We consider a Sturm-Liouville boundary value problem in a bounded domain D of R^n. By this is meant that the differential equation is given by a second order elliptic operator of divergent form in D and the boundary conditions are of Robin type on bD. The first order term of the boundary operator is the oblique derivative whose coefficients bear discontinuities of the first kind. Applying the method of weak perturbation of compact self-adjoint operators and the method of rays of minimal growth, we prove the completeness of root functions related to the boundary value problem in Lebesgue and Sobolev spaces of various types.

This paper examines and develops matrix methods to approximate the eigenvalues of a fourth order Sturm-Liouville problem subjected to a kind of fixed boundary conditions, furthermore, it extends the matrix methods for a kind of general boundary conditions. The idea of the methods comes from finite difference and Numerov's method as well as boundary value methods for second order regular Sturm-Liouville problems. Moreover, the determination of the correction term formulas of the matrix methods are investigated in order to obtain better approximations of the problem with fixed boundary conditions since the exact eigenvalues for q = 0 are known in this case. Finally, some numerical examples are illustrated.

In this thesis, we demonstrate the capability of power series, combined with numerical methods, to solve boundary value problems and Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problems of ordinary differential equations. This kind of schemes is usually called the numerical-symbolic, numerical-analytic or semi-analytic method. In the first chapter, we develop an adaptive algorithm, which automatically decides the terms of power series to reach desired accuracy. The expansion point of power series can be chosen freely. It is also possible to combine several power series piecewisely. We test it on several models, including the second and higher order linear or nonlinear differential equations. For nonlinear problems, the same procedure works similarly to linear problems. The only differences are the nonlinear recurrence of the coefficients and a nonlinear equation, instead of linear, to be solved. In the second chapter, we use our semi-analytic method to solve singularly perturbed problems. These problems arise frequently in fluid mechanics and other branches of applied mathematics. Due to the existence of boundary or interior layers, its solution is very steep at certain point. So the terms of series need to be large in order to reach the desired accuracy. To improve its efficiency, we have a strategy to select only a few required basis from the whole polynomial family. Our method is shown to be a parameter diminishing method. A specific type of boundary value problem, called the Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problem, is very important in science and engineering. They can also be solved by our semi-analytic method. This is our focus in the third chapter. Our adaptive method works very well to compute its eigenvalues and eigenfunctions with desired accuracy. The numerical results are very satisfactory.

The inverse nodal problem is the problem of understanding the potential function of the Sturm-Liouville operator from the set of the nodal data ( zeros of eigenfunction ). This problem was first defined by McLaughlin[12]. Up till now, the problem on finite intervals has been studied rather thoroughly. Uniqueness, reconstruction and stability problems are all solved. In this thesis, I investigate the inverse nodal problem on semi-infinite intervals q(x) is real and continuous on [0,1) and q(x)!1, as x!1. we have the following proposition. L is in the limit-point case. The spectral function of the differential operator in (1) is a step function which has discontinuities at { k} , k = 0, 1, 2, .... And the corresponding solutions (eigenfunction) k(x) = (x, k) has exactly k zeros on [0,1). Furthermore { k} forms an orthogonal set. Finally we also discuss that density of nodal points and a reconstruction formula on semiinfinite intervals.

In this thesis we present a numerical algorithm to solve the singular Inverse Sturm-Liouville problems with symmetric potential functions. The singularity, which comes from the unbounded domain of the problem, is treated by considering the limiting case of the associated problem on the symmetric finite interval. In contrast to regular problems which are considered on a finite interval the singular inverse problem has an ill-conditioned structure despite of the limiting treatment. We use the regularization techniques to overcome the ill-posedness difficulty. Moreover, since the problem is nonlinear the iterative solution procedures are needed. Direct computation of the eigenvalues in iterative solution is handled via psoudespectral methods. The numerical examples of the considered problem are given to illustrate the accuracy and convergence behaviour.

We study the Ambarzumyan problem for Sturm-Liouville operator defined on graph. The classical Ambarzumyan Theorem states that if the Neumann eigenvalues of the Sturm-Liouville operator defined on the interval [0,£k] are exactly {n^2: n ∈ N ⋃ {0} }, then the potential q=0. In 2005, Pivovarchik proved two similar theorems with uniform lengths a for the Sturm-Liouville operator defined on a 3-star graphs. Then Wu considered the Ambarzumyan problem for graphs of nonuniform length in his thesis. In this thesis, we shall study the Ambarzumyan problem on more complicated trees, namely, 4-star graphs and caterpillar graphs with edges of different lengths. We manage to solve the Ambarzumyan problem for both Neumann eigenvalues and Dirichlet eigenvalues. In particular, the whole spectrum can be partitioned into several parts. Each part forms the solution to one Ambarzumyan problem. For example, for a 4-star graphs with edge lengths a, a, 2a, 2a form the solution to 3 different Ambarzumyan problems for the Neumann eigenvalues.

Texte remanié de: Diss.--Philosophie--Münster, 1995. / Bibliogr. p. 557-616.

In this thesis, we investigate Sturmian comparison theory and oscillation for second order impulsive differential equations with fixed moments of impulse actions. It is shown that impulse actions may greatly alter the oscillation behavior of solutions. In chapter two, besides Sturmian type comparison results, we give Leightonian type comparison theorems and obtain Wirtinger type inequalities for linear, half-linear and non-selfadjoint equations. We present analogous results for forced super linear and super half-linear equations with damping. In chapter three, we derive sufficient conditions for oscillation of nonlinear equations. Integral averaging, function averaging techniques as well as interval criteria for oscillation are discussed. Oscillation criteria for solutions of impulsive Hill&amp / #8217 / s equation with damping and forced linear equations with damping are established.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Johns Hopkins University, 1942. / "Reprinted from Hesperia: studies in Germanic languages, Nr. 21." Bibliography: p. 297-298.

Th.--Lettres et sciences humaines--Bordeaux 3, 1982. / Bibliogr. p. 595-628. Index.