Perturbation theory is a fascinating and fundamental topic in mathematics and its applications to the natural and engineering sciences. In this workbook, each explicit example is studied and methods introduced, beginning without proof, a learning method very suitable for singular perturbation problems. The text includes an extensive discussion of timescales and apriori knowledge of the presence of certain timescales. This comprehensive introduction to singular perturbation covers a broad range of topics, includes odes' and pde's, boundary value problems, and problems with initial values.

From the reviews:

"This textbook presents a comprehensive and extremely well-organized treatment of its subject . Verhulst's monograph features an impressive clarity of exposition, giving the main and typical examples in a variety of related topics in singular perturbations, averaging, and multiple time scales, as manifested in various frameworks of ordinary and partial differential equations. The derivations are accompanied by enlightening explanations and by telling examples ... . I repeat my recommendation: This is a first-rate exposition which will be of much assistance to students and researchers." (Zvi Artstein, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2006 k)

"Dutch applied mathematicians have contributed extensively to the development of singular perturbations theory and practice. the new book by Verhulst also emphasizes averaging and a fine collection of challenging examples. Readers won't be surprised to find a clear and lively presentation with enlightening historical commentary. This year, I'm enthusiastic to use this new text in my singular perturbations course ." (Robert O'Malley, Jr., SIAM Review, Vol. 48 (1), 2006)

"The reviewed monograph contains the historical introduction and auxiliary material on asymptotic convergence and asymptotic expansions, boundary layers and one example about the boundary of a laser-sustained plasma. ... Detailed illustrations, stimulating examples in every chapter make this monograph very useful for applied mathematicians in science and engineering fields." (Boris V. Loginov, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1148, 2008)

Autorentext

Ferdinand Verhulst was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 1939. He graduated at the University of Amsterdam in Astrophysics and Mathematics. A period of five years at the Technological University of Delft, started his interest in technological problems, resulting in various cooperations with engineers. His other interests include the methods and applications of asymptotic analysis, nonlinear oscillations and wave theory. He holds a chair of dynamical systems at the department of mathematics at the University of Utrecht. Among his other interests are a publishing company, Epsilon Uitgaven, that he founded in 1985, and the relation between dynamical systems and psychoanalysis. For more information see www.math.uu.nl/people/verhulst

Inhalt
Basic Material.- Approximation of Integrals.- Boundary Layer Behaviour.- Two-Point Boundary Value Problems.- Nonlinear Boundary Value Problems.- Elliptic Boundary Value Problems.- Boundary Layers in Time.- Evolution Equations with Boundary Layers.- The Continuation Method.- Averaging and Timescales.- Advanced Averaging.- Averaging for Evolution Equations.- Wave Equations on Unbounded Domains.