This book provides detailed information on index theories and their applications, especially Maslov-type index theories and their iteration theories for non-periodic solutions of Hamiltonian systems. It focuses on two index theories: L-index theory (index theory for Lagrangian boundary conditions) and P-index theory (index theory for P-boundary conditions). In addition, the book introduces readers to recent advances in the study of index theories for symmetric periodic solutions of nonlinear Hamiltonian systems, and for selected boundary value problems involving partial differential equations.

This book offers a systematic presentation of up-to-date material scattered throughout the literature from the methodology point of view. It reviews the basic theories and methods, with many interesting problems in partial and ordinary differential equations, differential geometry and mathematical physics as applications, and provides the necessary preparation for almost all important aspects in contemporary studies. All methods are illustrated by carefully chosen examples from mechanics, physics, engineering and geometry.

The techniques that can be used to solve non-linear problems are far different than those that are used to solve linear problems. Many courses in analysis and applied mathematics attack linear cases simply because they are easier to solve and do not require a large theoretical background in order to approach them. Professor Schechter's 2005 book is devoted to non-linear methods using the least background material possible and the simplest linear techniques. An understanding of the tools for solving non-linear problems is developed whilst demonstrating their application to problems in one dimension and then leading to higher dimensions. The reader is guided using simple exposition and proof, assuming a minimal set of pre-requisites. For completion, a set of appendices covering essential basics in functional analysis and metric spaces is included, making this ideal as an accompanying text on an upper-undergraduate or graduate course, or even for self-study.

Topological tools in Nonlinear Analysis had a tremendous develop ment during the last few decades. The three main streams of research in this field, Topological Degree, Singularity Theory and Variational Meth ods, have lately become impetuous rivers of scientific investigation. The process is still going on and the achievements in this area are spectacular. A most promising and rapidly developing field of research is the study of the role that symmetries play in nonlinear problems. Symmetries appear in a quite natural way in many problems in physics and in differential or symplectic geometry, such as closed orbits for autonomous Hamiltonian systems, configurations of symmetric elastic plates under pressure, Hopf Bifurcation, Taylor vortices, convective motions of fluids, oscillations of chemical reactions, etc . . . Some of these problems have been tackled recently by different techniques using equivariant versions of Degree, Singularity and Variations. The main purpose of the present volume is to give a survey of some of the most significant achievements obtained by topological methods in Nonlinear Analysis during the last two-three decades. The survey articles presented here reflect the personal taste and points of view of the authors (all of them well-known and distinguished specialists in their own fields) on the subject matter. A common feature of these papers is that of start ing with an historical introductory background of the different disciplines under consideration and climbing up to the heights of the most recent re sults.

Contents: Fixed Point Theory and Nonlinear Problems (Th Rassias)Global Linearization Iterative Methods and Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations III (M Altman)On Generalized Power Series and Generalized Operational Calculus and Its Application (M Al-Bassam)Multiple Solutions to Parametrized Nonlinear Differential Systems from Nielsen Fixed Point Theory (R Brown)The topology of Ind-Affine Sets (P Cherenack)Almost Approximately Polynomial Functions (P Cholewa)Cohomology Classes and Foliated Manifolds (M Craioveanu & M Puta)Bifurcation and Nonlinear Instability in Applied Mathematics (L Debnath)The Stability of Weakly Additive Functional (H Drljevic)Index Theory for G-Bundle Pairs with Applications to Borsuk-Ulam Type Theorems for G-Sphere Bundles (E Fadell & S Husseini)Nonlinear Approximation and Moment Problem (J S Hwang & G D Lin)Periods in Equicontinuous Topological Dynamical Systems (A Iwanik et al.)Continuation Theorems for Semi-Linear Equations in Banach Spaces: A Survey (J Mawhin & K Rybakowski)On Contractifiable Self-Mappings (P Meyers)Normal Structures and Nonexpansive Mappings in Banach Spaces (J Nelson et al.): Survey on Uniqueness and Classification Theorems for Minimal Surfaces (Th Rassias)Contractive Definitions (B Rhoades)On KY Fan's Theorem and Its Applications (S Singh)Fixed Points of Amenable Semigroups of Differentiable Operators (P Soardi)Research Problems on Nonlinear Equations (Th Rassias) Readership: Mathematicians and applied scientists. Keywords:Nonlinear Analysis;Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations III;Polynomial Functions;Cohomology Classes;Foliated Manifolds;Topological Dynamical Systems;Minimal Surfaces;Differentiable Operators;Nonlinear Equations

Nonlinear analysis is a broad, interdisciplinary field characterized by a remarkable mixture of analysis, topology, and applications. Its concepts and techniques provide the tools for developing more realistic and accurate models for a variety of phenomena encountered in fields ranging from engineering and chemistry to economics and biology. This volume focuses on topics in nonlinear analysis pertinent to the theory of boundary value problems and their application in areas such as control theory and the calculus of variations. It complements the many other books on nonlinear analysis by addressing topics previously discussed fully only in scattered research papers. These include recent results on critical point theory, nonlinear differential operators, and related regularity and comparison principles. The rich variety of topics, both theoretical and applied, make Nonlinear Analysis useful to anyone, whether graduate student or researcher, working in analysis or its applications in optimal control, theoretical mechanics, or dynamical systems. An appendix contains all of the background material needed, and a detailed bibliography forms a guide for further study.