Applied Partial Differential Equations (4th Edition) [Hardcover]

Richard Haberman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130652431 | ISBN-13: 978-0130652430 | Publication Date: April 5, 2003 | Edition: 4

Emphasizing the physical interpretation of mathematical solutions, this book introduces applied mathematics while presenting partial differential equations. Topics addressed include heat equation, method of separation of variables, Fourier series, Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problems, finite difference numerical methods for partial differential equations, nonhomogeneous problems, Green's functions for time-independent problems, infinite domain problems, Green's functions for wave and heat equations, the method of characteristics for linear and quasi-linear wave equations and a brief introduction to Laplace transform solution of partial differential equations. For scientists and engineers.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Emphasizing the physical interpretation of mathematical solutions, this book introduces applied mathematics while presenting partial differential equations. Topics addressed include heat equation, method of separation of variables, Fourier series, Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problems, finite difference numerical methods for partial differential equations, nonhomogeneous problems, Green's functions for time-independent problems, infinite domain problems, Green's functions for wave and heat equations, the method of characteristics for linear and quasi-linear wave equations and a brief introduction to Laplace transform solution of partial differential equations. For scientists and engineers.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

This text discusses partial differential equations in the engineering and physical sciences. It is suited for courses whose titles include Fourier series, orthogonal functions, or boundary value problems. It may also be used in courses on Green's functions, transform methods, or portions on advanced engineering mathematics and mathematical methods in the physical sciences. It is appropriate as an introduction to applied mathematics.

Simple models (heat flow, vibrating strings, and membranes) are emphasized. Equations are formulated carefully from physical principles, motivating most mathematical topics. Solution techniques are developed patiently. Mathematical results frequently are given physical interpretations. Proofs of theorems (if given at all) are presented after explanations based on illustrative examples. Over 1000 exercises of varying difficulty form an essential part of this text. Answers are provided for those exercises marked with a star (*). Further details concerning the solution for most of the starred exercises are available in an instructor's manual.

Standard topics such as the method of separation of variables, Fourier series, orthogonal functions, and Fourier transforms are developed with considerable detail. Finite difference numerical methods for partial differential equations are clearly presented with considerable depth. A briefer presentation is made of the finite element method. This text also has an extensive presentation of the method of characteristics for linear and nonlinear wave equations, including discussion of the dynamics of shock waves for traffic flow. Nonhomogeneous problems are carefully introduced, including Green's functions for Laplace's, heat, and wave equations. Numerous topics are included such as differentiation and integration of Fourier series, Sturm-Liouville and multidimensional eigenfunctions, Rayleigh quotient, Bessel functions for a vibrating circular membrane, and Legendre polynomials for spherical problems. Some optional advanced material is included (for example, asymptotic expansion of large eigenvalues, calculation of perturbed frequencies using the Fredholm alternative, stability conditions for finite difference methods, and direct and inverse scattering).

Applications briefly discussed include the lift and drag associated with fluid flow past a circular cylinder, Snell's law of refraction for light and sound waves, the derivation of the Eikonal equation from the wave equation, dispersion relations for water waves, wave guides, and fiber optics.

The text has evolved from the author's experiences teaching this material to different types of students at various institutions (MIT, UCSD, Rutgers, Ohio State, and Southern Methodist University). Prerequisites for the reader are calculus and elementary ordinary differential equations. (These are occasionally reviewed in the text, where necessary.) For the beginning student, the core material for a typical course consists of most of Chapters 1-5 and 7. This will usually be supplemented by a few other topics. The text is somewhat flexible for an instructor, since most of Chapters 6-13 depend only on Chapters 1-5. Chapter 11 on Green's functions for the heat and wave equation is an exception, since it requires Chapters 9 and 10.

Chapter 14 is more advanced, discussing linear and nonlinear dispersive waves, stability, and perturbation methods. It is self-contained and accessible to strong undergraduates. Group velocity and envelope equations for linear dispersive waves are analyzed, whose applications include the rainbow caustic of optics. Nonlinear dispersive waves are discussed, including an introductory presentation of solitons for the weakly nonlinear long wave equation (Korteweg-de Vries) and the weakly nonlinear wave envelope equation (Nonlinear Schrodinger). In addition, instability and bifurcation phenomena for partial differential equations are discussed as well as perturbation methods (multiple scale and boundary layer problems). In Chapter 14, I have attempted to show the vitality of the contemporary study of partial differential equations in the context of physical problems.

I have made an effort to preserve the third edition so that previous users will find little disruption. Nearly all exercises from the previous edition have been retained with no change in the order to facilitate a transition for previous users. Only a few new exercises were created (especially for Chapter 1). The fourth edition contains many improvements in presentation and the following new material: diffusion of a chemical pollutant, Galerkin numerical approximation for the frequencies, similarity solution for the heat equation, two-dimensional Green's function for the wave equation, nonuniqueness of shock velocity and its resolution, spatial structure of traveling shock wave, stability and bifurcation theory for systems of ordinary differential equations, two spatial dimensional wave envelope equations, analysis of modulational instability, long wave instabilities, pattern formation for reaction diffusion equations, and the Turing instability.

There are over 200 figures to illustrate various concepts, which were prepared by the author using MATLAB. The MATLAB m-files for most of the mathematical figures may be obtained from my Web page: http://faculty.smu.edu/rhaberma. Modern technology is especially important in its graphical ability, and I have tried to indicate throughout the text places where three-dimensional visualization is helpful.

Overall, my object has been to explain clearly many fundamental aspects of partial differential equations as an introduction to this vast and important field. After achieving a certain degree of competence and understanding, the student can use this text as a reference, but for additional information the reader should be prepared to refer to other books such as the ones cited in the Bibliography.

Finally, it is hoped that this text enables the reader to find enjoyment in the study of the relationships between mathematics and the physical sciences.

The author gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the following reviewers of the manuscript: Andrew Belmonte, Penn State University, Julie Levandosky, Stanford University, and Isom Herron, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

I wish to thank past, present, and future readers of the book (students and faculty). Shari Webster was of great help in preparing the LATEX for the previous edition.

Richard Haberman

Product Details

• Hardcover: 769 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4 edition (April 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130652431
• ISBN-13: 978-0130652430
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smooth transition to advanced topics!, August 22, 2005

By 

A reader (Rocky Mountains USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Applied Partial Differential Equations (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

Most books on PDEs either address very basic, introductory concepts or tackle advanced topics requiring Measure theory. In addition, they focus mainly on theoretical concepts and do not provide adequate worked examples. Haberman's text is immensely useful both in bridging the gap between elementary and advanced books as well as in providing many, many completely worked problems. Indeed once you have had a basic course in PDEs you could use this text to teach yourself graduate-level topics such as Green's functions.

I do not try to convey the impression that this is a mere cookbook - "here's a problem, let's look up the solution". To the contrary. Haberman provides the motivation for each kind of mathematical treatment and interprets his results, pointing out their important consequences. His presentation of Gibbs' phenomenon is the most clear and comprehensive I have yet come across.

I heartily recommend this book especially to Math and Physics seniors who hope to continue on to graduate school in either of these subjects. In either case, it is expected of you to be adept at Green's functions and Haberman's book lays the groundwork for this topic.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Take: I teach from this text, August 4, 2009

By 

D. Hitt "Iron Chef BBQ" (Jericho, VT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Applied Partial Differential Equations (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

I have taught a graduate level "mathematical methods for engineers" course (or any of the similar name permutations) for many years. My course is essentially a two-semester course in PDEs with associated topics thrown in: it is truly a combination of PDEs with engineering physics problems. I have struggled to find a satisfactory text and have tried many different ones in the process. I find Haberman is ultimately the best choice. Perusing the reviews, I am not surprised to see the criticisms there. This subject matter is sometimes to obscure for engineering/physics students but too superficial (e.g. lacking in proofs and formalism) for purists in mathematics. It's a tough line to walk and nothing is perfect out there. My opinion is that Haberman does a very nice job balancing the physics with an appropriate amount of mathematical detail. Are there topics I'd like to see that aren't? Sure, but that's always going to be true. The all-inclusive text would be multiple volumes and a thousand pages and probably still some would complain important topics are left out.

The closest other text is the PDE text by Nakhle Asmar (I've used that too for a couple of years). It spends more time on special functions and is nice in that regard. However, it definitely falls short in important categories, most notable the whole topic of Greens functions is not introduced.



For my opinion

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No worked examples, April 21, 2007

By 

Alex K. Chen (Simfish InquilineKea) (Redmond, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Applied Partial Differential Equations (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

While the presentation of the book was very understandable (especially compared to some other partial differential equation textbooks), there are few worked examples in the book. For those who want worked examples, just type in the google key words "haberman site:.edu". If this book could include some of those worked examples, it would be much better.

The book also uses slightly different notation from that of many other books.