Applied Math Mini-course
The unified transform method for solving constant coefficient linear PDEs
Applied Math Mini-course
Date/Time: Thursday, February 27th @ 9:30-11:30 AM
Location: THORV 205A
Title: The unified transform method for solving constant coefficient linear PDEs
Abstract: In 1997, A. Fokas introduced a new method for solving boundary value problems for integrable nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). When applied to linear, constant coefficient PDEs, the method presents an alternative to the classical methods taught in any first course on PDEs. However, it can be applied to larger classes of problems than the classical methods, and it provides answers to many previously undoable problems. Nonetheless, the method does not require more than knowledge of the Fourier transform and of some elementary complex analysis. I will show in detail how the method is applied to a problem we know how to solve classically, and point out how to extend the method to address many more complicated problems.