On the asymptotic behavior of the solutions of a class of second order nonlinear differential equations

In this paper, we investigate properties of the solutions of a class of second-order nonlinear differential equation such as [p(t)f(x(t))x′(t)]′ + q(t)g(x′(t))e(x(t)) = r(t)c(x(t)). We prove the theorems of monotonicity, nonoscillation and continuation of the solutions of the equation, the sufficient and necessary conditions that the solutions of the equation are bounded, and the asymptotic behavior of the solutions of the equation when t → ∞ on condition that the solutions are bounded. Also we provide the asymptotic relationship between the solutions of this equation and those of the following second-order linear differential equation: [p(t)u′(t)]′ = r(t)u(t)     

Liouville-Green asymptotic approximation for a class of matrix differential equations and semi-discretized partial differential equations

A Liouville-Green (or WKB) asymptotic approximation theory is developed for the class of linear second-order matrix differential equations Y^″=[f(t)A+G(t)]Y on [a,+∞), where A and G(t) are matrices and f(t) is scalar. This includes the case of an “asymptotically constant” (not necessarily diagonalizable) coefficient A (when f(t)≡1). An explicit representation for a basis of the right-module of solutions is given, and precise computable bounds for the error terms are provided. The double asymptotic nature with respect to both t and some parameter entering the matrix coefficient is also shown. Several examples, some concerning semi-discretized wave and convection-diffusion equations, are given.     

On the instability of differential systems with varying delay

The unstable properties of the null solution of the nonautonomous delay system x′(t)=A(t)x(t)+B(t)x(t−r₁(t))+f(t,x(t),x(t−r₂(t))) are examined; the nonconstant delays r₁, r₂ are assumed to be continuous bounded functions. The case A=constant is reviewed, where a theorem, recalling the Perron instability theorem for ordinary differential equations, is obtained.     

Max-algebraic attraction cones of nonnegative irreducible matrices

It is known that the max-algebraic powers A^r of a nonnegative irreducible matrix are ultimately periodic. This leads to the concept of attraction cone Attr(A, t), by which we mean the solution set of a two-sided system λ^t(A)A^r⊗x=A^r+t⊗x, where r is any integer after the periodicity transient T(A) and λ(A) is the maximum cycle geometric mean of A. A question which this paper answers, is how to describe Attr(A,t) by a concise system of equations without knowing T(A). This study requires knowledge of certain structures and symmetries of periodic max-algebraic powers, which are also described. We also consider extremals of attraction cones in a special case, and address the complexity of computing the coefficients of the system which describes attraction cone.     

The uniform convergence and precise asymptotics of generalized stochastic order statistics

Let X(i,n,m,k), i=1,…,n, be generalized order statistics based on F. For fixed r∈N, and a suitable counting process N(t), t>0, we mainly discuss the precise asymptotic of the generalized stochastic order statistics X(N(n)−r+1,N(n),m,k). It not only makes the results of Yan, Wang and Cheng [J.G. Yan, Y.B. Wang, F.Y. Cheng, Precise asymptotics for order statistics of a non-random sample and a random sample, J. Systems Sci. Math. Sci. 26 (2) (2006) 237-244] as the special case of our result, and presents many groups of weighted functions and boundary functions, but also permits a unified approach to several models of ordered random variables.     

On a nonconvolution Volterra resolvent

Under fairly weak assumptions, the solutions of the system of Volterra equations x(t) = ∝₀^ta(t, s) x(s) ds + f(t), t > 0, can be written in the form x(t) = f(t) + ∝₀^tr(t, s) f(s) ds, t > 0, where r is the resolvent of a, i.e., the solution of the equation r(t, s) = a(t, s) + ∝₀^ta(t, v) r(v, s)dv, 0 < s < t. Conditions on a are given which imply that the resolvent operator f ∝₀^tr(t, s) f(s) ds maps a weighted L¹ space continuously into another weighted L¹ space, and a weighted L^∞ space into another weighted L^∞ space. Our main theorem is used to study the asymptotic behavior of two differential delay equations.     

Limit theorems for supremum of Gaussian processes over a random interval

Let {X(t), t ≥ 0} be a centered stationary Gaussian process with correlation r(t)such that 1-r(t) is asymptotic to a regularly varying function. With T being a nonnegative random variable and independent of X(t), the exact asymptotics of P(sup_(t∈[0,T])X(t) x) is considered, as x →∞.     

Robustness of general dichotomies

For a linear equation v^′=A(t)v we consider general dichotomies that may exhibit stable and unstable behaviors with respect to arbitrary asymptotic rates ecρ(t) for some function ρ(t). This includes as a special case the usual exponential behavior when ρ(t)=t. We also consider the general case of nonuniform exponential dichotomies. We establish the robustness of the exponential dichotomies in Banach spaces, in the sense that the existence of an exponential dichotomy for a given linear equation persists under sufficiently small linear perturbations. We also establish the continuous dependence with the perturbation of the constants in the notion of dichotomy.     

Nonlinear perturbations of a linear elliptic problem near its first eigenvalue

We give necessary and sufficient conditions for the solutions of the differential equation (p(t) x′(t))′ = q(t) x(t) to be bounded together with their first derivatives. We also study the asymptotic behavior of the solutions.     

Existence, uniqueness and stability of travelling waves in a discrete reaction-diffusion monostable equation with delay

In this paper, we study the existence, uniqueness and asymptotic stability of travelling wavefronts of the following equation:

u_t(x,t)=D[u(x+1,t)+u(x-1,t)-2u(x,t)]-du(x,t)+b(u(x,t-r)),     

Generalized Brouncker’s continued fractions and their logarithmic derivatives

In this paper, we study the continued fraction y(s,r) which satisfies the equation y(s,r)y(s+2r,r)=(s+1)(s+2r?1) for $r > \frac{1}{2}$ . This continued fraction is a generalization of the Brouncker’s continued fraction b(s). We extend the formulas for the first and the second logarithmic derivatives of b(s) to the case of y(s,r). The asymptotic series for y(s,r) at ∞ are also studied. The generalizations of some Ramanujan’s formulas are presented.     

On the oscillation of a second-order delay equation

The oscillatory nature of two equations (r(t) y′(t))′ + p₁(t)y(t) = f(t), (r(t) y′(t))′ + p₂(t) y(t ? τ(t))= 0, is compared when positive functions p₁ and p₂ are not “too close” or “too far apart.” Then the main theorem states that if h(t) is eventually negative and a twice continuously differentiable function which satisfies (r(t) h′(t))′ + p₁(t) h(t) ? 0, then this inequality is necessary and sufficient for every bounded solution of (r(t) y′(t))′ + p₂(t) y(t ? τ(t)) = 0 to be nonoscillatory.     

The largest eigenvalue distribution of the laguerre unitary ensemble

We study the probability that all eigenvalues of the Laguerre unitary ensemble of n by n matrices are in(0, t), that is, the largest eigenvalue distribution. Associated with this probability, in the ladder operator approach for orthogonal polynomials, there are recurrence coefficients, namely, α_n(t) and β_n(t), as well as three auxiliary quantities, denoted by r_n(t), R_n(t), and σ_n(t). We establish the second order differential equations for both β_n(t) and r_n(t). By investigating the soft edge scaling limit when α = O(n) as n →∞ or α is finite, we derive a P_Ⅱ, the σ-form, and the asymptotic solution of the probability. In addition, we develop differential equations for orthogonal polynomials P_n(z) corresponding to the largest eigenvalue distribution of LUE and GUE with n finite or large. For large n,asymptotic formulas are given near the singular points of the ODE. Moreover, we are able to deduce a particular case of Chazy's equation for ρ(t) = Ξ′(t) with Ξ(t) satisfying the σ-form of P_Ⅳ or P_Ⅴ.     

The asymptotic estimates of solutions of difference equations

The asymptotic estimate of the solution y(t) of linear difference equations with almost constant coefficients and the condition of asymptotic equivalence between y(t) and y₀(t) are given, where y₀(t) is the corresponding solution of linear equations with constant coefficients. A brief and elementary proof of the results is presented. The method of proof carries over to differential equations in which some similar results are stated.     

Betti and Tachibana numbers

The Tachibana numbers t _r (M), the Killing numbers k _r (M), and the planarity numbers p _r (M) are considered as the dimensions of the vector spaces of, respectively, all, coclosed, and closed conformal Killing r-forms with 1 ≤ r ≤ n ? 1 “globally” defined on a compact Riemannian n-manifold (M,g), n >- 2. Their relationship with the Betti numbers b _r (M) is investigated. In particular, it is proved that if b _r (M) = 0, then the corresponding Tachibana number has the form t _r (M) = k _r (M) + p _r (M) for t _r (M) > k _r (M) > 0. In the special case where b ₁(M) = 0 and t ₁(M) > k ₁(M) > 0, the manifold (M,g) is conformally diffeomorphic to the Euclidean sphere.     

Lower bounds on mt(r, s)

Useful lower bounds are obtained for m_t(r, s), s a prime power, r ? t ? 3, by relating (t ? 1)-flats of PG(r ? 1, s) to (t ? 1) and lower dimensional flats of its subgeometries. Explicit expressions in general are obtained for these bounds when t = 3. A general method is developed for deriving these bounds when t > 3.     

A Galerkin Approximation for the Initial-Value Problem for Linear Second-Order Differential Equations

In this paper, a Galerkin type algorithm is given for the numerical solution of L(x)=(r(t)x'(t))'-p(t)x(t)=g(t); x(a)=x_a, x'(a)=x'_a, where r (t)>f0, and Spline hat functions form the approximating basis. Using the related quadratic form, a two-step difference equation is derived for the numerical solutions. A discrete Gronwall type lemma is then used to show that the error at the node points satisfies e_k=0(h²). If e(t) is the error function on a?t?b; it is also shown (in a variety of norms) that e(t)?Ch² and e'(t)?C₁h. Test case runs are also included. A (one step) Richardson or Rhomberg type procedure is used to show that e^R_k=0(h⁴). Thus our results are comparable to Runge-Kutta with half the function evaluations.     

On the Instability of Linear Nonautonomous Delay Systems

The unstable properties of the linear nonautonomous delay system x(t) = A(t)x(t) + B(t)x(t – r(t)), with nonconstant delay r(t), are studied. It is assumed that the linear system y(t) = (A(t) + B(t))y(t) is unstable, the instability being characterized by a nonstable manifold defined from a dichotomy to this linear system. The delay r(t) is assumed to be continuous and bounded. Two kinds of results are given, those concerning conditions that do not include the properties of the delay function r(t) and the results depending on the asymptotic properties of the delay function.     

On the first birth and the last death in a generation in a multi-type Markov branching process

In a multi-type continuous time Markov branching process the asymptotic distribution of the first birth in and the last death (extinction) of the kth generation can be determined from the asymptotic behavior of the probability generating function of the vector Z(^k)(t), the size of the kth generation at time t, as t tends to zero or as t tends to infinity, respectively. Apart from an appropriate transformation of the time scale, for a large initial population the generations emerge according to an independent sum of compound multi-dimensional Poisson processes and become extinct like a vector of independent reversed Poisson processes. In the first birth case the results also hold for a multi-type Bellman-Harris process if the life span distributions are differentiable at zero.     

Harmonic bundle solutions of topological-antitopological fusion in para-complex geometry

In this work we introduce the notion of a para-harmonic bundle, i.e. the generalization of a harmonic bundle [C.T. Simpson, Higgs-bundles and local systems, Inst. Hautes Etudes Sci. Publ. Math. 75 (1992) 5-95] to para-complex differential geometry. We show that para-harmonic bundles are solutions of the para-complex version of metric tt^∗-bundles introduced in [L. Schäfer, tt^∗-bundles in para-complex geometry, special para-Kähler manifolds and para-pluriharmonic maps, Differential Geom. Appl. 24 (1) (2006) 60-89]. Further we analyze the correspondence between metric para-tt^∗-bundles of rank 2r over a para-complex manifold M and para-pluriharmonic maps from M into the pseudo-Riemannian symmetric space GL(r,R)/O(p,q), which was shown in [L. Schäfer, tt^∗-bundles in para-complex geometry, special para-Kähler manifolds and para-pluriharmonic maps, Differential Geom. Appl. 24 (1) (2006) 60-89], in the case of a para-harmonic bundle. It is proven, that for para-harmonic bundles the associated para-pluriharmonic maps take values in the totally geodesic subspace GL(r,C)/Uπ(Cr) of GL(2r,R)/O(r,r). This defines a map Φ from para-harmonic bundles over M to para-pluriharmonic maps from M to GL(r,C)/Uπ(Cr). The image of Φ is also characterized in the paper.