On Kneser solutions of higher order nonlinear ordinary differential equations

The equationx ⁽ⁿ⁾(t)=(−1) ⁿ │x(t)│ ^k withk>1 is considered. In the casen≦4 it is proved that solutions defined in a neighbourhood of infinity coincide withC(t−t₀)^−n/(k−1), whereC is a constant depending only onn andk. In the general case such solutions are Kneser solutions and can be estimated from above and below by a constant times (t−t ₀)^−n/(k−1). It is shown that they do not necessarily coincide withC(t−t₀)^−n/(k−1). This gives a negative answer to two conjectures posed by Kiguradze that Kneser solutions are determined by their value in a point and that blow-up solutions have prescribed asymptotics. Dedicated to Professor Vladimir Maz'ya on the occasion of his 60th birthday. The author was supported by the Swedish Natural Science Research Council (NFR) grant M-AA/MA 10879-304.