Perturbation Methods for Differential Equations

Many differential equations with nonlinearities or variable coefficients do not permit the construction of exact solutions. This text introduces several perturbation methods that can be used to develop approximate solutions of such equations. To accommodate an interdisciplinary readership, the author focuses almost exclusively on procedures, underlying ideas and applications, and minimizes technical proofs. The methods treated are applied to ordinary and partial differential equations that arise in various problems of solid mechanics, fluid dynamics and plasma physics. Background material is provided in each chapter along with illustrative examples, problems, and solutions. "Perturbation Methods for Differential Equations" serves as a textbook for graduate students and advanced undergraduate students in applied mathematics, physics, and engineering. Researchers in these areas should also find the book a useful reference.