Degenerate linear evolution equations with the Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative

We study the unique solvability of the Cauchy and Schowalter–Sidorov type problems in a Banach space for an evolution equation with a degenerate operator at the fractional derivative under the assumption that the operator acting on the unknown function in the equation is $p$-bounded with respect to the operator at the fractional derivative. The conditions are found ensuring existence of a unique solution representable by means of the Mittag-Leffler type functions. Some abstract results are illustrated by an example of a finite-dimensional degenerate system of equations of a fractional order and employed in the study of unique solvability of an initial-boundary value problem for the linearized Scott-Blair system of dynamics of a medium.