This book reflects the strong connection between calculus of variations and the applications for which variational methods form the foundation.

The impulse which led to the writing of the present book has emerged from my many years of lecturing in special courses for selected students at the College of Civil Engineering of the Tech nical University in Prague, from experience gained as supervisor and consultant to graduate students-engineers in the field of applied mathematics, and - last but not least - from frequent consultations with technicians as well as with physicists who have asked for advice in overcoming difficulties encountered in solving theoretical problems. Even though a varied combination of problems of the most diverse nature was often in question, the problems discussed in this book stood forth as the most essential to this category of specialists. The many discussions I have had gave rise to considerations on writing a book which should fill the rather unfortunate gap in our literature. The book is designed, in the first place, for specialists in the fields of theoretical engineering and science. However, it was my aim that the book should be of interest to mathematicians as well. I have been well aware what an ungrateful task it may be to write a book of the present type, and what problems such an effort can bring: Technicians and physicists on the one side, and mathematicians on the other, are often of diametrically opposing opinions as far as books con ceived for both these categories are concerned.

Address vector and matrix methods necessary in numerical methods and optimization of linear systems in engineering with this unified text. Treats the mathematical models that describe and predict the evolution of our processes and systems, and the numerical methods required to obtain approximate solutions. Explores the dynamical systems theory used to describe and characterize system behaviour, alongside the techniques used to optimize their performance. Integrates and unifies matrix and eigenfunction methods with their applications in numerical and optimization methods. Consolidating, generalizing, and unifying these topics into a single coherent subject, this practical resource is suitable for advanced undergraduate students and graduate students in engineering, physical sciences, and applied mathematics.

Variational Methods for the Numerical Solution of Nonlinear Elliptic Problems?addresses computational methods that have proven efficient for the solution of a large variety of nonlinear elliptic problems. These methods can be applied to many problems in science and engineering, but this book focuses on their application to problems in continuum mechanics and physics. This book differs from others on the topic by presenting examples of the power and versatility of operator-splitting methods; providing a detailed introduction to alternating direction methods of multipliers and their applicability to the solution of nonlinear (possibly nonsmooth) problems from science and engineering; and showing that nonlinear least-squares methods, combined with operator-splitting and conjugate gradient algorithms, provide efficient tools for the solution of highly nonlinear problems. The book provides useful insights suitable for advanced graduate students, faculty, and researchers in applied and computational mathematics as well as research engineers, mathematical physicists, and systems engineers.

The third, revised edition of this popular textbook and reference, which has been translated into Russian and Chinese, expands the comprehensive and balanced coverage of nuclear reactor physics to include recent advances in understanding of this topic. The first part of the book covers basic reactor physics, including, but not limited to nuclear reaction data, neutron diffusion theory, reactor criticality and dynamics, neutron energy distribution, fuel burnup, reactor types and reactor safety. The second part then deals with such physically and mathematically more advanced topics as neutron transport theory, neutron slowing down, resonance absorption, neutron thermalization, perturbation and variational methods, homogenization, nodal and synthesis methods, and space-time neutron dynamics. For ease of reference, the detailed appendices contain nuclear data, useful mathematical formulas, an overview of special functions as well as introductions to matrix algebra and Laplace transforms. With its focus on conveying the in-depth knowledge needed by advanced student and professional nuclear engineers, this text is ideal for use in numerous courses and for self-study by professionals in basic nuclear reactor physics, advanced nuclear reactor physics, neutron transport theory, nuclear reactor dynamics and stability, nuclear reactor fuel cycle physics and other important topics in the field of nuclear reactor physics.

This book is devoted to the study of variational methods in imaging. The presentation is mathematically rigorous and covers a detailed treatment of the approach from an inverse problems point of view. Many numerical examples accompany the theory throughout the text. It is geared towards graduate students and researchers in applied mathematics. Researchers in the area of imaging science will also find this book appealing. It can serve as a main text in courses in image processing or as a supplemental text for courses on regularization and inverse problems at the graduate level.

Pedagogical insights gained through 30 years of teaching applied mathematics led the author to write this set of student-oriented books. Topics such as complex analysis, matrix theory, vector and tensor analysis, Fourier analysis, integral transforms, ordinary and partial differential equations are presented in a discursive style that is readable and easy to follow. Numerous clearly stated, completely worked out examples together with carefully selected problem sets with answers are used to enhance students' understanding and manipulative skill. The goal is to help students feel comfortable and confident in using advanced mathematical tools in junior, senior, and beginning graduate courses.