1202.0261 (Francesco Mainardi)

Fractional Calculus in Wave Propagation Problems    [PDF]

Francesco Mainardi

Fractional calculus, in allowing integrals and derivatives of any positive
order (the term "fractional" kept only for historical reasons), can be
considered a branch of mathematical physics which mainly deals with
integro-differential equations, where integrals are of convolution form with
weakly singular kernels of power law type. In recent decades fractional
calculus has won more and more interest in applications in several fields of
applied sciences. In this lecture we devote our attention to wave propagation
problems in linear viscoelastic media. Our purpose is to outline the role of
fractional calculus in providing simplest evolution processes which are
intermediate between diffusion and wave propagation. The present treatment
mainly reflects the research activity and style of the author in the related
scientific areas during the last decades.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1202.0261