Attractors for differential equations with variable delays (Q5945100)

The authors consider nonautonomous delay equations of the type \[ {dx(t)\over dt}= F(t,x(t),x(t- \rho(t))),\quad x_s= \psi\in C([-h,0];\mathbb{R}^n), \] with \(h>0\) and \(\rho\in C(\mathbb{R}^+;[0, h])\). Write this as \(x'(t)= f(t,x_t)\). The concept of a pullback attractor is defined, and it is proved that if the process \(\phi(t,s)\psi\overset{\text{def}} = x_t(\;,s,\psi)\) maps bounded sets into bounded sets and there exists a family \(\{B(t)\}_{t\in\mathbb{R}}\) of bounded absorbing sets for \(\phi\), then there exists a pullback attractor. The existence of a family of bounded absorbing sets is shown under various dissipativity conditions. Finally, periodic equations and equations with small delays are considered.