The Evans function for nonlocal equations Todd KapitulaNathan KutzBjorn Sandstede 35B3535Q55Evans functionnonlocal equationsmaster modelocking equation In recent studies of the master mode-locking equation, a model for solid-state cavity laser that includes nonlocal terms, bifurcations from stationary to seemingly time-periodic solitary waves have been observed. To decide whether the mechanism is a Hopf bifurcation or a bifurcation from the essential spectrum, a general framework for the Evans function for equations with nonlocal terms is developed and applied to the master mode-locking model. Indiana University Mathematics Journal 2004 text pdf 10.1512/iumj.2004.53.2431 10.1512/iumj.2004.53.2431 en Indiana Univ. Math. J. 53 (2004) 1095 - 1126 state-of-the-art mathematics http://iumj.org/access/