Asymptotic Analysis of Singular Perturbations

Matched Asymptotic Expansions and Singular Perturbations

This book is a rigorous presentation of the method of matched asymptotic expansions, the primary tool for attacking singular perturbation problems. A knowledge of conventional asymptotic analysis is assumed. The first chapter introduces the theory and is followed by four chapters of applications to ordinary differential equation problems of increasing complexity. Exercises are included as well as several Maple programs for computing the terms of the various asymptotic expansions that arise in solving the problems.

The topic of this book is the study of singular perturbations of ordinary differential equations, i.e., perturbations that represent solutions as asymptotic series rather than as analytic functions in a perturbation parameter. The main method used is the so-called WKB (Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin) method, originally invented for the study of quantum-mechanical systems. The authors describe in detail the WKB method and its applications to the study of monodromy problems for Fuchsian differential equations and to the analysis of Painleve functions. This volume is suitable for graduate students and researchers interested in differential equations and special functions.

This book is aimed at researchers and students in physics, mathematics, and engineering. It contains the first systematic presentation of a general approach to the integration of singularly perturbed differential equations describing nonuniform transitions, such as the occurrence of a boundary layer, discontinuities, boundary effects and so on. The method of regularization of singular perturbations presented here can be applied to the asymptotic integration of systems of ordinary and partial differential equations.

Mathematics Research Center Symposia and Advanced Seminar Series: Singular Perturbations and Asymptotics covers the lectures presented at an Advanced Seminar on Singular Perturbation and Asymptotics, held in Madison, Wisconsin on May 28-30, 1980 under the auspices of the Mathematics Research Center of the University of Wisconsin—Madison. The book focuses on the processes, methodologies, reactions, and principles involved in singular perturbations and asymptotics, including boundary value problems, equations, perturbations, water waves, and gas dynamics. The selection first elaborates on basic concepts in the analysis of singular perturbations, limit process expansions and approximate equations, and results on singularly perturbed boundary value problems. Discussions focus on quasi-linear and nonlinear problems, semilinear systems, water waves, expansion in gas dynamics, asymptotic matching principles, and classical perturbation analysis. The text then takes a look at multiple solutions of singularly perturbed systems in the conditionally stable case and singular perturbations, stochastic differential equations, and applications. The book ponders on connection problems in the parameterless case; general connection-formula problem for linear differential equations of the second order; and turning-point problems for ordinary differential equations of hydrodynamic type. Topics include the comparison equation method, boundary layer flows, compound matrix method, asymptotic solution of the connection-formula problem, and higher order equations. The selection is a valuable source of information for researchers interested in singular perturbations and asymptotics.