Hypoelliptic operator
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In the theory of partial differential equations, a partial differential operator P {\displaystyle P} defined on an open subset
U ⊂ ⊂ R n {\displaystyle U\subset {\mathbb {R} }^{n}}
is called hypoelliptic if for every distribution u {\displaystyle u} defined on an open subset V ⊂ ⊂ U {\displaystyle V\subset U} such that P u {\displaystyle Pu} is C ∞ ∞ {\displaystyle C^{\infty }} (smooth), u {\displaystyle u} must also be C ∞ ∞ {\displaystyle C^{\infty }} .
If this assertion holds with C ∞ ∞ {\displaystyle C^{\infty }} replaced by real-analytic, then P {\displaystyle P} is said to be analytically hypoelliptic.
Every elliptic operator with C ∞ ∞ {\displaystyle C^{\infty }} coefficients is hypoelliptic. In particular, the Laplacian is an example of a hypoelliptic operator (the Laplacian is also analytically hypoelliptic). In addition, the operator for the heat equation ( P ( u ) = u t − − k Δ Δ u {\displaystyle P(u)=u_{t}-k\,\Delta u\,} )
P = ∂ ∂ t − − k Δ Δ x {\displaystyle P=\partial _{t}-k\,\Delta _{x}\,}
(where k > 0 {\displaystyle k>0} ) is hypoelliptic but not elliptic. However, the operator for the wave equation ( P ( u ) = u t t − − c 2 Δ Δ u {\displaystyle P(u)=u_{tt}-c^{2}\,\Delta u\,} )
P = ∂ ∂ t 2 − − c 2 Δ Δ x {\displaystyle P=\partial _{t}^{2}-c^{2}\,\Delta _{x}\,}
(where c ≠ ≠ 0 {\displaystyle c\neq 0} ) is not hypoelliptic.
References
• citerefshimakura1992Shimakura, Norio (1992). Partial differential operators of elliptic type: translated by Norio Shimakura. American Mathematical Society, Providence, R.I. ISBN 0-8218-4556-X.
• citerefegorovschulze-bert-wolfgang1997Egorov, Yu. V.; Schulze, Bert-Wolfgang (1997). Pseudo-differential operators, singularities, applications. Birkhäuser. ISBN 3-7643-5484-4.
• citerefvladimirov2002Vladimirov, V. S. (2002). Methods of the theory of generalized functions. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-415-27356-0.
• citereffolland2009Folland, G. B. (2009). Fourier Analysis and its applications. AMS. ISBN 978-0-8218-4790-9.
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