Positive periodic solutions for second-order ordinary differential equations with derivative terms and singularity in nonlinearities (Q1757922)

This paper deals with a second-order differential equation of the form \(u''=f(t,u,u')\), where \(f : {\mathbb R}\times (0,+\infty) \times {\mathbb R} \to {\mathbb R}\) is continuous, \(\omega\)-periodic in \(t\) and may be singular at \(u=0\). It is assumed that there exists \(M \in (0,\pi^2/\omega^2)\) such that \(f(t,x,y)+Mx \geq 0\) for all \(t,x,y\). In the main result, the authors require that \[ \limsup_{x \to 0^+} \text{max}_{|y| \leq C_0|x|, t\in[0,\omega]} (f(t,x)/x)<0 \] and \[ \liminf_{x \to +\infty} \text{min}_{|y| \leq C_0|x|, t\in[0,\omega]} (f(t,x)/x)>0 \] (the constant \(C_0\) depends on the Green's function associated to the operator \(u \mapsto -u''+Mu\)). The existence of at least one positive \(\omega\)-periodic solution is proved. For example, it is possible to treat nonlinearities having superlinear growth in the second and third variable. Another result is obtained with analogous conditions involving \(\liminf_{x \to 0^+}\) and \(\limsup_{x \to +\infty}\), and it covers nonlinearities which are singular at \(x=0\). The proof is performed in the framework of the fixed point index theory in cones.