On a class of functional equations of the Wiener-Hopf type and their applications in n-part scattering problems

Abstract

An asymptotic theory for the functional equation K-phi=f, where K : X-->Y stands for a matrix-valued linear operator of the form K=K1P1+K2P2+...+KnPn, is developed. Here X and Y refer to certain Hilbert spaces, {P-alpha} denotes a partition of the unit operator in X while K-alpha are certain operators from X to Y. One assumes that the partition {P-alpha} as well as the operators K-alpha depend on a complex parameter nu such that all K-alpha are multi-valued around certain branch points at nu=k(+) and nu=k(-) while the inverse operators K-alpha(-1) exist and are bounded in the appropriately cut nu-plane except for certain poles. Then, for a class of {P-alpha} having certain analytical properties, an asymptotic solution valid for \k(+/-)\-->infinity is given. The basic idea is the decomposition of phi into a sum of projections on n mutually orthogonal subspaces of X. The results can be extended in a straightforward manner to the cases of no or more branch points. If there is no branch point or n=2, then the results are all exact. The theory may have effective applications in solving some direct and inverse multi-part boundary-value problems connected with high-frequency waves. An illustrative example shows the applicability as well as the effectiveness of the method.