This book presents the main results and methods on inverse spectral problems for Sturm-Liouville differential operators and their applications. Inverse problems of spectral analysis consist in recovering operators from their spectral characteristics. Such problems often appear in mathematics, mechanics, physics, electronics, geophysics, meteorology and other branches of natural sciences. Inverse problems also play an important role in solving non-linear evolution equations in mathematical physics. Interest in this subject has been increasing permanently because of the appearance of new important applications, resulting in intensive study of inverse problem theory all over the world.

This book provides an introduction to the most recent developments in the theory and practice of direct and inverse Sturm-Liouville problems on finite and infinite intervals. A universal approach for practical solving of direct and inverse spectral and scattering problems is presented, based on the notion of transmutation (transformation) operators and their efficient construction. Analytical representations for solutions of Sturm-Liouville equations as well as for the integral kernels of the transmutation operators are derived in the form of functional series revealing interesting special features and lending themselves to direct and simple numerical solution of a wide variety of problems. The book is written for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for mathematicians, physicists and engineers interested in direct and inverse spectral problems.

The interest in inverse problems of spectral analysis has increased considerably in recent years due to the applications to important non-linear equations in mathematical physics. This monograph is devoted to the detailed theory of inverse problems and methods of their solution for the Sturm-Liouville case. Chapters 1--6 contain proofs which are, in many cases, very different from those known earlier. Chapters 4--6 are devoted to inverse problems of quantum scattering theory with attention being focused on physical applications. Chapters 7--11 are based on the author's recent research on the theory of finite- and infinite-zone potentials. A chapter discussing the applications to the Korteweg--de Vries problem is also included. This monograph is important reading for all researchers in the field of mathematics and physics.

The spectral theory of Sturm-Liouville operators is a classical domain of analysis, comprising a wide variety of problems. This book aims to show what can be achieved with the aid of transformation operators in spectral theory as well as their applications.

Developed from a course taught to senior undergraduates, this book provides a unified introduction to Fourier analysis and special functions based on the Sturm-Liouville theory in L2. The text’s presentation follows a clear, rigorous mathematical style that is highly readable. The author first establishes the basic results of Sturm-Liouville theory and then provides examples and applications to illustrate the theory. The final two chapters, on Fourier and Laplace transformations, demonstrate the use of the Fourier series method for representing functions to integral representations.

The interest in inverse problems of spectral analysis has increased considerably in recent years due to the applications to important non-linear equations in mathematical physics. This monograph is devoted to the detailed theory of inverse problems and methods of their solution for the Sturm-Liouville case. Chapters 1--6 contain proofs which are, in many cases, very different from those known earlier. Chapters 4--6 are devoted to inverse problems of quantum scattering theory with attention being focused on physical applications. Chapters 7--11 are based on the author's recent research on the theory of finite- and infinite-zone potentials. A chapter discussing the applications to the Korteweg--de Vries problem is also included. This monograph is important reading for all researchers in the field of mathematics and physics.

Inverse Scattering Problems and Their Applications to Nonlinear Integrable Equations, Second Edition is devoted to inverse scattering problems (ISPs) for differential equations and their applications to nonlinear evolution equations (NLEEs). The book is suitable for anyone who has a mathematical background and interest in functional analysis, differential equations, and equations of mathematical physics. This book is intended for a wide community working with ISPs and their applications. There is an especially strong traditional community in mathematical physics. In this monograph, the problems are presented step-by-step, and detailed proofs are given for considered problems to make the topics more accessible for students who are approaching them for the first time. New to the Second Edition All new chapter dealing with the Bäcklund transformations between a common solution of both linear equations in the Lax pair and the solution of the associated IBVP for NLEEs on the half-line Updated references and concluding remarks Features Solving the direct and ISP, then solving the associated initial value problem (IVP) or initial-boundary value problem (IBVP) for NLEEs are carried out step-by-step. The unknown boundary values are calculated with the help of the Lax (generalized) equations, then the time-dependent scattering data (SD) are expressed in terms of preassigned initial and boundary conditions. Thereby, the potential functions are recovered uniquely in terms of the given initial and calculated boundary conditions. The unique solvability of the ISP is proved and the SD of the scattering problem is described completely. The considered ISPs are well-solved. The ISPs are set up appropriately for constructing the Bӓckhund transformations (BTs) for solutions of associated IBVPs or IVPs for NLEEs. The procedure for finding a BT for the IBVP for NLEEs on the half-line differs from the one used for obtaining a BT for non-linear differential equations defined in the whole space. The interrelations between the ISPs and the constructed BTs are established to become new powerful unified transformations (UTs) for solving IBVPs or IVPs for NLEEs, that can be used in different areas of physics and mechanics. The application of the UTs is consistent and efficiently embedded in the scheme of the associated ISP.