This 3rd edition provides an insight into the mathematical crossroads formed by functional analysis (the macroscopic approach), partial differential equations (the mesoscopic approach) and probability (the microscopic approach) via the mathematics needed for the hard parts of Markov processes. It brings these three fields of analysis together, providing a comprehensive study of Markov processes from a broad perspective. The material is carefully and effectively explained, resulting in a surprisingly readable account of the subject.

The main focus is on a powerful method for future research in elliptic boundary value problems and Markov processes via semigroups, the Boutet de Monvel calculus. A broad spectrum of readers will easily appreciate the stochastic intuition that this edition conveys. In fact, the book will provide a solid foundation for both researchers and graduate students in pure and applied mathematics interested in functional analysis, partial differential equations, Markov processes and the theory of pseudo-differential operators, a modern version of the classical potential theory. 

“By reading this book, a broad spectrum of readers will be able to understand and appreciate the mathematical crossroads of functional analysis, boundary value problems, and probability theory as developed in the more advanced books … . this book provides a compendium for a large variety of facts from functional analysis, pseudo-differential operators, and Markov processes. Indeed, it gives detailed coverage of important examples and applications in this area.” (J. A. van Casteren, Mathematical Reviews, October, 2022)

Kazuaki Taira was a Professor of mathematics at the University of Tsukuba, Japan. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1969 from the University of Tokyo and his Master of Science degree in 1972 from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, where he served as an assistant from 1972 to 1978. In 1976 he was awarded the Doctor of Science degree by the University of Tokyo, and in 1978 the Doctorat d'Etat degree by Université de Paris-Sud (Orsay), where he had studied on a French government scholarship (1976–1978).

Taira was also a member of the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton) (1980–1981), associate professor at the University of Tsukuba (1981–1995), and professor at Hiroshima University (1995–1998). In 1998, he returned to the University of Tsukuba to teach there again as a professor. From 2009 to 2017 he was a part-time professor at Waseda University (Tokyo). His current research interests are in the study of three interrelated subjects in analysis: semigroups, elliptic boundary value problems and Markov processes.