Nonlinear generalized functions on manifolds

In this work, we adopt a new approach to the construction of a global theory of algebras of generalized functions on manifolds based on the concept of smoothing operators. This produces a generalization of previous theories in a form which is suitable for applications to differential geometry. The generalized Lie derivative is introduced and shown to extend the Lie derivative of Schwartz distributions. A new feature of this theory is the ability to define a covariant derivative of generalized scalar fields which extends the covariant derivative of distributions at the level of association. We end by sketching some applications of the theory. This work also lays the foundations for a nonlinear theory of distributional geometry that is developed in a subsequent paper that is based on Colombeau algebras of tensor distributions on manifolds.

Regular generalized solutions to semilinear wave equations

The paper is devoted to proving an existence and uniqueness result for generalized solutions to semilinear wave equations with a small nonlinearity in space dimensions 1, 2, 3. The setting is the one of Colombeau algebras of generalized functions. It is shown that for a nonlinearity of arbitrary growth and sign, but multiplied with a small parameter, the initial value problem for the semilinear wave equation has a unique solution in the Colombeau algebra of generalized functions of bounded type. The proof relies on a fixed point theorem in the ultra-metric topology on the algebras involved. In classical terms, the result says that the semilinear wave equations under consideration have global classical solutions up to a rapidly vanishing error.

Propagation of singularities for generalized solutions to nonlinear wave equations

The paper is devoted to regularity theory of generalized solutions to semilinear wave equations with a small nonlinearity. The setting is the one of Colombeau algebras of generalized functions. It is shown that in one space dimension, an initial singularity at the origin propagates along the characteristic lines emanating from the origin, as in the linear case. The proof is based on a fixed point theorem in a suitable ultrametric topology on the subset of Colombeau solutions possessing the required regularity. The paper takes up the initiating research of the 1970s on anomalous singularities in classical solutions to semilinear hyperbolic equations, and shows that the same behavior is attained in the case of non-classical, generalized solutions.

Full and Special Colombeau Algebras

We introduce full diffeomorphism-invariant Colombeau algebras with addedε-dependence in the basic space. This unites the full and special settings of the theory into one single framework. Using locality conditions we find the appropriate definition of point values in full Colombeau algebras and show that special generalized points suffice to characterize elements of full Colombeau algebras. Moreover, we specify sufficient conditions for the sheaf property to hold and give a definition of the sharp topology in this framework.