Evolution operator

A linear operator-function $U(t,s)$ of two variables $t$ and $s$ that satisfies the properties 1) $U(s,s) = I$; 2) $U(t,x)U(x,s) = U(t,s)$; and 3) $U(t,s) = U(s,t)^{-1}$.

Comments

In general, an evolution operator can be defined as a (not necessarily linear) operator-function $U(t,s)$ satisfying 1) and 2). If $t,s$ are not subjected to restrictions, 3) is satisfied automatically. Under some circumstances, the restriction $t \ge s$ is a natural one, and the inverse need not exist at all.

References

[a1]	A. Pazy, "Semigroups of linear operators and applications to partial differential equations" , Springer (1983) pp. Chapt. 5