Functions of Bounded Variation and Free Discontinuity Problems (Hardcover)

This book deals with a class of mathematical problems which involve the minimization of the sum of a volume and a surface energy and have lately been refered to as 'free discontinuity problems'. Examples of such problems come from fracture mechanics, image analysis, or the theory of phase transitions. A systematic introduction to this field, this book is highly suitable for graduate students, bridging the gap between research level texts and elementary textbooks on measure theory and calculus of variation. The first half of the book contains a comprehensive and updated treatment of the theory of Functions of Bounded Variation and of the mathematical prerequisites of that theory, that is Abstract Measure Theory and Geometric Measure Theory.