The theory of distributions is an extension of classical analysis which has acquired a particular importance in the field of linear partial differential equations, as well as having many other applications, for example in harmonic analysis. Underlying it is the theory of topological vector spaces, but it is possible to give a systematic presentation without presupposing a knowledge, or using more than a bare minimum, of this. This book adopts this course and is based on graduate lectures given over a number of years. The prerequisites are few, but a reasonable degree of mathematical maturity is expected of the reader, as the treatment is rigorous throughout. From the outset the theory is developed in several variables, unlike most elementary texts; it is taken as far as such important topics as Schwartz kernels, the Paley-Wiener-Schwartz theorem and Sobolev spaces. In this second edition, the notion of the wavefront set of a distribution is introduced, which allows many operations on distributions to be extended to larger classes and gives much more precise understanding of the nature of the singularities of a distribution. This is done in an elementary fashion without using any involved theories. This account should therefore be useful to graduate students and research workers who are interested in the applications of analysis in mathematics and mathematical physics.
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'… a very clear, accurate and stimulating version of an important topic, with the emphasis in the right place and with the minimum of fuss.' Review of the first edition in Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society
Book Description
In this new edition of a classic graduate text the theory of distributions is taken as far as such important topics as Schwartz kernels, the Paley-Wiener-Schwartz theorem and Sobolev spaces; and also in this edition, the notion of the wavefront set of a distribution is introduced.
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Throughout this book, the letter R will denote both the field of real numbers and the real line, and the letter C will stand for both the field of complex numbers and the complex plane. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Throughout this book, the letter R will denote both the field of real numbers and the real line, and the letter C will stand for both the field of complex numbers and the complex plane. Read the first page
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Every physicist and mathematician uses distributions (sometimes called generalized functions), albeit often unknowingly. From its origins in the Dirac delta `function', distribution theory continues to influence many research areas from quantum mechanics to partial differential equations, but has also grown into an important field in its own right. For anyone interested in learning about the field, this is clearly the first port of call. It presents a balanced introduction to the subject on a level suitable for anyone with a basic grounding in analysis (no knowledge of functional analysis is required).
The book begins by defining the two building blocks of the theory---test functions and distributions. It then quickly expands, filling in the important details of differentiation, multiplication, tensor products and convolution. All of this is written with sufficient mathematical rigor, but never too much that it interferes with the basic understanding of the subject, and is supported throughout by useful exercises. The book then builds up the theory of Fourier and Laplace transforms of distributions, which has important applications in the study of linear partial differential equations. The second edition contains an indispensable new chapter on the calculus of wavefront sets, which, among its uses, allows the propagation of singularities of solutions to partial differential equations to be properly treated. All in all, while the book is not for the common man, and does require a certain level of mathematical maturity, it does present an excellent introduction to an important, and often poorly understood, area of mathematics.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Introduction
2 Nov 2000
By christopherjhunter@yahoo.com
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Every physicist and mathematician uses distributions (sometimes called generalized functions), albeit often unknowingly. From its origins in the Dirac delta `function', distribution theory continues to influence many research areas from quantum mechanics to partial differential equations, but has also grown into an important field in its own right. For anyone interested in learning about the field, this is clearly the first port of call. It presents a balanced introduction to the subject on a level suitable for anyone with a basic grounding in analysis (no knowledge of functional analysis is required).
The book begins by defining the two building blocks of the theory---test functions and distributions. It then quickly expands, filling in the important details of differentiation, multiplication, tensor products and convolution. All of this is written with sufficient mathematical rigor, but never too much that it interferes with the basic understanding of the subject, and is supported throughout by useful exercises. The book then builds up the theory of Fourier and Laplace transforms of distributions, which has important applications in the study of linear partial differential equations. The second edition contains an indispensable new chapter on the calculus of wavefront sets, which, among its uses, allows the propagation of singularities of solutions to partial differential equations to be properly treated. All in all, while the book is not for the common man, and does require a certain level of mathematical maturity, it does present an excellent introduction to an important, and often poorly understood, area of mathematics.
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