Asymptotic homogenization for delay-differential equations and a question of analyticity (Q2309168)

The paper investigates solutions of non-autonomous delay equations in \(\mathbb{ C}^n\) defined on the whole real axis, where the equation has coefficients of the form \(A(p(t)) \) with asymptotically `diverging frequency' (\(|p'(t)| \to \infty\) as \( |t| \to \infty\)). A prototype is the equation \(x'(t) = \sin(t^q)x(t-1)\) with an integer \( q \geq 2\). Main issues are convergence of these solutions \(x(t)\) to constant values as \(|t|\) goes to infinity, and extension of the solutions to parts of the complex plane. The `superquadratic' case \( q >2\) is treated first. By partial integration of the equation and using the diverging 'frequency' of the coefficient, it is shown that bounded solutions defined on all of \( \mathbb{R}\) have a a limit \(x_- \in \mathbb{ C}^n\) as \( t \to - \infty\). A contraction argument (first for linear equations) constructs such solutions for every \(x_- \in \mathbb{ C}^n\). Suitable conditions on the \(p_j\) make sure that solutions also converge in forward time. A nonlinear version is obtained using Schauder's fixed point theorem. An integrability condition on \(1/p_j'(t)\) fails in the technically more subtle quadratic case \(q = 2\). Here, the function \(A\) is assumed to be periodic with mean value zero, which allows the use of Fourier series. A careful analysis then yields analogs of the results for the superquadratic case. Finally, under a condition of vanishing Fourier coefficients of \(A\) for negative frequencies, it is shown that first \(A\) and then also solutions of \(x'(t) = A((t+is)^2)x(t-1)\) can be analytically extended to the open third quadrant in the complex plane, and continuously to its closure. Possible analyticity on the real line remains open, as well as some other questions described at the end.