Higher order functional differential systems with parameter dependence (Q419526)

The authors study a class of higher-order functional differential systems with a real bifurcation parameter \(p\). Criteria for the existence, nonexistence and multiplicity of positive periodic solutions are established by using fixed point index theory. If certain assumptions are satisfied, they show that there exists a positive number \(q\) such that at least two positive periodic solutions exist for \(p\) in one of the two intervals \((0,q)\) and \((q, \infty)\), one positive periodic solution for \(p = q\) and no positive periodic solution for \(p\) in the other interval.