Hermann Brunner

This book offers a comprehensive introduction to the theory of linear and nonlinear Volterra integral equations (VIEs), ranging from Volterra's fundamental contributions and the resulting classical theory to more recent developments that include Volterra functional integral equations with various kinds of delays, VIEs with highly oscillatory kernels, and VIEs with non-compact operators. It will act as a 'stepping stone' to the literature on the advanced theory of VIEs, bringing the reader to the current state of the art in the theory. Each chapter contains a large number of exercises, extending from routine problems illustrating or complementing the theory to challenging open research problems. The increasingly important role of VIEs in the mathematical modelling of phenomena where memory effects play a key role is illustrated with some 30 concrete examples, and the notes at the end of each chapter feature complementary references as a guide to further reading.

Collocation based on piecewise polynomial approximation represents a powerful class of methods for the numerical solution of initial-value problems for functional differential and integral equations arising in a wide spectrum of applications, including biological and physical phenomena. The present book introduces the reader to the general principles underlying these methods and then describes in detail their convergence properties when applied to ordinary differential equations, functional equations with (Volterra type) memory terms, delay equations, and differential-algebraic and integral-algebraic equations. Each chapter starts with a self-contained introduction to the relevant theory of the class of equations under consideration. Numerous exercises and examples are supplied, along with extensive historical and bibliographical notes utilising the vast annotated reference list of over 1300 items. In sum, Hermann Brunner has written a treatise that can serve as an introduction for stu