Fractional calculus via functional calculus:: Theory and applications

This paper demonstrates the power of the functional-calculus definition of linear fractional (pseudo-)differential operators via generalised Fourier transforms. Firstly, we describe in detail how to get global causal solutions of linear fractional differential equations via this calculus. The solutions are represented as convolutions of the input functions with the related impulse responses. The suggested method via residue calculus separates an impulse response automatically into an exponentially damped (possibly oscillatory) part and a `slow' relaxation. If an impulse response is stable it becomes automatically causal, otherwise one has to add a homogeneous solution to get causality. Secondly, we present examples and, moreover, verify the approach along experiments on viscolelastic rods. The quality of the method as an effective few-parameter model is impressively demonstrated: the chosen reference example PTFE (Teflon) shows that in contrast to standard classical models our model describes the behaviour in a wide frequency range within the accuracy of the measurement. Even dispersion effects are included. Thirdly, we conclude the paper with a survey of the required theory. There the attention is directed to the extension from the L-2-approach on the space of distributions cal D-'.