Diagonalization method for a vector boundary problem of singular perturbation type

The nonlinear boundary value problem ?y″ + f(t, ?, y, y′) = 0, y(0, ?) = α(?), y(1, ?) = β(?), where ? > 0 is a small parameter and y, f are scalar functions, has been studied extensively. However, for n-dimensional vector functions y, f the problem seems open. Here we study this vector boundary problem and obtain results which are analogous to those for the scalar case. The approach in this paper is to transform the appropriate differential equation into a canonical or diagonalized system of two first-order equations.