This book deals with the theory of linear ordinary differential operators of arbitrary order. Unlike treatments that focus on spectral theory, this work centers on the construction of special eigenfunctions (generalized Jost solutions) and on the inverse problem: the problem of reconstructing the operator from minimal data associated to the special eigenfunctions. In the second order case this program includes spectral theory and is equivalent to quantum mechanical scattering theory; the essential analysis involves only the bounded eigenfunctions. For higher order operators, bounded eigenfunctions are again sufficient for spectral theory and quantum scattering theory, but they are far from sufficient for a successful inverse theory.

The authors give a complete and self-contained theory of the inverse problem for an ordinary differential operator of any order. The theory provides a linearization for the associated nonlinear evolution equations, including KdV and Boussinesq. The authors also discuss Darboux-Bäcklund transformations, related first-order systems and their evolutions, and applications to spectral theory and quantum mechanical scattering theory.

Among the book's most significant contributions are a new construction of normalized eigenfunctions and the first complete treatment of the self-adjoint inverse problem in order greater than two. In addition, the authors present the first analytic treatment of the corresponding flows, including a detailed description of the phase space for Boussinesq and other equations.

The book is intended for mathematicians, physicists, and engineers in the area of soliton equations, as well as those interested in the analytical aspects of inverse scattering or in the general theory of linear ordinary differential operators. This book is likely to be a valuable resource to many.

Required background consists of a basic knowledge of complex variable theory, the theory of ordinary differential equations, linear algebra, and functional analysis. The authors have attempted to make the book sufficiently complete and self-contained to make it accessible to a graduate student having no prior knowledge of scattering or inverse scattering theory. The book may therefore be suitable for a graduate textbook or as background reading in a seminar.