Reducible functional differential equations (Q1065242)

The paper discusses the developments in the study of functional differential equations (FDE) with periodic transformations of the arguments. In particular, differential equations whose arguments are involutions belong to this class. In the theory of equations with a deviating argument, not only the general properties are of interest, but also the selection and analysis of individual types of such equations which admit simple methods of investigation. From this point of view, FDE that can be reduced to ordinary differential equations are of considerable importance since they often provide an insight into the structure of analytic solutions to equations with more general argument deviations. Also, reducible FDE often describe phenomena from population dynamics, ecology, physiology, and other biological models. Furthermore, such equations arise naturally in the construction of Lyapunov functional for the study of stability of retarded differential-difference equations. The role played by a solution of reducible matrix FDE is analogous to the one played by a positive matrix in the construction of Lyapunov functions for ordinary differential equations. Although numerous works continue to appear in the field of reducible FDE, some aspects of the theory still require further investigation. In connection with the purposes of the present article, we mention such topics as higher-order equations with rotation of the argument, equations in partial deviations with involutions, influence of the method on the study of systems with deviations of more general nature, and solutions in spaces of generalized and entire functions.