Twist periodic solutions for differential equations with a combined attractive-repulsive singularity (Q5964417)

The authors consider the differential equation \[ \ddot{x} =\frac{g(t)}{x^{\alpha}} -\frac{h(t)}{x^{\beta}}, \] where the exponents \(\alpha, \beta\) are positive and the functions \(g\) and \(h\) are periodic with a common period. This class of equations arises in the study of the Kepler problem with variable mass and also in some models related to a nonlinear optical fiber. After introducing a small parameter, \(h(t)=\epsilon \tilde{h}(t)\), it is possible to apply the averaging method to locate a periodic solution if \(\epsilon\) is small. Then the stability of this solution is proved using a third order approximation. The conditions on the functions \(g\) and \(\tilde{h}\) are remarkably simple. The general situation without small parameters is analyzed in the second part of the paper. Now the averaging method is not applicable and it is replaced by a methodology based on upper and lower solutions. The new conditions imposed on \(g\) and \(h\) are of a very quantitative nature.