# Convoluted FractionalC-Semigroups and Fractional Abstract Cauchy Problems

Authors: Zhan-Dong Mei; Ji-Gen Peng; Jing-Huai Gao
Journal: Abstract and Applied Analysis
 (2014)

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## Abstract

We present the notion of convoluted fractionalC-semigroup, which is the generalization of convoluted C-semigroup in the Banach space setting. We present two equivalent functional equations associated with convoluted fractional C-semigroup. Moreover, the well-posedness of the corresponding fractional abstract Cauchy problems is studied.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

LetX be a Banach space and let C∈L(X) (L(X) denotes the space of bounded linear operators from X to itself) be injective. Let Θ(t):=∫0t‍K(s)ds, where K(·) is locally integrable on [0,+∞). A strongly continuous operator family {S(t)}t≥0 is called a K-convoluted C-semigroup if S(0)=0, S(t)C=CS(t), t≥0, and there holds
(1)S(t)S(s)x=[∫0t+s‍-∫0t‍-∫0s‍]K(t+s-r)S(r)Cxdr,[∫0t+s‍-∫0t‍-∫0s‍]Kh(t)x∈X,t,s≥0.
If, in addition, S(t)x=0, t≥0, implies x=0, {S(t)}t≥0 is called a nondegenerate K-convoluted C-semigroup. For more details, we refer to Kostić [1]. Obviously, K-convoluted C-semigroups are a generalization of classical C0-semigroups. The extension of Widder’s representation theorem by Arendt [2] stimulated the development of the theory of α-times integrated semigroups, which is the special case that K(t)=tα-1/Γ(α), C=I (see [3–6] for α being an integer and [7–9] for α being noninteger). Li and Shaw [10–12] introduced exponentially bounded n-times integrated C-semigroups which are the special case, where K(t)=tn-1/(n-1)!, and they studied their connection with the associated abstract Cauchy problem. Kuo and Shaw [13] were concerned with the case K(t)=tα-1/Γ(α) with α being noninteger and they called it α-times integrated C-semigroups. Convoluted semigroups, which are the special case that C=I, were introduced by Cioranescu and Lumer [14–16]. It is a generalization of integrated semigroups. Moreover, Kunstmann [17] showed that there exists a global convoluted semigroup whose generator A is not stationary dense and therefore it cannot be the generator of a local integrated semigroup. After that, Melnikova and Filinkov [18], Keyantuo et al. [19], and Kostić and Pilipović [20] systematically studied the properties of convoluted semigroups and related them to associated abstract Cauchy problems.In [1], Kostić presented the notion K-convoluted C-semigroup and found a sufficient condition for a nondegenerate strongly continuous linear operator family {S(t)}t≥0 to be a K-Convoluted C-semigroup; that is, S(t)A⊂AS(t), CS(t)=S(t)C, t≥0, ∫0t‍S(s)xds∈D(A), x∈X, and S(t)x=A∫0t‍S(s)xds+Θ(t)Cx. Moreover, Kostić showed that if the sufficient condition holds, the abstract Cauchy problem
(2)u′(t)=Au(t)+Θ(t)Cx,u(0)=0,
is well-posed. In Proposition 2.3 of [3], it was proved that if the following abstract Cauchy problem
(3)u′(t)=Au(t)+tαΓ(α+1)Cx,u(0)=0,
is well-posed, then the above sufficient conditions hold. Motivated by such facts, Kostić gave in [1] the definition of K-convoluted semigroup by the above sufficient conditions and proved the equivalence of the two definitions. Later, Kostić and Pilipović [21] gave the definition of K-convoluted C-semigroups by using the sufficient condition.Observe that the abstract Cauchy problems related to the above “semigroups” are of integral order. Recently, fractional differential equations have received increasing attention because the behavior of many physical systems, such as fluid flows, electrical networks, viscoelasticity, chemical physics, electron-analytical chemistry, biology, and control theory, can be properly described by using the fractional order system theory and so forth (see [22–26]). Fractional derivatives appear in the theory of fractional differential equations; they describe the property of memory and heredity of materials, and it is the major advantage of fractional derivatives compared with integer order derivatives.In [27], Bajlekova developed the notion of solution operator to study the well-posedness of fractional differential equations. da Prato and Iannelli [28] introduced the concept of resolvent families, which can be regarded as an extension of C0-semigroups, to study a class of integrodifferential equations. After that, the theory of resolvent families was developed rapidly to investigate the abstract Volterra equation:
(4)u(t)=f(t)+∫0t‍a(t-s)Au(s)ds,
where a∈Lloc1(R+) (see [29–31]). Recently, Chen and Li [32] gave the family of functional equations, using resolvent operator function to equivalently describe resolvent families. Motivated by this, Kexue and Jigen [33, 34], Li et al. [35], and Mei et al. [36] studied different types of fractional resolvents describing the functional equation and applied them to fractional differential equations. Lizama and Poblete [37] studied the functional equation associated with (a,k)-regularized resolvents. However, the above functional equations are not expressed in terms of the sum of time variables: s+t. This is very important in concrete applications of the functional equation, just like C0-semigroups, integrated semigroups, integrated C-semigroups, and K-convoluted C-semigroups (see (1)). In [38], Peng and Li derived a new characterization of α-order semigroup (0<α<1) as follows:
(5)∫0t+s‍T(τ)(t+s-τ)αdτ-∫0t‍T(τ)(t+s-τ)αdτ-∫0s‍T(τ)(t+s-τ)αdτ=α∫0t‍∫0s‍T(r1)T(r2)(t+s-r1-r2)1+αdr1dr2,t,s≥0,
which is proved to be equivalent to fractional resolvents introduced in [32]. Motivated by this, Mei et al. [39] presented a characterization as follows:
(6)Γ(1-α)T(t+s)=α∫0t‍∫0s‍T(r1)T(r2)(t+s-r1-r2)1+αdr1dr2,α∫0t‍∫0s‍sssssst,s>0,0<α<1,
which is proved to be equivalent to fractional resolvent presented by Kexue and Jigen [34]. One of the tasks of the present paper is to find a characterization of K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup (see Section 2 for the definition) in terms of t+s.In this paper, we consider the following fractional abstract Cauchy problem (FACP):(7)DCtαu(t)=Au(t)+Θ(t)Cx,u(0)=0,
where 0<α<1, x∈X, and DCtα is the modified Caputo fractional derivative defined by operator
(8)DCtαu(t)=1Γ(1-α)ddt∫0t‍(t-σ)-α(u(σ)-u(0))dσ.
Observe that fractional integral of u(t) is defined by
(9)Jtαu(t)=1Γ(α)∫0t‍(t-s)α-1u(s)ds.
Then it is easy to show that, for u∈C1([0,∞),X), CDtαu(t) can be calculated by
(10)DCtαu(t)=Jt1-αu′(s)ds,
which is just the original definition of Caputo fractional derivative (see, e.g., [26]).We plan to present in Section2 the notion of K-convoluted fractional C-semigroups, which is a generalization of the notions of K-convoluted semigroups [20] and K-convoluted C-semigroups [21]. Moreover, some of their properties are studied. Section 3 is to give two equivalent descriptions of K-convoluted C-semigroup. The final section concerns the study of the well-posedness of the fractional abstract Cauchy problem.Throughout this paper,α∈(0,1), without any additional statement.


## 2. Convoluted FractionalC-Semigroup

In this section, we will introduce the notion ofK-convoluted α-order C-semigroup and study some of its properties. The following definition is stimulated by the definitions of K-convoluted semigroup [20] and K-convoluted C-semigroup [21].Definition 1.
LetA be a closed linear operator on a Banach space X. If there exists a strongly continuous operator family {SK(t)}t≥0 such that SK(t)C=CSK(t), SK(t)A⊂ASK(t), JtαSK(t)x∈D(A), x∈X, t≥0, and
(11)AJtαSK(t)x=SK(t)x-Θ(t)Cx,x∈X,
then {SK(t)}t≥0 is called a K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup generated by A, and A is called the generator of {SK(t)}t≥0. In the special case C=I, {SK(t)}t≥0 is called K-convoluted α-order semigroup. One says that {SK(t)}t≥0 is an exponentially bounded K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup generated by A if, additionally, there exist M>0 and ω∈R such that ∥SK(t)∥≤Meωt, t≥0.Remark 2.
We note thatK-convoluted α-order C-semigroup is an (a,k) regularized C-resolvent family (a(t)=tα-1/Γ(α) and k(t)=∫0t‍K(s)ds), introduced by Kostić [40]. We are concerned with this case because it is closely related to fractional differential equation. There are three reasons why we use such concept: (1) Kostić and Pilipović called the special case α=1 and C=I to be K-convoluted semigroup [20] and α=2 to be K-convoluted C-cosine function [21]; (2) Peng and Li called (tα-1/Γ(α),1)-regularized resolvent α-order semigroup (α∈(0,1)) [38]; (3) “K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup” should be “(tα-1/Γ(α),∫0t‍K(s)ds)-regularized C-resolvent,” but the term “(tα-1/Γ(α),∫0t‍K(s)ds)-regularized C-resolvent” is too complex.It can be checked directly that ifA generates a K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup {SK(t)}t≥0, then SK(t)x∈D(A)¯, t≥0, x∈X. If K≠0 in Lloc1([0,∞)), then it is clear that the K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup {SK(t)}t≥0 is nondegenerate (let SK(t)x=0, t>0; (11) implies that Θ(t)Cx=0; thereby x=0).Lemma 3.
Assume that{SK(t)}t≥0 is a nondegenerate K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup generated by A on Banach space X. Then CA⊂AC.Proof.
Letx∈D(A). By Definition 1, it follows that JtαSK(t)Cx∈D(A), t≥0, and
(12)AJtαSK(t)Cx=SK(t)Cx-Θ(t)C2x.
The combination of the closedness of A and (11) implies that
(13)JtαASK(t)x=SK(t)x-Θ(t)Cx,
which gives that
(14)CJtαASK(t)x=CSK(t)x-Θ(t)C2x.
The two equalities (12) and (14) indicate that AJtαSK(t)Cx=CJtαASK(t)x. Hence,
(15)Jt1-αAJtαSK(t)Cx=Jt1-αJtαSK(t)CAx=∫0t‍SK(s)CAxds,hhhhhhhhht≥0.
Since A is closed, it follows that
(16)A∫0t‍SK(s)Cxds=AJt1-αJtαSK(t)Cx=∫0t‍SK(s)CAxds,hhhhhhhhht≥0.
Using the closedness of A again, we obtain that SK(t)CAx=ASK(t)Cx=SK(t)ACx, t≥0. Since {S(t)}t≥0 is nondegenerate, it follows that CAx=ACx, x∈D(A). The proof is complete.Theorem 4.
Assume that{SK(t)}t≥0 is a nondegenerate K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup generated by A on Banach space X. Define the operator B by
(17)x∈D(B),Bx=y⟺JtαSK(t)y=SK(t)x-Θ(t)Cx,∀t≥0.
Then(i)
Bis single-valued;(ii)
B is closed;(iii)
B=C-1AC.Proof.
We first prove that the nondegeneracy implies thatB is single-valued. Indeed, if, for any t≥0, y,z∈X satisfy, respectively,
(18)SK(t)x-Θ(t)Cx=JtαSK(s)yds,SK(t)x-Θ(t)Cx=JtαSK(s)zds,
then
(19)JtαSK(s)yds=JtαSK(s)zds.
By Titchmarsh’s theorem, it follows that SK(s)y=SK(s)z, s≥0. The nondegeneracy implies that y=z; thereby A is single valued. Hence we have Ax=y.
Let the sequence{xn}⊂D(B) satisfy xn→x and Bxn→y as n→∞. Then we have
(20)JtαSK(t)Axn=SK(t)xn-Θ(t)Cxn,∀t≥0.
Letting n→∞, (43) gives that
(21)JtαSK(t)y=SK(t)x-Θ(t)Cx,∀t≥0,
which implies that x∈D(B) and y=Bx. Hence B is closed.
Ifx∈D(B), then SK(t)x-Θ(t)Cx=JtαSK(t)Bx, t≥0. The combination of (11) and (17) implies that
(22)AJtαSK(t)x=JtαSK(t)Bx,t≥0.
Similar to the proof of Lemma 3, using the closedness of A, we obtain
(23)ASK(t)x=SK(t)Bx;
that is, A(Θ(t)Cx+JtαSK(t)Bx)=SK(t)Bx. Since Θ≠0 and JtαSK(t)Bx∈D(A), we obtain that Cx∈D(A). Combining Lemma 3, Definition 1, and (23), it follows that SK(t)CBx=CSK(t)Bx=CASK(t)x=ACSK(t)x=ASK(t)Cx=SK(t)ACx. Since {S(t)}t≥0 is nondegenerate, it follows that CBx=ACx; that is, Bx=C-1ACx. So B⊂C-1AC. Conversely, let x∈D(C-1AC); that is, Cx∈D(A) and ACx∈R(C). By Definition 1, JtαSK(t)Cx∈D(A) and
(24)AJtαSK(t)Cx=SK(t)Cx-Θ(t)C2x,
which implies that
(25)C-1AJtαSK(t)Cx=C-1SK(t)Cx-C-1Θ(t)C2x.
Since A is closed, (26) indicates that
(26)JtαSK(t)C-1ACx=SK(t)x-C-1Θ(t)Cx.
Hence x∈D(B) and Bx=C-1ACx. Hence (iii) holds.Remark 5.
Part of Lemma3 and Theorem 4 are included in [40]. However, our proofs are more specific.By the above theorem, for a nondegenerateK-convoluted α-order C-semigroup {SK(t)}t≥0 generated by A, we have A⊂B. Moreover, in the special case C=I, we have A=B.


## 3. Two Characterizations of Convoluted FractionalC-Semigroup

In this section we will introduce two functional equations characterizingK-convoluted α-order C-semigroups, just like K-convoluted C-semigroups and integrated C-semigroups.Lemma 6.
Assume that{SK(t)}t≥0 is a strongly continuous family of bounded linear operators on Banach space X. Then {S(t)}t≥0 is a K-convoluted fractional C-semigroup if and only if
(27)SK(t)JsαSK(s)-JtαSK(t)SK(s)=Θ(t)JsαSK(s)C-Θ(s)JtαSK(t)C,s,t≥0.Proof
Necessity. Assume that {SK(t)}t≥0 is a K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup generated by A. Let x∈X. Denote by A the generator of {SK(t)}t≥0. By (11), it follows that
(28)JtαSK(t)AJsαSK(s)x=JtαSK(t)SK(s)x-JtαSK(t)Θ(s)Cx,hhhhhhlJtαSK(t)SK(s)x-=x∈X.
In (11), replacing x with JsαSK(s)x, it follows that
(29)AJtαSK(t)JsαSK(s)x=SK(t)JsαSK(s)x-Θ(t)CJsαSK(s)x,hhhhhlh=SK(t)JsαSK(s)x-x∈X.
Observe that JtαSK(t)JsαSK(s)x∈D(A) and
(30)JtαSK(t)AJsαSK(s)x=AJtαSK(t)JsαSK(s)x.
The combination of (28), (29), and (30) implies that
(31)SK(t)JsαSK(s)-JtαSK(t)SK(s)=Θ(t)JsαSK(s)C-Θ(s)JtαSK(t)C,=Θ(t)JsαSK(s)-Θ(s)hJtαSKs,t≥0.
Sufficiency. Assume that (27) holds. Define operator B as in (17). Then B is closed. Moreover, (27) implies that JsαSK(s)x∈D(B) and BJsαSK(s)x=SK(s)x-Θ(s)Cx. Hence {SK(t)}t≥0 is a K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup generated by B=C-1AC. The proof is therefore complete.Remark 7.
We have to mention that the theory of(a,k)-regularized C-resolvent families is a generalization of the theory of (a,k)-regularized resolvent families developed by Lizama and Poblete (see the survey paper [37]) and has been used by the same mentioned author in the development of many properties concerning the study of fractional differential equations [41]. Therefore, Lemma 6 is a natural extension to the case C≠I of the results in [37] and the proof is also motivated by that of [37].We note that (27) does not express the functional equation in terms of the sum of time variables: s+t. As we describe semigroups and convoluted C-semigroups, this is very important in concrete applications of the functional equation modeling evolution in time. Below we will find a novel functional equation in terms of the sum of time variables s+t to describe K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup.Theorem 8.
Assume that{SK(t)}t≥0 is a K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup generated by A on the Banach space X. Then(i)
SK(0)=0;(ii)
CSK(·)=SK(·)C;(iii)
for anyt,s≥0,
(32)α∫0t‍∫0s‍SK(τ)SK(σ)(t+s-σ-τ)1+αdτdσ=∫0t+s‍∫0t+s-σ‍K(τ)SK(σ)C(t+s-τ-σ)αdτdσ-∫0t‍∫0t+s-σ‍K(τ)SK(σ)C(t+s-τ-σ)αdτdσ-∫0s‍∫0t+s-σ‍K(τ)SK(σ)C(t+s-τ-σ)αdτdσ,where the integrals are taken in the strong sense.Proof.
Denote byL(t,s) and R(t,s) the left and right hand sides of equality (32), respectively. We only have to prove that L(t,s)=R(t,s) for all t,s≥0. For brevity, we introduce the following notations. Let
(33)H(t,s)=SK(t)JsαSK(s)-JtαSK(t)SK(s),K(t,s)=Θ(t)JsαSK(s)C-Θ(s)JtαSK(t)C,t,s≥0.
Moreover, for sufficiently large b>0 denote by gb(t) the truncation of SK(t) at b and by Rb(t,s), Lb(t,s), Hb(t,s), and Kb(t,s) the quantities obtained by replacing SK(t) with gb(t) in R(t,s), L(t,s), H(t,s), and K(t,s), respectively.
By [38, (20)], it follows that the Laplace transform of Lb(t,s) with respect to t and s is given by
(34)L^b(μ,λ)=Γ(1-α)λ-μ(λα-μα)g^b(μ)g^b(λ).
We now compute the Laplace transform ofRb(t,s) with respect to s and t. It can be shown that, for any t≥0,
(35)R^b(t,λ)=∫0∞‍e-λs[∫tt+s‍∫0t+s-σ‍K(τ)gb(σ)C(t+s-τ-σ)αdτdσ=∫0∞‍e-λsh-∫0s‍∫0t+s-σ‍K(τ)gb(σ)C(t+s-τ-σ)αdτdσ]ds=∫t∞‍gb(σ)∫σ-t∞‍∫0t+s-σ‍e-λsK(τ)C(t+s-τ-σ)αdτdsdσ-∫0∞‍gb(σ)∫σ∞‍∫0t+s-σ‍e-λsK(τ)C(t+s-τ-σ)αdτdsdσ=∫t∞‍gb(σ)eλ(t-σ)∫0∞‍e-λr∫0r‍(r-τ)-αK(τ)Cdτdrdσ-∫0∞‍e-λ(t-σ)gb(σ)∫0∞‍e-λ(t+r)∫0t+r‍K(τ)C(t+r-τ)αdτdrdσ=∫t∞‍gb(σ)eλ(t-σ)∫0∞‍e-λr∫0r‍(r-τ)-αK(τ)Cdτdrdσ-∫0∞‍e-λ(t-σ)gb(σ)∫t∞‍e-λr∫0r‍K(τ)C(r-τ)αdτdrdσ=∫0∞‍gb(σ)eλ(t-σ)∫0t‍e-λr∫0r‍(r-τ)-αK(τ)Cdτdrdσ-∫0t‍e-λ(t-σ)gb(σ)∫0∞‍e-λr∫0r‍K(τ)C(r-τ)αdτdrdσ=∫0∞‍gb(σ)e-λσ∫0t‍eλ(t-r)∫0r‍(r-τ)-αK(τ)Cdτdrdσ-∫0t‍e-λ(t-σ)gb(σ)∫0∞‍e-λr∫0r‍K(τ)C(r-τ)αdτdrdσ=g^b(λ)∫0t‍eλ(t-r)∫0r‍(r-τ)-αK(τ)Cdτdr-λα-1Γ(1-α)∫0t‍eλ(t-σ)gb(σ)dσK^(λ)C,
with which we can further take Laplace transform of R^b(t,λ) with respect to t as follows:
(36)R^b(μ,λ)=∫0∞‍e-μtg^b(λ)∫0t‍eλ(t-r)∫0r‍(r-τ)-αK(τ)Cdτdrdt-∫0∞‍e-μtλα-1Γ(1-α)∫0t‍eλ(t-σ)gb(σ)dσK^(λ)dt=μα-1Γ(1-α)g^b(λ)K^(μ)Cμ-λ-λα-1Γ(1-α)g^b(μ)K^(λ)Cμ-λ.
We set(37)Pb(t,s)=α∫0t‍∫0s‍Hb(r1,r2)(t+s-r1-r2)1+αdr1dr2,Qb(t,s)=α∫0t‍∫0s‍Kb(r1,r2)(t+s-r1-r2)1+αdr1dr2.
By Lemma 6, it follows that H(t,s)=K(t,s) for any t,s≥0. Thus, for all t,s≥0,
(38)limb→∞Pb(t,s)=limb→∞Kb(t,s).
The Laplace transform ofPa(t,s) is
(39)P^b(μ,λ)=(μ-α-λ-α)L^b(μ,λ).
Therefore,(40)Q^b(t,λ)=α∫0∞‍e-λs∫0t‍∫0s‍Θ(r2)Jr1αgb(r1)C-Θ(r1)Jr2αgb(r2)C(t+s-r1-r2)1+αdr1dr2ds=α∫0t‍∫0∞‍e-λs∫0s‍Θ(r2)Jr1αgb(r1)C-Θ(r1)Jr2αgb(r2)C(t+s-r1-r2)1+αdr1dsdr2=α∫0t‍(Θ(r2)λ-αg^b(λ)C-λ-1K^(λ)Jr2αgb(r2)C)Π^(t-r2,λ)dr2,
where Π^(t,λ) stands for the Laplace transform of the function (t+s)-α-1 of s. Thus, we obtain
(41)Q^b(μ,λ)=α[λ-αμ-1K^(μ)g^b(λ)C-μ-αλ-1K^(λ)g^b(μ)C]Π^(μ,λ)=αλ-αμ-α(μα-1K^(μ)g^b(λ)C-λα-1K^(λ)g^b(μ)C)×∫0∞‍e-μt∫0∞‍e-λs1(t+s)1+αdsdt=αλ-αμ-α(μα-1K^(μ)g^b(λ)C-λα-1K^(λ)g^b(μ)C)×Γ(1-α)α(λ-μ)(λα-μα)=(μ-α-λ-α)R^b(μ,λ).
By virtue of inverse Laplace transform, we obtain from (39) and (41) that
(42)Pb(t,s)=(Jsα-Jtα)Lb(t,s),Qb(t,s)=(Jsα-Jtα)Rb(t,s),∀t,s≥0.
The combination of (38) and (42) implies that
(43)(Jsα-Jtα)R(t,s)=(Jsα-Jtα)L(t,s),∀t,s≥0.
Therefore, R(t,s)=L(t,s), for all t,s≥0. This completes the proof.Theorem 9.
Assume that{SK(t)}t≥0 is a strongly continuous nondegenerate operator family on Banach space X. Suppose that the conditions (i), (ii), and (iii) in Theorem 8 hold. Then {SK(t)}t≥0 is a nondegenerate K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup generated by B, where B is defined as in Theorem 4.Proof.
Obviously, the right hand side of (32) is symmetric with respect to t and s. Hence the left hand side is symmetric with respect to t and s. By the proof of Proposition 1 of [38], it follows that {SK(t)}t≥0 is commutative; that is,
(44)SK(t)SK(s)=SK(s)SK(t),∀t,s≥0.
For anyx∈D(B), there holds
(45)SK(s)x-Θ(s)Cx=JsαSK(s)Bx,s≥0.
Applying Sk(t) on both sides of (45) and using the commutativity (44) of {SK(s)}t≥0, we obtain
(46)SK(s)SK(t)x-Θ(s)CSK(t)x=JsαSK(s)SK(t)Bx,s≥0.
This implies by definition that SK(t)x∈D(B) and BSK(t)x=SK(t)Bx.
Denote byL(t,s) and R(t,s) the left and right hand sides of equality (32), respectively. For any c≥0, denote by gc(t) the truncation of SK(t) at c; that is, gc(σ)=SK(σ), 0≤σ≤c and gc(σ)=0 otherwise. Denote by Rc(t,s) and Lc(t,s) the quantities obtained by replacing SK(t) with gc(t) in R(t,s), L(t,s), respectively.
Letx∈X and t≥0 be fixed. Define the function Ht(r,s) for r,s≥0 by
(47)Ht(r,s)=(gt(r)-Θ(r)C)Jsαgt(s)x.
Obviously, for 0≤r≤t,
(48)Ht(r,t)=(SK(r)-Θ(r)C)JtαSK(t)x.
Taking the Laplace transform with respect to r and s successively for both sides of (47), we derive
(49)H^t(μ,λ)=λ-αg^t(μ)g^t(λ)x-λ-αμ-1K^(μ)g^t(λ)x.
The combination of (43) and (49) implies that
(50)H^t(μ,λ)=μ-αg^t(μ)g^t(λ)x-μ-αλ-1K^(λ)g^t(μ)x+λ-αμ-α(λ-μ)Γ(1-α)(R^t(μ,λ)-L^t(μ,λ))x.
By virtue of inverse Laplace transform, it follows that(51)Ht(r,s)=(gt(s)-Θ(s)C)Jrαgt(r)x+[(CDs1-α)Jrα-(CDr1-α)Jsα]·[Rt(r,s)-Lt(r,s)]xΓ(1-α).
Here the Laplace transform formula
(52)DCtβf^(λ)=λβf^(λ)-λβ-1f(0),h0<β<1,f∈C([0,∞),X),
is used.
By the definition ofgt, it follows that Lt(r,s)=Rt(r,s) for all 0≤s,r≤t; we have that
(53)Ht(r,s)=(SK(s)-Θ(s)C)JrαSK(r)x,hhhhhhhhhh∀0≤r,s≤t.
In particular, we obtain
(54)Ht(r,t)=(SK(t)-Θ(t)C)JrαSK(r)x,hhhhhhhhh.hh∀0≤r≤t.
Combining (48) and (54), we derive that
(55)(SK(r)-Θ(r)C)JtαSK(t)x=(SK(t)-Θ(t)C)JrαSK(r)x=JrαSK(r)(SK(t)x-Θ(t)Cx).
This implies by definition that JrαSK(r)x∈D(B) and
(56)BJrαSK(r)x=SK(r)x-Θ(r)Cx.
Therefore, {SK(t)}t≥0 is a K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup generated by B.The combination of Theorems8 and 9 indicates the following theorem.Theorem 10.
Assume that{SK(t)}t≥0 is a strongly continuous operator family on Banach space X. Then {SK(t)}t≥0 is a K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup if and only if (i), (ii), and (iii) in Theorem 8 hold.Remark 11.
Lettingα→1-, (32) becomes the K-convoluted C-semigroup defined in [1]. Indeed, if for each x in some dense set the mapping t↦SK(t)x is continuously differentiable in [0,∞), then the limits of two sides of the equality (32) multiplied with 1-α equal SK(t)SK(s)x and [∫0t+s‍-∫0t‍-∫0s‍]K(t+s-r)SK(r)Cxdr, respectively. The combination of the above fact and Theorem 10 implies that K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup can be deemed as a natural extension of K-convoluted C-semigroup.


## 4. Fractional Abstract Cauchy Problems

In this section we will apply the theory ofK-convoluted α-order C-semigroups developed in Sections 2 and 3 to fractional abstract Cauchy problems (FACP). We begin with the definition of classical solution of FACP.Definition 12.
A functionu∈C([0,∞),X) is called a classical solution of FACP, if u(0)=0, u∈C([0,∞),D(A)), and the mapping t↦∫0t‍(t-s)-αu(s)ds is continuously differentiable such that (1/Γ(1-α))(d/dt)∫0t‍(t-σ)-αu(σ)dσ=Au(t)+Θ(t)Cx, t≥0 holds.Remark 13.
In Definition12, (1/Γ(1-α))(d/dt)∫0t‍(t-σ)-αu(σ) is just the modified Caputo derivative of u(t) because u(0)=0.Definition 14.
The fractional abstract Cauchy problem (FACP) is said to beC-well-posed if for any x∈X, there exists a unique solution u(t,x), and X∋xn→0 implies that u(t,xn)→0 as n→∞ in X, uniformly on any compact subinterval of [0,∞).Theorem 15.
Assume thatA is closed, CA⊂AC, and FACP is C-well-posed. Then A generates a K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup.Proof.
For anyx∈X, denote by u(t,x), t≥0, the solution of FACP. Denote by S(t)x=DCtαu(t,x), x∈X. Obviously, S(0)=DCtαu(0,·)=0 and {S(t)}t≥0 is strongly continuous. Since CA⊂AC, we have
(57)DCtα[Cu(t,x)]=CDCtαu(t,x)=CAu(t,x)+Θ(t)C2x=A[Cu(t,x)]+Θ(t)C(Cx).
By the uniqueness of the solution of ACP, we have Cu(t,x)=u(t,Cx). Then
(58)CS(t)x=DCtαCu(t,x)=DCtαu(t,Cx)=S(t)Cx,t≥0.
By (1.21) of [27], it follows that
(59)JtαS(t)x=JtαDCtαu(t,x)=u(t,x)-u(0,x)=u(t,x).
Then JtαS(t)x∈D(A) and
(60)AJtαS(t)x+Θ(t)Cx=Au(t,x)+Θ(t)Cx=S(t)x.
Below we will show thatS(t) is continuous, a.e. S(t)∈B(X), t∈[0,∞). By (59), it follows that V(t)x=:JtαS(t)x is the solution of ACP.
Lety∈D(A). Define S~(t)=JtαS(t)Ay+Θ(t)Cy. Then JtαS~(t)=JtαJtαS(t)Ay+JtαΘ(t)Cy. Since JtαS(t)Ay∈D(A), Cy∈D(A), and A is closed, it follows that JtαS~(t)∈D(A) and
(61)AJtαS~(t)=JtαAJtαS(t)Ay+JtαΘ(t)CAy=Jtα(AJtαS(t)Ay+Θ(t)CAy)=JtαS(t)Ay=S~(t)-Θ(t)Cy.
Then S~(t)=S(t) and S(t)=JtαS(t)Ay+Θ(t)Cy. Hence AJtαS(t)y=JtαS(t)Ay, y∈D(A). Since A is closed, we have JtαS(t)Ay=AJtαS(t)y=JtαAS(t)y. By Titchmarsh’s theorem, S(t)Ay=AS(t)y, t≥0. The proof is complete.Theorem 16.
Assume thatA generates a nondegenerate K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup. Then, FACP is C-well-posed.Proof.
Since{S(t)}t≥0 is a nondegenerate strongly continuous family generated by A, for any x∈X, we have J·αS(·)x∈C([0,∞),D(A)), the mapping
(62)t⟼∫0t‍(t-s)-αJsαS(s)ds=Γ(1-α)∫0t‍S(t)x
is continuously differentiable, and there holds
(63)DtαJtαS(t)x=ddt1Γ(1-α)∫0t‍(t-s)-αJsαS(s)ds=S(t)x=AJtαS(t)x+Θ(t)Cx.
Therefore, u(t,x):=JtαS(t)x is a solution of FACP.
Now we prove the uniqueness of solution of FACP. Assume thatv(t,x) is another solution of FACP. Then
(64)DCtαv(t,x)=Av(t,x)+Θ(t)Cx,t≥0.
Taking α-time integrals, we derive that
(65)v(t,x)=JtαDCtαv(t,x)=JtαAv(t,x)+JtαΘ(t)Cx,hhhht≥0,
which implies that
(66)Θ(t)C*v(t,x)=[S(t)-AJtα*S(t)]*v(t,x)=S(t)*v(t,x)-AJtα*S(t)*v(t,x),=S(t)*v(t,x)-AJtα*S(t)*ht≥0.
Observe that A is closed and communicative with S(t), and C is communicative with S(t). By (67), it follows that
(67)Θ(t)*Cv(t,x)=Θ(t)C*v(t,x)=S(t)*v(t,x)-S(t)*Jtα*Av(t,x)=S(t)*[v(t,x)-Jtα*Av(t,x)]=S(t)*JtαΘ(t)Cx=Θ(t)C*JtαS(t)x=Θ(t)*CJtαS(t)x,t≥0.
Since S is nondegenerate, it follows that Cv(t,x)=CJtαS(t)x, t≥0. Then v(t,x)=JtαS(t)x, t≥0 because C is injective.
For anyT>0, let X∋xn→0; we have
(68)∥u(t,xn)∥=∥JtαS(t)xn∥≤Tαsupt≥T∥S(t)∥Γ(α+1)∥xn∥,t∈[0,T],
which implies that u(t,xn) tends to 0 uniformly on t∈[0,T]. This completes the proof.The combination of Lemma3 and Theorems 15 and 16 implies the following theorem.Theorem 17.
The operatorA generates a K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup if and only if A is closed, CA⊂AC, and FACP is C-well-posed.Corollary 18.
Assume that there exists a nondegenerate strongly continuous operator family{S(t)}t≥0 on Banach space X such that (27) holds, and B defined in Theorem 4 is equal to A. Then FACP is C-well-posed.Corollary 19.
Assume that there exists a nondegnerate strongly continuous operator family{S(t)}t≥0 on Banach space X satisfying (i), (ii), and (iii) in Theorem 8, and B defined in Theorem 4 is equal to A. Then FACP is C-well-posed.Corollary 20.
Assume that{S(t)}t≥0 is a nondegnerate strongly continuous operator family on the Banach space X. Suppose that A=C-1AC. Then the following statements are equivalent:(1)
{S(t)}t≥0 is a K-convoluted α-order C-semigroup generated by A;(2)
A is a closed linear operator on X, and FACP is C-well-posed;(3)
{S(t)}t≥0 satisfies (27), and B=A, where B is defined as in Theorem 4;(4)
{S(t)}t≥0 satisfies (i), (ii), and (iii) in Theorem 8, and B=A, where B is defined as in Theorem 4.


## Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.



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