The method of steepest descent is used to minimize typical functionals from elasticity.

If T:C(H,X)-->Y is a bounded linear operator then there exists a unique weakly regular finitely additive set function m:-->L(X,Y**) so that T(f) = ∫Hfdm. In this paper, bounded linear operators on C(H,X) are studied in terms the measure given by this representation theorem. The first chapter provides a brief history of representation theorems of these classes of operators. In the second chapter the represenation theorem used in the remainder of the paper is presented. If T is a weakly compact operator on C(H,X) with representing measure m, then m(A) is a weakly compact operator for every Borel set A. Furthermore, m is strongly bounded. Analogous statements may be made for many interesting classes of operators. In chapter III, two classes of operators, weakly precompact and QSP, are studied. Examples are provided to show that if T is weakly precompact (QSP) then m(A) need not be weakly precompact (QSP), for every Borel set A. In addition, it will be shown that weakly precompact and GSP operators need not have strongly bounded representing measures. Sufficient conditions are provided which guarantee that a weakly precompact (QSP) operator has weakly precompact (QSP) values. A sufficient condition for a weakly precomact operator to be strongly …

In the thesis, the author traces the historical development of descriptive set theory from the work of H. Lebesgue to the introduction of projective descriptive set theory. Proofs of most of the major results are given. Topics covered include Corel lattices, universal sets, the operation A, analytic sets, coanalytic sets, and the continuum hypothesis The appendix contains a translation of the famous letters exchanged between R. Baire, E. Borel, J. Hadamard and H. Lebesgue concerning Zermelo's axiom of choice.