Nonlinear singular perturbation phenomena: theory and applications (Q2266152)

This monograph presents a study of the existence and asymptotic behavior of solutions of certain singularly perturbed nonlinear boundary value problems for second order differential equations. There are eight chapters. The introductory chapter 1 sets the basic theme of the monograph; that is, a study of quasilinear and nonlinear problems to which the use of differential inequality techniques appears to be particularly suited, as opposed to other well-known methods such as matched asymptotic expansions and two-variable expansions. Chapter 2 reviews basic existence theorems for the scalar and vector boundary value problem based on differential inequality techniques, such as those developed by \textit{M. Nagumo} [Proc. Phys. Math. Soc. Japan 19, 861--866 (1937; Zbl 0017.30801)] and \textit{L. K. Jackson} [Adv. Math. 2, 307--363 (1968; Zbl 0197.06401)]. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 consider boundary and interior layer phenomena for the Dirichlet and Robin problems for semilinear, quasilinear, and quadratic scalar singular perturbation problems. (These are, respectively, the equations \(\varepsilon y''=h(t,y)\), \(a<t<b\), \(\varepsilon y''=f(t,y)y'+g(t,y),\) \(a<t<b\), and \(\varepsilon y''=p(t,y)y'{}^ 2+g(t,y),\) \(a<t<b.)\) Chapter 6 is devoted to the superquadratic problem \(\varepsilon y''=f(t,y,y')\), \(a<t<b\), where \(f(t,y,z)=O(| z|^ n)\) as \(| z| \to \infty\) for \(n>2\). Chapter 7 deals with the vector situation where the results are much less complete and the last chapter is concerned with examples and applications. At the conclusion of each chapter is a section on Notes and Remarks giving an indication of the origin and possible extensions of the results. It appears that the authors have succeeded admirably in their stated two-fold purpose in writing this book: ``to collect in one place many of the recent results on the existence and asymptotic behavior of solutions of certain classes of singularly perturbed nonlinear boundary value problems'' and ``to raise along the way a number of questions for further study''.