Exponent estimation for stable solutions of a certain class of differential-difference equations (Q2066439)

Consider a differential-difference equation \[ x'(t)+a_0x(t)+\sum_{k=1}^Ka_kx(t-r_k)=f(t),\quad t\in\mathbb{R}_+. \] Let \(X(t)\) be its fundamental solution. The related characteristic function is \[ F(\lambda)=\lambda+a_0+\sum_{k=1}^Ka_k\exp(-\lambda r_k). \] Assume that \(a_0\in\mathbb{R}\) and \(a_k\geq0, r_k>0\) for all \(k=1,\ldots, K\). If the characteristic function for some positive \(\omega\) satisfies \(F(-\omega)=0\) and \(F'(-\omega)>0\), then the inequalities \[ \exp(-\omega t)\leq X(t)\leq \exp(-\omega t)/F'(-\omega), \quad t\in\mathbb{R}_+ \] hold. Assume now that \(\underline{a_0}\leq a_)\leq \bar{a}_0\), \(0\leq\underline{a_k}\leq a\leq \bar{a}_k\), \(0<\underline{r_k}\leq r_k\leq\bar{r}_k\) for all \(k=1,\ldots,K\). Denote \[ \underline{F}(\lambda)=\lambda+\underline{a_0}+ \sum_{k=1}^K\underline{a_k}\exp(-\lambda \underline{r_k}),\qquad \bar{F}(\lambda)=\lambda+\bar{a_0}+ \sum_{k=1}^K\bar{a}_k\exp(-\lambda \bar{r}_k). \] If for some positive \(\underline{\omega},\bar{\omega}\) the conditions \(\bar{F}(-\bar{\omega})=\underline{F}(-\underline(\omega))=0\), \(\bar{F}'(-\bar{\omega})>0\) are fulfilled, then the fundamental solution satisfies the inequalities \[ \exp(-\bar{\omega}t)\leq X(t)\leq \exp(-\underline{\omega}t)/\bar{F}'(-\bar{\omega}). \] Some examples are given.