Generalized differential equation arising in the solution of the inverse scattering problem in a layered medium

Abstract

We consider a nonclassical ordinary differential equation containing not only an unknown function but also an unknown coefficient depending on the unknown function. We show that if the desired solution is assumed to have bounded variation and be a.e. constant on the interval where the equation is considered, then the problem of finding the solution and the unknown coefficient does not have a unique solution in terms of the classical derivative. We prove that if the derivative is understood as a distribution, than this problem has a unique solution. These results are used to show that the acoustic impedance and the damping factor in the inverse scattering problem in a layered dissipative medium can be determined simultaneously.