Differential operator with maxima



On Nov. 16, 2010, Jaap Leguijt  wrote:
----- Original Message ----- 

 I recently had a problem for which I need to
 be able to specify differential operators.
 I want to use these to examine some approximations
 that are used for the wave equation.
 I did not find a convenient way to specify
 these operators.  [ ....]
Do you know a way to specify differential operators in Maxima?
 
Kind regards,
Jaap Leguijt 
Principal Geophysicist 
Shell International Exploration and Production B.V. 
Volmerlaan 8, Postbus 60, 2280 AB Rijswijk, The Netherlands 
Tel: ++31 70 4473032 2980 
Email: jaap.leguijt at shell.com 
Internet: http://www.shell.com/eandp-en 
------------------------------------
Hi Jaap,

In my Maxima by Example, Ch. 6, Differential Calculus, I
consider a variety of simple uses of Maxima's diff function.
I have NOT included (yet) a section on the construction and
use of formal differential operators, including use of
the pdiff package.

A relatively painless way to find previous discussions
of such topics is to search the Maxima mailing list
archive by subject, at
http://www.math.utexas.edu/pipermail/maxima/

A search by subject of the 2010 archive, first for
<differential operator>  (I use Firefox) finds the beginning
of a thread at
http://www.math.utexas.edu/pipermail/maxima/2010/020826.html

In that thread, the pdiff package is mentioned.

A search of the same archive for <pdiff> leads to the thread
starting at
http://www.math.utexas.edu/pipermail/maxima/2010/020594.html

pdiff.lisp is a package by Barton Willis, and you can find a pdf file
introduction in :  ...\share\contrib\pdiff\pdiff-doc.pdf.

There are real experts, on the Maxima mailing list, on almost any
programming subject. Refine your desires into a small toy 
problem with specific objectives, and show what progress 
you have or have not made, using the display2d:false setting,
 in your note to the mailing list for further suggestions.

Best Wishes,

Ted Woollett
http://www.csulb.edu/~woollett