Optimization and rearrangements of the coefficient in the operator \(d^ 2/dt^ 2-p(t)^ 2\) on a finite interval (Q1082521)

Let \(\Phi\) : [0,T]\(\to [0,1]\) be a nonincreasing given function and let \({\mathcal F}={\mathcal F}(\Phi)\) be those functions \(p^ 2\in L^{\infty}(0,T)\) which are such that \(p^ 2\) and \(\Phi\) have the same distribution function. We consider the initial value problem \(y''-p(t)^ 2y=0,\) \(y(0)=1\), \(y'(0)=\alpha \geq 0\), \(t\in (0,T)\). Problem: determine inf y(T) and sup y(T) when \(p^ 2\) varies in the class \({\mathcal F}\) or in the convex hull \(\Omega\) (\(\Phi)\) of \({\mathcal F}\). The infimum problem arose in the study of growth problems for subharmonic functions [cf. the author, The cos \(\pi\lambda\) theorem, Section 5 (Lect. Notes Math. 467) (1975; Zbl 0335.31001)]. Using our solution of the supremum problem, we answer a question of E. Trubowitz: find sup y(T), \(p^ 2\in {\mathcal E}_ B\), where \({\mathcal E}_ B\) is the class of functions \(p^ 2\) such that \(\int^{T}_{0}p^ 2=B\). One of the ingredients in the proofs in the supremum case is a classical inequality on rearrangements due to Hardy, Littlewood and Pólya. The suggestion to use this result in this context is due to L.- E. Zachrisson. Analogous problems for the equation \(y''+p(t)^ 2y=0\) are studied by the author in Can. J. Math. 37, 310-323 (1985; Zbl 0553.34022).