworth-Stewartson transformation, the transformed external velocity u1(x) is chosen so that

is large and constant, where Ts is the stagnation temperature, Tw is the (constant) Wall temperature and u0 is the upstream value of u1(x).

The flow reacts to this sharp pressure rise mainly in a thin inner sublayer, so inner and outer asymptotic expansions are derived and matched for functions F and S which determine the stream function and the temperature.

The skin friction, heat transfer, displacement thickness and momentum thickness are determined as functions of , andinvolve two parameters B1, B2, which depend upon the Mach number and the walltemperature. Detailed numerical calculations are presented here for σ = 0.72. In particular, it is seen that the heat transfer rate varies roughly like σ⅓ except near to separation, where it varies like σ¼.

We consider the operator L[y] = y(4) + ((ax2 + bx + c)y′)′ + dy on the half-line [0, ∞). This paper shows that the deficiency indices are independent of the real numbers b, c and d when a ≠ 0. They depend only on the sign of a and are (2,2) if a < 0 and (3, 3) if a > 0. In the case a =0 the sign of b must be considered.