Michael Kunzinger

Admissible Transformations and Normalized Classes of Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations

The theory of group classification of differential equations is analyzed, substantially extended and enhanced based on the new notions of conditional equivalence group and normalized class of differential equations. Effective new techniques are proposed. Using these, we exhaustively describe admissible point transformations in classes of nonlinear (1+1)-dimensional Schrödinger equations, in particular, in the class of nonlinear (1+1)-dimensional Schrödinger equations with modular nonlinearities and potentials and some subclasses thereof. We then carry out a complete group classification in this class, representing it as a union of disjoint normalized subclasses and applying a combination of algebraic and compatibility methods. Moreover, we introduce the complete classification of (1+2)-dimensional cubic Schrödinger equations with potentials. The proposed approach can be applied to studying symmetry properties of a wide range of differential equations.

Generalized pseudo-Riemannian geometry

Generalized tensor analysis in the sense of Colombeaus construction is employed to introduce a nonlinear distributional pseudo-Riemannian geometry. In particular, after deriving several characterizations of invertibility in the algebra of generalized functions, we define the notions of generalized pseudo-Riemannian metric, generalized connection and generalized curvature tensor. We prove a Fundamental Lemma of (pseudo-) Riemannian geometry in this setting and define the notion of geodesics of a generalized metric. Finally, we present applications of the resulting theory to general relativity.

A Rigorous solution concept for geodesic and geodesic deviation equations in impulsive gravitational waves

The geodesic as well as the geodesic deviation equation for impulsive gravitational waves involve highly singular products of distributions (θδ,θ2δ,δ2). A solution concept for these equations based on embedding the distributional metric into the Colombeau algebra of generalized functions is presented. Using a universal regularization procedure we prove existence and uniqueness results and calculate the distributional limits of these solutions explicitly. The obtained limits are regularization independent and display the physically expected behavior.

Conservation Laws and Potential Symmetries of Linear Parabolic Equations

Abstract We carry out an extensive investigation of conservation laws and potential symmetries for the class of linear (1+1)-dimensional second-order parabolic equations. The group classification of this class is revised by employing admissible transformations, the notion of normalized classes of differential equations and the adjoint variational principle. All possible potential conservation laws are described completely. They are in fact exhausted by local conservation laws. For any equation from the above class the characteristic space of local conservation laws is isomorphic to the solution set of the adjoint equation. Effective criteria for the existence of potential symmetries are proposed. Their proofs involve a rather intricate interplay between different representations of potential systems, the notion of a potential equation associated with a tuple of characteristics, prolongation of the equivalence group to the whole potential frame and application of multiple dual Darboux transformations. Based on the tools developed, a preliminary analysis of generalized potential symmetries is carried out and then applied to substantiate our construction of potential systems. The simplest potential symmetries of the linear heat equation, which are associated with single conservation laws, are classified with respect to its point symmetry group. Equations possessing infinite series of potential symmetry algebras are studied in detail.

Foundations of a Nonlinear Distributional Geometry

Colombeaus construction of generalized functions (in its special variant) is extended to a theory of generalized sections of vector bundles. As particular cases, generalized tensor analysis and exterior algebra are studied. A point value characterization for generalized functions on manifolds is derived, several algebraic characterizations of spaces of generalized sections are established and consistency properties with respect to linear distributional geometry are derived. An application to nonsmooth mechanics indicates the additional flexibility offered by this approach compared to the purely distributional picture.

Group analysis of differential equations and generalized functions

We present an extension of the methods of classical Lie group analysis of differential equations to equations involving generalized functions (in particular: distributions). A suitable framework for such a generalization is provided by Colombeaus theory of algebras of generalized functions. We show that under some mild conditions on the differential equations, symmetries of classical solutions remain symmetries for generalized solutions. Moreover, we introduce a generalization of the infinitesimal methods of group analysis that allows us to compute symmetries of linear and nonlinear differential equations containing generalized function terms. Thereby, the group generators and group actions may be given by generalized functions themselves.

Intrinsic Characterization of Manifold-Valued Generalized Functions

The concept of generalized functions taking values in a differentiable manifold is extended to a functorial theory. We establish several characterization results which allow a global intrinsic formulation both of the theory of manifold-valued generalized functions and of generalized vector bundle homomorphisms. As a consequence, a characterization of equivalence that does not resort to derivatives (analogous to scalar-valued cases of Colombeaus construction) is achieved. These results are employed to derive a point value description of all types of generalized functions valued in manifolds and to show that composition can be carried out unrestrictedly. Finally, a new concept of association adapted to the present setting is introduced.

Generalised connections and curvature

The concept of generalised (in the sense of Colombeau) connection on a principal fibre bundle is introduced. This definition is then used to extend results concerning the geometry of principal fibre bundles to those that only have a generalised connection. Some applications to singular solutions of Yang–Mills theory are given.

Generalized flows and singular ODEs on differentiable manifolds

Based on the concept of manifold-valued generalized functions, we initiate a study of nonlinear ordinary differential equations with singular (in particular: distributional) right-hand sides in a global setting. After establishing several existence and uniqueness results for solutions of such equations and flows of singular vector fields, we compare the solution concept employed here with the purely distributional setting. Finally, we derive criteria securing that a sequence of smooth flows corresponding to the regularization of a given singular vector field converges to a measurable limiting flow.

Global Weak Solutions of the Relativistic Vlasov-Klein-Gordon System

Abstract: We consider an ensemble of classical particles coupled to a Klein-Gordon field. For the resulting nonlinear system of partial differential equations, which we call the relativistic Vlasov-Klein-Gordon system, we prove the existence of global weak solutions for initial data satisfying a size restriction. The latter becomes necessary since the energy of the system is indefinite, and only for restricted data a-priori bounds on the solutions can be derived from conservation of energy.