Asymptotic and oscillatory behavior of solutions of nonlinear neutral delay equations of arbitrary order (Q1344027)

The authors consider the nonlinear neutral delay differential equation (1) \([y(t) + P(t)y(g(t))]^{(n)} + \delta F(t,y(h(t))) = 0\), where \(n \geq 1\). \(\delta = \pm 1\), \(0 \leq g(t) \leq t\), \(0 \leq h(t) \leq t\), \(\lim_{t \to \infty} g(t) = \lim_{t \to \infty} h(t) = \infty\), \(F \in C([t_ 0, \infty) \times R,R)\), \(uF(t,u) \geq 0\) for \(u \neq 0\), \(t \geq t_ 0\) and \(F(t,u) \not \equiv 0\) on \([t_ 1, \infty) \times R \backslash \{0\}\) for every \(t_ 1 \geq t_ 0\). They also need the condition that if \(u(t) > 0\) \((< 0)\) is a continuous function with \(\liminf_{t \to \infty} | u(t) | > 0\) then (2) \(\int^ \infty_{t_ 0} F(s,u(s)) ds = \infty (- \infty)\). The results obtained on the asymptotic and oscillatory behaviour of the solutions of (1) are summarized in two main theorems. Examples illustrating their results are also included. The following theorem is representative of their results: ``Assume that (2) holds and there is a constant \(P_ 2 > 0\) such that \(0 \leq P(t) \leq P_ 2 < 1\). Then: (i) If \(\delta = 1\) and \(n\) is even, then (1) is oscillatory, while if \(n\) is odd, then any solution \(y(t)\) of (1) is either oscillatory or \(\lim_{t \to \infty} y(t) = 0\). (ii) If \(\delta = - 1\) and \(n\) is even, then either \(y(t)\) is oscillatory, \(\lim_{t \to \infty} | y(t) | = \infty\) or \(\lim_{t \to \infty} y(t) = 0\), while if \(n\) is odd, then either \(y(t)\) is oscillatory or \(\lim_{t \to \infty} | y(t) | = \infty\).'' An advantage of the paper is the detailed bibliography included.