Sjoerd Verduyn Lunel (Utrecht University)

Delay equations and twin semigroups

Thursday, 14 November 2019, 13:30-14:30 in HG02.052

Abstract

A delay equation is a rule for extending a function of time towards the future on the basis of the (assumed to be) known past. By translation along the extended function (i.e., by updating the history), one defines a dynamical system. If one chooses as state-space the continuous initial functions, the translation semigroup is continuous, but the initial data corresponding to the fundamental solution is not contained in the state space. In ongoing joint work with Odo Diekmann, we choose as state space the space of bounded Borel functions and thus sacrifice strong continuity in order to gain a simple description of the variation-of-constants formula.

The aim of the lecture is to introduce the perturbation theory framework of twin semigroups on a norming dual pair of spaces, to show how renewal equations fit in this framework and to sketch how neutral equations can be covered. The growth of an age-structured population serves as a pedagogical example.