On the history of the Nekrasov equation

Abstract

Appearing in 1921 as an equation for small-amplitude waves on the surface of an infinitely deep liquid, the Nekrasov equation quickly became a source of new results. This manifested itself both in the field of mathematics (theory of nonlinear integral equations of A.I. Nekrasov; 1922, later - of N.N. Nazarov; 1941), and in the field of mechanics (transition to a fluid of finite depth - A.I. Nekrasov; 1927 and refusal on the smallness of the wave amplitude - Yu.P. Krasovskii; 1960).The main task of the author is to find out the prehistory of the Nekrasov equation and to trace the change in approaches to its solution in the context of the nonlinear functional analysis development in the 1940s - 1960s. Close attention will be paid to the contribution of European and Russian mathematicians and mechanics: A.M. Lyapunov, E. Schmidt, T. Levi-Civita, A. Villat, L. Lichtenstein, M.A. Krasnoselskii, N.N. Moiseev, V.V. Pokornyi, etc. In the context of the development of qualitative methods for the Nekrasov equation investigating, the question of the interaction between Voronezh school of nonlinear functional analysis under the guidance of Professor M.A. Krasnoselskii and Rostov school of nonlinear mechanics under the guidance of Professor I.I. Vorovich.