Beyond Partial Differential Equations

The present volume is self-contained and introduces to the treatment of linear and nonlinear (quasi-linear) abstract evolution equations by methods from the theory of strongly continuous semigroups. The theoretical part is accessible to graduate students with basic knowledge in functional analysis. Only some examples require more specialized knowledge from the spectral theory of linear, self-adjoint operators in Hilbert spaces. Particular stress is on equations of the hyperbolic type since considerably less often treated in the literature. Also, evolution equations from fundamental physics need to be compatible with the theory of special relativity and therefore are of hyperbolic type. Throughout, detailed applications are given to hyperbolic partial differential equations occurring in problems of current theoretical physics, in particular to Hermitian hyperbolic systems. This volume is thus also of interest to readers from theoretical physics.