Differential Operators and Function Spaces (DifFun)

Knowledge:

• Linear differential equations and their relevant side conditions (e.g. boundary, initial)
• Concept of ellipticity
• Distributions and their convergence properties
• Multiplication by smooth functions and derivatives of distributions
• Fourier transform of distributions
• Function classes such as Sobolev spaces or Lp spaces and the action on differential operators and  the Fourier transform on these
• Unbounded operators on Hilbert spaces
• Solution methods for differential equations such as methods based on the Fourier transform or a variational approach

Competences:

• Understand the different realizations of differential operators on relevant function spaces
• Understand concepts such as existence uniqueness and regularity of solutions to differential equations within the relevant function spaces
• Determine when a certain solution method applies
• Calculate with distributions (derivatives, multiplication, ...)
• Calculate Fourier transform of distributions, and functions in different function classes
• Know the relations (inclusions) of relevant function spaces

Skills:

• Solve classical differential equations
• Establish existence, uniqueness and regularity of solutions to certain differential equations
• Describe the different realizations of concrete differential operators on Hilbert spaces
• Calculate properties (e.g., domain, spectra) of realizations of differential operators