Integral equations have wide applications in various fields, including continuum mechanics, potential theory, geophysics, electricity and magnetism, kinetic theory of gases, hereditary phenomena in physics and biology, renewal theory, quantum mechanics, radiation, optimization, optimal control systems, communication theory, mathematical economics, population genetics, queueing theory, and medicine.

Computational Methods for Linear Integral Equations presents basic theoretical material that deals with numerical analysis, convergence, error estimates, and accuracy. The unique computational aspect leads the reader from theoretical and practical problems all the way through to computation with hands-on guidance for input files and the execution of computer programs.

Features:

* Offers all supporting MathematicaA(R) files related to the book via the Internet at the authors' Web sites: www.math.uno.edu/fac/pkythe.html or www.math.uno.edu/fac/ppuri.html

* Contains identification codes for problems, related methods, and computer programs that are cross-referenced throughout the book to make the connections easy to understand

* Illustrates a how-to approach to computational work in the development of algorithms, construction of input files, timing, and accuracy analysis

* Covers linear integral equations of Fredholm and Volterra types of the first and second kinds as well as associated singular integral equations, integro-differential equations, and eigenvalue problems

* Provides clear, step-by-step guidelines for solving difficult and complex computational problems

This book is an essential reference and authoritative resource for all professionals, graduate students, and researchers in mathematics, physical sciences, and engineering. Researchers interested in the numerical solution of integral equations will find its practical problem-solving style both accessible and useful for their work.

This book evolved out of a graduate course given at the University of New Orleans in 1997. The class consisted of students from applied mathematics andengineering. Theyhadthebackgroundofatleastafirstcourseincomplex analysiswithemphasisonconformalmappingandSchwarz-Christoffeltrans- formation, a firstcourse in numerical analysis, and good to excellent working knowledgeofMathematica* withadditionalknowledgeofsomeprogramming languages. Sincetheclasshad nobackground inIntegralEquations, thechap- tersinvolvingintegralequationformulations werenotcoveredindetail,except for Symm's integral equation which appealed to a subsetofstudents who had some training in boundary element methods. Mathematica was mostly used for computations. In fact, it simplified numerical integration and other oper- ations very significantly, which would have otherwise involved programming inFortran, C, orotherlanguageofchoice, ifclassical numericalmethods were attempted. Overview Exact solutions of boundary value problems for simple regions, such as cir- cles, squares or annuli, can be determined with relative ease even where the boundaryconditionsarerathercomplicated. Green'sfunctionsforsuchsimple regions are known. However, for regions with complex structure the solution ofa boundary value problem often becomes more difficult, even for a simple problemsuchastheDirichletproblem. Oneapproachtosolvingthesedifficult problems is to conformally transform a given multiply connected region onto *Mathematica is a registered trade mark of Wolfram Research, Inc. ix x PREFACE simpler canonical regions. This will, however, result in change not only in the region and the associated boundary conditions but also in the governing differential equation. As compared to the simply connected regions, confor- mal mapping ofmultiply connected regions suffers from severe limitations, one of which is the fact that equal connectivity ofregions is not a sufficient condition to effect a reciprocally connected map ofone region onto another.

A self-contained and systematic development of an aspect of analysis which deals with the theory of fundamental solutions for differential operators, and their applications to boundary value problems of mathematical physics, applied mathematics, and engineering, with the related computational aspects.

Modern finite element analysis has grown into a basic mathematical tool for almost every field of engineering and the applied sciences. This introductory textbook fills a gap in the literature, offering a concise, integrated presentation of methods, applications, software tools, and hands-on projects. Included are numerous exercises, problems, and Mathematica/Matlab-based programming projects. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary applications to serve a broad audience of advanced undergraduate/graduate students with different backgrounds in applied mathematics, engineering, physics/geophysics. The work may also serve as a self-study reference for researchers and practitioners seeking a quick introduction to the subject for their research.

Modern finite element analysis has grown into a basic mathematical tool for almost every field of engineering and the applied sciences. This introductory textbook fills a gap in the literature, offering a concise, integrated presentation of methods, applications, software tools, and hands-on projects. Included are numerous exercises, problems, and Mathematica/Matlab-based programming projects. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary applications to serve a broad audience of advanced undergraduate/graduate students with different backgrounds in applied mathematics, engineering, physics/geophysics. The work may also serve as a self-study reference for researchers and practitioners seeking a quick introduction to the subject for their research.

This book evolved out of a graduate course given at the University of New Orleans in 1997. The class consisted of students from applied mathematics andengineering. Theyhadthebackgroundofatleastafirstcourseincomplex analysiswithemphasisonconformalmappingandSchwarz-Christoffeltrans- formation, a firstcourse in numerical analysis, and good to excellent working knowledgeofMathematica* withadditionalknowledgeofsomeprogramming languages. Sincetheclasshad nobackground inIntegralEquations, thechap- tersinvolvingintegralequationformulations werenotcoveredindetail,except for Symm's integral equation which appealed to a subsetofstudents who had some training in boundary element methods. Mathematica was mostly used for computations. In fact, it simplified numerical integration and other oper- ations very significantly, which would have otherwise involved programming inFortran, C, orotherlanguageofchoice, ifclassical numericalmethods were attempted. Overview Exact solutions of boundary value problems for simple regions, such as cir- cles, squares or annuli, can be determined with relative ease even where the boundaryconditionsarerathercomplicated. Green'sfunctionsforsuchsimple regions are known. However, for regions with complex structure the solution ofa boundary value problem often becomes more difficult, even for a simple problemsuchastheDirichletproblem. Oneapproachtosolvingthesedifficult problems is to conformally transform a given multiply connected region onto *Mathematica is a registered trade mark of Wolfram Research, Inc. ix x PREFACE simpler canonical regions. This will, however, result in change not only in the region and the associated boundary conditions but also in the governing differential equation. As compared to the simply connected regions, confor- mal mapping ofmultiply connected regions suffers from severe limitations, one of which is the fact that equal connectivity ofregions is not a sufficient condition to effect a reciprocally connected map ofone region onto another.

Integral equations have wide applications in various fields, including continuum mechanics, potential theory, geophysics, electricity and magnetism, kinetic theory of gases, hereditary phenomena in physics and biology, renewal theory, quantum mechanics, radiation, optimization, optimal control systems, communication theory, mathematical economics, population genetics, queueing theory, and medicine. Computational Methods for Linear Integral Equations presents basic theoretical material that deals with numerical analysis, convergence, error estimates, and accuracy. The unique computational aspect leads the reader from theoretical and practical problems all the way through to computation with hands-on guidance for input files and the execution of computer programs. Features: * Offers all supporting Mathematica(R) files related to the book via the Internet at the authors' Web sites: www.math.uno.edu/fac/pkythe.html or www.math.uno.edu/fac/ppuri.html * Contains identification codes for problems, related methods, and computer programs that are cross-referenced throughout the book to make the connections easy to understand * Illustrates a how-to approach to computational work in the development of algorithms, construction of input files, timing, and accuracy analysis * Covers linear integral equations of Fredholm and Volterra types of the first and second kinds as well as associated singular integral equations, integro-differential equations, and eigenvalue problems * Provides clear, step-by-step guidelines for solving difficult and complex computational problems This book is an essential reference and authoritative resource for all professionals, graduate students, and researchers in mathematics, physical sciences, and engineering.Researchers interested in the numerical solution of integral equations will find its practical problem-solving style both accessible and useful for their work.

A self-contained and systematic development of an aspect of analysis which deals with the theory of fundamental solutions for differential operators, and their applications to boundary value problems of mathematical physics, applied mathematics, and engineering, with the related computational aspects.