Multiple solutions of the forced double pendulum equation (Q1825056)

In their paper [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 124, 482-494 (1987; Zbl 0664.34053)] \textit{A. Capozzi}, \textit{D. Fortunato} and \textit{A. Salvatore} have shown that the double pendulum equation with forcing term has at least two solutions (not differing by a multiple of \(2\pi)\). In this paper, we apply the notion of Lusternik-Schnirelman category to the double pendulum equation with forcing term to show that it has at least three solutions (not differing by a multiple of \(2\pi)\). But if we look at the same equation with a small constant forcing term, it is easy to see that the equation has at least four constant solutions. In order to do that we need a more powerful notion than the one of the Lusternik-Schnirelman category. In fact it is not a notion but rather a family of notions which are called (Lusternik-Schnirelman) relative categories. In this family, we choose only two for the special properties they possess and for their usefulness in critical point theory (a generalization of the result due to \textit{R. Palais} [Topology 5, 115-132 (1966; Zbl 0143.352)], which itself generalizes well known results saying that the number of critical points is at least the category of the space).