Boundary value problems for some nonlinear systems with singular \(\phi\)-Laplacian (Q1001339)

Systems of differential equations of the form \[ (\phi(u^\prime))^\prime = f(t, u, u^\prime) \] with \(\phi\) a homeomorphism of the ball \(B_a \subset {\mathbb{R}^{n}}\) onto \(\mathbb R^n\) are considered under various boundary conditions on a compact interval \([0, T]\). For non-homogeneous Cauchy, terminal and some Sturm-Liouville boundary conditions including in particular the Dirichlet-Neumann and Neumann-Dirichlet conditions, existence of a solution is proved for arbitrary continuous right-hand sides \(f\) by simple applications of the Schauder fixed point theorem. For Neumann boundary conditions, some restrictions upon \(f\) are required, and Leray-Schauder degree is used to establish existence of solutions. Moreover, for Dirichlet boundary conditions, restrictions have to be placed upon \(\phi\) and the boundary values, and the Legendre-Fenchel transform is used for the conversion to an equivalent fixed point problem. For periodic boundary conditions, both \(\phi\) and \(f\) have to be suitably restricted, and the existence proof is achieved by a combination of the methods used before. Applications are given to the relativistic motion of a charged particle in some exterior electromagnetic field.