FRACTIONAL ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND ITS

APPLICATION USING LAPLACE TRANSFORMATION

Project submitted to

Auxilium College (Autonomous), Vellore-6

in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the award of the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

IN

MATHEMATICS

By

Ms. AFRIN SULTHANA F.

(Reg. No. 30520P20001)

Under the guidance of

Mrs. Divya T., M.Sc., M.Phil., B.Ed.,

Postgraduate and Research

Department of Mathematics

Auxilium College (Autonomous)

Gandhi Nagar, Vellore - 632006

MAY - 2022
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project entitled “FRACTIONAL ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL

EQUATIONS AND ITS APPLICATIONS USING LAPLACE TRANSFORMATION ”

being submitted to Auxilium College (Autonomous), Vellore, by Ms. AFRIN SULTHANA

F., for the partial fulfillment for the award of degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN

MATHEMATICS is a bonafide record. This work has been carried out by her, in Auxilium

College (Shift-II), under our guidance and supervision. It has not been submitted for the

award of any other degree.

Dr. (Mrs.) Sabarmathi A., Mrs. Divya T., (Guide)

Head, Assistant Professor,
PG and Research PG and Research
Department of Mathematics, Department of Mathematics,
Auxilium College (Autonomous), Auxilium College (Autonomous),
Vellore – 632006. Vellore – 632006.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am grateful to God, Our Creator who blessed me countlessly to complete this project .

My sincere thanks to my guide Mrs. Divya T., M.Sc., M.Phil., B.Ed., Assistant
Professor, PG and Research Department of Mathematics, Auxilium College (Autonomous),
for her encouragement in completing this project. I express my deep sense of gratitude and
indebtedness to her who has been a steady source of motivation and help throughout. I am
really grateful to her for her invaluable guidance, encouragement and suggestions at each and
every stage of this project.

My warmest and sincere thanks of Dr. (Mrs.) Sabarmathi A., M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D.,
SET Head and Assistant Professor, PG and Research Department of Mathematics, Auxilium
College (Autonomous), for her encouragement to this project.

I take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude and thanks to

Dr. (Sr.) Jaya Santhi R., M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., M.Ed., Principal, Auxilium College
(Autonomous) and Dr. (Sr.) Amala Valarmathy A., M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., Vice Principal
(Shift-II), Auxilium College (Autonomous), for providing all the required facilities for the
successful completion of my project work.

I extend my special thanks to my parents and my friends for their valuable help and
encouragement.

(AFRIN SULTHANA F.)

 INDEX

CHAPTER CONTENT PAGE NO.

INTRODUCTION 1

I FRACTIONAL DERIVATIVES AND INTEGRALS 3

II FRACTIONAL ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS 16

III APPLICATION OF THE FRACTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL 21

EQUATIONS

CONCLUSION 23

BIBLIOGRAPHY 24
 INTRODUCTION
MOTIVATION
The intuitive idea of fractional order calculus is as old as integer
order calculus. It can be observed from a letter that written by Leibniz to
L’Hospital. The fractional order calculus is a generalization of the integer
order calculus to a real or complex number. Fractional differential equations
used in general in many branches of sciences, mathematics, physics, chem-
istry and engineering. Debnath and Bhatta (Debnath,2003; Debnath and D
Bhatta,2009), gave the idea of fractional derivatives and fractional integrals
with their basic properties. Several methods including the Laplace transform
are discussed in introducing the Riemann-Liouville fractional integral.

They used the fractional derivative to solve the celebrate integral

equation. Ming-Fan and Tao (Ming-Fan and Tao, 2010),introduced fractional
series expansion method of fractional calculus. They defined a kind of frac-
tional Taylor series of infinitely linear fractionally differentiable functions,
they used this kind of fractional Taylor series, to give a fractional general-
ization of hypergeometric functions, and also they derived the corresponding
differential equations. (Agnieszka and Delfim, 2010) talked about necessary
and sufficient optimality conditions for problems of the linear fractional cal-
culus of variations with a Lagrangian depending on the free end-points, where
the fractional derivatives are defined in the sense of Caputo sense.

In this seminar, we intend to apply Laplace transform method

to solve fractional ordinary differential equations with constants coefficients.
To achieve this task, special formulas of Mittage-Leffler function are derived
and expressed in terms of elementary functions (power, exponential and error
functions), instead of an infinite series. Also special formulation of inverse
Laplace transformation are obtained, in terms of Mittage-Leffler functions,
which is already derived. In obtaining the inverse Laplace transform, some
simplified elementary Algebra, relevant to the derived result is used. This
work is based on some basic elements of fractional calculus, with special
emphasis on the Riemann-Liouville type. For simplicity, we will mainly use
equations of order (2,2) with constant coefficients to illustrate this approach.
However equation with variables coefficients of order α , where 1 < α ≤ 2,

1
is considered. The obtained solution agrees with the solution of the classical
ordinary differential equation, when α = 2.

This seminar report is organized as follows. Section 1.1, gives a

very brief introduction to Lacroix’s formuula. Section 1.2, introduces Liou-
ville’s formulas. Section 1.6, defines Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives
and integrals, and also the Laplace transformation of fractional integrals
are derived. The Mittage-Leffler function is defined and the inverse Laplace
transform which expressed in terms of Mittage-Leffler function are described;
beside that special types of Mittage-Leffler function which are used further
in this paper are obtained. In Chapter II, fractional ordinary differential
equation with constant coefficients is analyzed by using Laplace transform
method. As an illustration of the method, numerical examples of fractional
ordinary differential equation with constant coefficients are given. Further
one example of fractional equation with variable coefficients is solved. Con-
clusion is in the last section.

2
 CHAPTER I
FRACTIONAL DERIVATIVES AND
INTEGRALS

In this section several approaches to the generalizations of the

notion of differentiation and integration are considered.The choice has been
reduced to those definitions which are related to applications.
The name of the Fractional Calculus does not mean the calcu-
lus of fractions. Neither does it mean a fraction of any calculus-differential
integral or calculus of variations. The fractional calculus is a name for the
theory of integrals and derivatives of arbitrary order, which unify and gener-
alize the notions of integer order differentiation and n-fold integration.
Let us consider the infinite sequence of n-fold integrals and n-fold
derivatives
t t t
df (t) d2 f (t)
Z Z Z
..., dτ2 f (τ1 ) dτ1 , f (τ1 ), f (t), , , ...
α α α dt dt2
The derivative of arbitrary real order α can be considered as an
interpolation of this sequence of operators; we will use for it the notion
suggested and used by Davis,namely
α
a Dt f (t).
The short name for derivatives of arbitrary order is fractional
derivatives.
The subscripts α and t denote the two limits related to the oper-
ation of fractional differentiation, which are called as the terminals of frac-
tional differentiation. The appearance of the terminals in the symbols of
the fractional differentiation is essential. This helps to avoid ambiguities in
applications of fractional derivatives to real problems.
The words Fractional Integrals mean integrals of arbitrary or-
der and correspond to negative values of α. The fractional integral of order
β > 0 can be denoted by
−β
a Dt f (t)

3
1.1 Lacroix Formula:
Lacroix formula for the nth derivative of y = xm , where m is a
positive integer. Then
m!
Dn y = xm-n , m≥n (1)
(m − n)!

Replacing the factorial symbol by the gamma function, he further

obtained the formula for the fractional derivative

Γ(m + 1)
D n xm = xm−n , (2)
Γ(m − n + 1)

where n and m are fractional numbers. when n = 12 , m = 0, we have

1 Γ(1) −1 1
D 2 x0 = 1 x
2 = √
Γ( 2 ) πx

On the other hand, in 1832, J Liouville (1809-1882)formally ex-

tended the following formula for the derivative of integral order n.

1.2 Liouville’s Formula for Fractional Derivatives :

Liouville’s First Formula :
For any integer n, we have

Dn eax = an eax (3)

to the derivative of arbitrary order α (rational, irrational or complex), we

obtained the following formula.

Dα eax = aα eax (4)

This formula is called first Liouville’s formula. In series expansion

of f(x), Liouville formula is given by
∞
X
Dα f (x) = cn aαn ean x (5)
n=0

4
Liouville’s Second Formula :
Liouville formulated another definition (second form) of a fractional
derivatives based on the gamma function to extend Lacroix’s formula (Loke-
nath and Bhatta,2009).

(−1)α
D α x− β = Γ(β + α)x(−β−α) (6)
β

formula(6) is called the Liouville’s second definition of fractional derivative.

We note that the Liouville derivative of a constant (when β = 0) is zero, but
the derivative of a constant function to Lacroix’s formula is
x−α
Dα 1 = Dx0 = ̸= 0 (7)
Γ(1 − α)

This led to a discrepancy between the two definitions of fractional

derivative. But mathematicians prefer Liouville’s definition.

1.3 Greer Formulas for Fractional Derivatives:

Greer (1858-1859) derived formulas for a fractional derivatives of
trigonometric functions based on (3) in the form

Dα eiax = iα aα eiax = iα aα (cos ax + sin ax)

 
α πα πα
= a cos + sin (cos ax + i sin ax)
2 2

So that the fractional derivatives of trigonometric functions are given by

 
α α πα πα
D (cos ax) = a cos cos ax − sin sin ax
2 2
 
πα
= aα cos ax +
2

 
α α πα πα
D (sin ax) = a cos ax sin + sin ax cos
2 2
 
πα
= aα sin ax +
2

5
 1
When α = 2
and a = 1, Greer’s formulas as follows
 
1 π
D 2 cos x = cos x +
4

 
1 π
D sin x = sin x +
2
4

Similarly, fractional derivatives for the hyperbolic functions can be obtained.

1.4 Fractional Differential Equation:

Definition: A fractional differential equation is an equation which contains
fractional derivatives; a fractional integral equation is an integral equation
containing fractional integrals. A fractional order system means a system
described by a fractional differential equation or a fractional integral equation
or by a system of such equations.

Example:
Linear Ordinary Fractional Differential Equation:
1
(D1 + 3D 2 + 2D0 ) x(t) = 0

1.5 Fractional Integrals:

Definition: The fractional integral of order n > 0 is denoted by
−n n
a Dt f (t) or a It f (t)

is defined as
Z t
−n n 1
a Dt f (t) = a It f (t) = (t − x)(n−1) f (x) dx (8)
Γ(n) a

A fractional order system means a system described by a frac-

tional differential equation or a fractional integral equation or by a system
of such equations.

6
1.6 Riemann-Liouville Fractional Integral:
Replacing n by α in (8), we obtain the Riemann - Liouville def-
inition of fractional integral that was reported by Liouville in 1832 and by
Riemann in 1876 as
Z t
−α t 1
a Dt f (t) = a Iα f (t) = (t − x)(α−1) f (x) dx, α > 0 (9)
Γ(n) a

is the Riemann - Liouville integral

When a = 0, (9) is the Riemann definition of fractional integral
and if a = −∞, (9) represents the Liouville definition.

1.7 Riemann-Liouville’s Fractional Derivative:

The Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative of f(t) is defined by
 n Z t
α n n−α 1 d f (τ )
a Dt f (t) = a Dt a It f (t) = (α+1−n)
dτ,
Γ(α − n) dt a (t − τ )

for n −1 < α ≤ n, n ∈ N and t > a.

The expression is most widely known as he definition of the frac-
tional derivative. It is usually called the Riemann-Liouville definition.
If α = 0, then
0
a Dt (f (t)) = f (t).

Example:
α Γ(γ + 1)
0 Dx xγ = xγ−α
Γ(γ − α + 1)

1.8 Properties of Fractional Derivatives:

Here we use some properties of the fractional derivatives which are
most frequently used in applications.
1. Linearity:
Dα [λf (t) ± µg(t)] = λDα [f (t)] ± µDα [g(t)].
whereDα denotes any mutation of the fractional differentiation.

7
 2. Dα Dβ f (t) = Dα+β f (t), α, β > 0, f (t) ∈ Cµ , µ > 0

3. Dα [cf (t)] = c Dα [f (t)], where c is a constant.

1 Γ(2) 1 px
4. D 2 x = Γ( 3 x2 = 2
) π
2

1 Γ(1) − 1
5. D 2 [c] = c Γ( 1 x 2 =
√c , where c is a constant.
2
) πx

1.9 Gamma Function:

One of the basic functions of fractional calculus is Euler’s gamma
function Γ(z) which generalizes the factorial n! and allow n to take non-
integer also and even complex values.

Definition:
The Gamma function Γ(z) is defined by the integral
Z ∞
Γ(z) = e−t tz−1 dt, Re(z) > 0.
0

1.10 Properties of Gamma Function:

Γ(z + 1) = zΓz
Putting the values for z = 1,2,...

1. Γ(1) = 1

2. Γ(n + 1) = nΓ(n)

3. Γ(n + 1) = n!

4. Gamma function has poles at the points z = −n, (= 0, 1, 2, ...)

1.11 Mittag-Leffler Function:

The Gamma and Beta functions, the Mittag-Leffler functions and
the wright functions play the most important role in the theory of differen-
tiation of arbitrary order and in the theory of fractional differential equa-
tions. One of the basic functions of the fractional calculus in Euler’s Gamma

8
function Γz, which generalizes the factorial n! and allows n to take also
non-integer and even complex values. Here we give some information about
Mittag-Leffler function which is used in the following sections.
Its One Parameter generalization the function which is denoted by
∞
X zk
Eα (z) =
k=0
Γ(αk + 1)

was introduced by G.M Mittag Leffler and studied also by A-Wiman. The
two parameter function of the Mittag-Leffler type which plays a very im-
portant role in the fractional calculus, was in fact introduced by Agarwal.
A number of the relationships for this function were obtained by Humbert
and Agarwal using the Laplace transform technique. However Humbert and
Agarwal generously left the same notion as for the One Parameter Mittag
Leffler function and that is the reason for now the Two Parameter function
is called Mittag-Leffler function.
A Two Parameter functions of he Mittag-Leffler type defined by
the series expansion.

∞
X zk
Eα,β (z) = . (10)
k=0
Γ(αk + β)

where β ∈ C, Re(α), Re(β) > 0.

If β = 1 then we have,
∞
X zk
Eα,1 (z) = . (11)
k=0
Γ(αk + 1)

It follows the definition (10) that

9
 ∞ ∞
X zk X
(1) E0,1 (z) = = zk
k=0
Γ(1) k=0
∞
X zk
(2) E1,1 (z) = = ez
k=0
Γ(k + 1)
∞
X zk ez − 1
(3) E1,2 (z) = =
k=0
Γ(k + 2) z
∞
X zk ez − z − 1
(4) E1,3 (z) = =
k=0
Γ(k + 3) z2

and in general,
m−2
zk
 
1 z
X
E1,m (z) = e −
z m−1 k=0
k!

The hyperbolic sine and cosine are also particular cases of the Mittag-Leffler
function.
∞
X z2k
(5) E2,1 (z 2 ) = = cosh z
k=0
Γ(2k + 1)
∞
2
X z2k sinh z
(6) E2,2 (z ) = =
k=0
Γ(2k + 2) z

Where erfc(z) is the error function complement defined by

Z ∞
2 2
erf c(z) = √ e−t dt.
π z
For β = 1, We obtain he Mittag-Leffler function in one parameter :
∞
X zk
Eα,1 (z) = = Eα (z)
k=0
Γ(αk + 1)

The function E(t, α, a) is used to solve differential equations of fractional

order, which is defined by
∞
α
X (at)k
E(t, α, a) = t = tα E1,α+1 (at) (12)
k=0
Γ(k + α + 1)

10
Theorem:
Z t
1
E(t, α, a) = ξ α−1 ea(t−ξ) dξ (13)
Γ(α) 0

Proof:
We start by the integral in the left hand side of (13),
Z t Z t ∞
ak (t − ξ)k
X 
1 α−1 a(t−ξ) 1 α−1
ξ e dξ = ξ dξ
Γ(α) 0 Γ(α) 0 k=0
k!
∞  Z t k 
1 X ak tk

α−1 ξ
= ξ 1− dξ
Γ(α) k=0 k! 0 t
∞ 
1 X ak tk

= (I) (14)
Γ(α) k=0 k!

To complete the Proof:

We have to calculate the integral given by I, where
Z t  k
α−1 ξ
I= ξ 1− dξ (15)
0 t
Let u = ξt , then dξ = tdu, as ξ = 0, then u = 0, and as ξ = t, then u = 1.

By substituting into (15) we get,

Z 1
I= tα−1 uα−1 (1 − u)k tdu
0

Z 1
α
=t uα−1 (1 − u)k du
0

= tα B(α, k + 1)

Γ(α)Γ(k + 1)
= tα
Γ(α + k + 1)

11
 Substituting the above equation into (14) we get,
t ∞
1 X ak tα Γ(α)k!
Z
1 α−1 a(t−ξ)
ξ e dξ =
Γ(α) 0 Γ(α) k=0 k! Γ(α + k + 1)

∞
α
X (at)k
=t
k=0
Γ(k + α + 1)

= tα E1,α+1 (at)

= E(t, α, a).

1.12 Laplace Transform:

Definition: The Laplace Transform of the function f(t) , t > 0 is denoted
by
L[f (t)] = F (s), s ∈ C
and is defined by the integral

F (s) = L[f (t)]

Z ∞
= e−st f (t)dt,
0

where f(t) is a Piecewise continuous and of exponential order (That is,

|eat f (t)| < M ) for some constants a and M.

If L[f (t)] = F (s), then L−1 [F (s)] is defined by

f (t) = L−1 [F (s)]

Z c+i∞
1
= est F (s)ds,
2πi c−i∞

where F(s) is analytic in the region Re(s) > C.

12
1.13 Laplace Transform of Derivatives:
If L[f (s)] = f (s), then

L[f ′ (t)] = s L[f (t)] − f (0)

= s f (s) − f (0)

L[f ′′ (t)] = s2 L[f (s)] − s f (s) − f ′ (0)

= s2 f (s) − s f (0) − f ′ (0)

More generally,

L[f n (t)] = s(n) f (s) − s(n−1) f (0) − s(n−2) f ′ (0)

−... − s f (n−2) (0) − f (n−1) (0),

Wheref (r) (0) is the value off (t) at t = 0

The Laplace Transform of the Mittag-Leffler function is given by
the following theorem.

Theorem:
s−(α−β)
 
−1
L β−α
= tα−1 Eβ,α (atβ ), |sβ − a| < 1. (16)
s

13
Proof:
Using the definition of the Laplace transform, we have
Z ∞
α−1 β
L[t Eβ,α (at )] = e−st tα−1 Eβ,α (atβ ) dt
0

∞ ∞
ak
X Z
= e−st tkβ+α−1 dt
k=0
Γ(kβ + α) 0

∞
X ak
= L(tkβ+α−1 )
k=0
Γ(kβ + α)

∞
X ak Γ(kβ + α)
=
k=0
Γ(kβ + α) skβ+α

∞  k
1 X a
= α
s k=0 sβ

s−(α−β)
=
sβ−α

s−(α−β)
 
−1
∴L = tα−1 Eβ,α (atβ )
sβ−α

If β = 1 then,

s−(α−1)
 
−1
L = tα−1 E1,α (at)
s−a

= E(t, α − 1, a)

14
Corollary:
 
−1 1
L = t E(t, α, a) − αE(t, α + 1, a). (17)
sα (s − a)3

Proof:
−d
L[tE(t, α, a) − αE(t, α + 1, a)] = L[E(t, α, a)] − αL[E(t, α + 1, a)]
ds

 −(α+1) 
−d sα
 
s
= − α
ds sa s−a

1
∴ L[tE(, α, a) − αE(t, α + 1, a)] =
sα (s − a)2

15
 CHAPTER II

FRACTIONAL ORDINARY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

2.1 Introduction:
In this chapter,we explain how to derive he general solution of
linear ordinary differential equations of fractional order. The general form of
a fractional linear differential equation of order (n,q) is given by

[Dan + an−1 D(n−1)α + ... + a0 D0 ]x(t) = h(t), t≥0 (18)

Where α = 1q , If q = 1, then α = 1 and equation (18) is a simple ordinary

differential equation of order n. Symbolically equation (18) can be expressed
as ,

f (Dα )x(t) = h(t)

where Dα = [Dαn + an−1 D(n−1)α + ... + a0 D0 ] and

a0 , a1 , a2 , ......, an−1 are functions of the independent variable t.

2.2 Linear Ordinary Fractional Differential Equation with

Constant Co-efficients:
Example:
Now we us the Laplace transform method to solve a simple linear
ordinary fractional differential equation with constant coefficients of order
(2,2) in the form
1 1
f (D 2 )x(t) = (D1 + a1 D 2 + a0 D0 x(t)) = 0 (19)

16
Solution:
Applying Laplace transform to the above equation (19), we get
√ −1
[sX(s) − x(0)] + a1 [ sX(s) − D 2 x(0)] + a0 X(s) = 0,

−1
x(0)+a1 D 2 x(0)
X(s) = √
(s+a1 s+a0 )

A
= √ ,
f ( s)
(20)

where f (x) = x2 +a1 x+a0 is an associated indicial equation and A is assumed

to be a non-zero finite constant defined by
−1
A = x(0) + a1 D 2 [x(0)]. (21)

we next write the following fractions for the right hand side of (20) so that.

 
A √1 √1
X(s) = a−b s−a
− s−b
,

 √

A s a b
= a−b s−a2
+ s−b2
− s−b2
(22)

where a and b are two distinct roots of f(x) = 0.

−1
Using the inverse Laplace transform formula with α = 2
and α = 0, we
obtain the solution
A −1 −1 2
x(t) = [E(t, ) + aE(t, 0, a2 ) − E(t, , b ) − bE(t, 0, b2 )]. (23)
a−b 2 2
For equal roots (a = b) of f (x) = 0, we find
A
X(s) = p √
( s − a)2

√
= A[ s−as2 + a 2
s−a2
] (24)

17
 In view of the result

1
L−1 ( ) = tE(t, α, a) − αE(t, α + 1, a). (25)
sα (s − a)2
The inverse Laplace transform of (24) gives the solution as

1 −1 2
x(t) = A[(1 + 2a2 t) E(t, 0, a2 ) + a E(t, , a) + 2at(t, , a )]. (26)
2 2

2.3 Initial Value Problem for Linear Ordinary Fractional

Differential Equations:
Example:
Let us consider a following initial value problem for a non homoge-
neous linear ordinary differential equation.
α
0 Dt y(t) − λy(t) = h(t), t>0 (27)
with the initial condition
[0 Dtα−k y(t)]t=0 = bk . (k = 1, 2, ..., n)
where n − 1 < α < n.

Solution:
The Laplace transform of (27) yields
n
X
α
s Y (s) − λY (s) = H(s) + bk sk−1
k=1

From which
n
H(s) X sk−1
Y (s) = + bk α−λ
sα−λ k=1
s

and the inverse Laplace transform gives the solution

Xn Z t
α−k α
y(t) = bk Eα,α−k+1 (λt ) + (t − τ )α−1 Eα,α (λ(t − λ)α )h(τ )dτ.
k=1 0

18
2.4 Linear Ordinary Fractional Differential Equation with
Variable Coefficients:
Example:
Consider a following linear ordinary fractional differential equation
with variable coefficients.
tDα x(t) + Dα−1 x(t) + tx(t) = 0, x(0) = 1, 1<α≤2 (28)

Solution:
The application of Laplace transform gives
L[tDα x(t)] + L[Dα−1 x(t)] + L[tx(t)] = 0

1 0
−d α X
k α−k−1 α
X
[s X(s) − s D x(0)] + [s X(s) − sk Dα−k−2 x(0)]
ds k=0 k=0
dX(s)
− =0
ds
−d α
[s X(s) − Dα−1 x(0) − sDα−2 x(0)] + [sα−1 X(s) − Dα−2 x(0)]
ds
dX(s)
− =0
ds

dX(s)
−sα − αsα−1 X(s) + Dα−2 x(0) + sα−1 X(s) − Dα−2 x(0)
ds
dX(s)
− =0
ds

dX(s)
=⇒ (1 + sα ) = (1 − α)sα−1 X(s)
ds

dX(s) (α − 1)sα−1
= ds
X(s) 1 + sα

1−α
log X(s) = log(1 + sα ) + log c
α
19
 1−α
x(t) = L−1 [c(1 + sα ) α ].

As special case take α = 2, then equation (28) becomes,

tD2 (t) + Dx(t) + tX(t) = 0, x(0) = 1.

Then, we get final solution as

 
−1 c
x(t) = L p .
(1 + s2 )

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 CHAPTER III

APPLICATION OF THE FRACTIONAL

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

3.1 Introduction:
Fractional Derivatives is used all science subjects. Although the
basic Mathematical ideas developed long ago by the Mathematicians Leibniz
(1695), Liouville (1834), Riemann (1892) and others. It was brought to
the attention of the engineering world by Oliver Heaviside in the 1890’s.
It was not until 1974 that the first book on the topic was published by
Oldham and Spanier. Recent Monographs and symposia proceeding have
highlighted the application of Fractional Calculus in Physics, Continuum
Mechanics, signal processing and electromagnetic but with few examples of
application in bio-engineering. This is surprising because the method of
Fractional Calculus, when defined as Laplace or Fourier convolution product
are suitably for solving many problems in biomedical research. In this section,
we give one application of Fractional Differential Equations from the field of
electricity.

3.2 Electrode - Electrolyte Interface:

Fractional-order models was motivated by the limitaions of elec-
tric batteries, which always exhibits a limited current output due to the fact
that microscopic electrochemical process at the electrode-electrolyte interface
have a finite rate and limit the current output. To circumvent this limita-
tion, porous electrodes have been used because they have a large surface.
However, has been known since the work by I.Wolfe dated 1926 that a metal
electrolyte interfaces the impedance Z(ω) does not exhibit the expected ca-
pacitive behaviour for small angular frequencies ω. Instead for ω → 0

Z(ω) ∝ (iω)−η , (0 < η < 1)

or in the Laplace domain

Z(s) ∝ s−η .

21
 This means that the electrode electrolyte interface is an example of
a fractional-order process. The value η is closely related to the roughness
of the interface, with η approaching unity as the surface is made infinitely
smooth.

There were different models suggested for the relationship between

η and the fractal dimension of the interface ds (2 < ds < 3). It seems that no
experiment has been able to confirm or to contradict the following models
by different authors because it is difficult to measure the fractal dimension
of real objects embedded in three dimensional space.

A.Le Mehaute proposed the relationship

η = d−1
s .

L.Nyikos and T.Pajkossy suggested the relationship

η = (ds − 1)−1 .

T.Kalpan et al. have found

η = 3 − ds .

The physical model proposed by the authors is presented by the

self-affine Cantor block with N stages (Levels), which is modelled by as N-
stage electrical circuit of fractance type.

Under certain assumptions, the impedance of the fractance circuit

has been obtained in the form,

Z(ω) = K(ω)−q .
2
Where η = 2 − log(N
log a
)
, K and a are constant, and a < N 2 implies
0 < η < 1. We see the T.Kalpan et al. arrived at the model of a system of
non-integer order −η.

22
 CONCLUSION
The Laplace transformation method has been successfully applied
to find an exact solution of fractional ordinary differential equations, with
constant and variable co-efficients. Special formulas of Mittag-Leffler func-
tion are derived with their proofs. This method is applied in a direct way
without using any assumption. The results show that the Laplace transfor-
mation method needs small size of computations compared to the Adomain
decomposition method (ADM), Variational iteration method (VIM) and ho-
motopy pertubation method (HPM). This numerical example for an equation
of variable coefficients shows that the solution in agreement with classical
second order equation for α = 2. Thus it is concluded that the Laplace
transformation method is powerful, efficient and reliable tool for the solution
of fractional linear ordinary differential equations.

23
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