# What is the actual meaning of a fractional derivative?

We're all use to seeing differential operators of the form $\frac{d}{dx}^n$ where $n\in\mathbb{Z}$. But it has come to my attention that this generalises to all complex numbers, forming a field called fractional calculus which apparently even has applications in physics!

These derivatives are defined as fractional iterates. For example, $(\frac{d}{dx}^\frac{1}{2})^2 = \frac{d}{dx}$ or $(\frac{d}{dx}^i)^i = \frac{d}{dx}^{-1}$

But I can't seem to find a more meaningful definition or description. The derivative means something to me; these just have very abstract definitions. Any help?

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Please read the FAQ. Regarding your question, this is standard undergraduate material, for example see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourier_transform and look up the equation for the Fourier transform of an iterated derivative. –  Ryan Budney Apr 20 '10 at 3:57
I understand that it must be frustrating to see a question that seems too low-level posted. Before posting this question, I tried to do due diligence by researching it and asking several math grad students and a (in industry) PHD (who hadn't heard of it before!). Perhaps you could expand on what qualifies as a `research level math question'? Additionally, thinking about a fractional derivative in the indirect manner you describe seems suboptimal, further defending the validity of asking for a more meaningful definition. (I hadn't heard of it this way before hand, but..) –  Christopher Olah Apr 20 '10 at 4:54
Wikipedia has the heuristics of the definition, a more or less conventional definition and tons of references. Google finds quite a bit of information, too. –  Mariano Suárez-Alvarez Apr 20 '10 at 5:00
Wikipedia's explanation of the heuristics, while explaining the idea behind it (fractional iterate) and giving lots of useful information, doesn't provide a nice interpretation. Similarly with all the other content I found... –  Christopher Olah Apr 20 '10 at 5:25
There is a lovely little book on this subject whose entire thesis is to answer the question you've just asked. It's called "An Introduction to the Fractional Calculus and Fractional Differential Equations" by Miller and Ross. I think it's fairly cheap on amazon –  Dylan Wilson Aug 6 '10 at 7:33
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I understand where Ryan's coming from, though I think the question of how to interpret fractional calculus is still a reasonable one. I found this paper to be pretty neat, though I have no idea if there are any better interpretations out there.

http://people.tuke.sk/igor.podlubny/pspdf/pifcaa_r.pdf

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Thank you. This looks good and I've started reading it. –  Christopher Olah Apr 20 '10 at 5:26
As to fractional derivatives, they become quite easy to understand if you think that the Fourier transform takes the derivative of a function into multiplication by the variable: $\widehat f'=i\xi\cdot \hat f$. So higher order derivatives can be defined as multiplication of $\hat f$ by powers of $\xi$, and it is no wonder that you can use this idea to define fractional derivatives, or actually generic 'functions of $d/dx$'. This leads to pseudodifferential operators etc.etc.