Existence, extendability, and stability for a differential equation in the space of convergent sequences (Q1114829)

Consider a process consisting of a large number of compartments in series, each compartment containing a certain amount of stored energy which changes with time obeying a modified first order decay law. We are interested in the dynamics of the process, the asymptotic behavior of each compartment, and the effects of outside disturbances on the process. We find it more expedient to imbed the problem in \(R^{\infty}\) rather than \(R^ n\) since n is large and the dynamics is well approximated in infinite dimensional spaces. Let E be the Banach space of real sequences \(u=\{u_ i\}^{\infty}_{i=1}\) in which \(\| u\| =\sup_{i\in [1,\infty)}| u_ i|\). Define \(u^ j\in E\) to be that element for which \(u^ j_ i=0\), \(1\leq i\leq j-1\), and \(u^ j_ i=u_ i\), \(i\geq j\). Consider the set B consisting of those elements \(u\in E\) for which there exist integers J,K, \(J<K\), such that \(u_ J=0\) and \(u_ K\neq 0\). Define \(A=E\setminus B\) and consider the following Cauchy problem in A; (*) \(u_ j=-\| u^ j\|\) if \(u_ j\geq 0\), \(u_ j=- u_ j<0\), and \(u(0)=a\), \(a\in A\). We obtain existence results on finite as well as on infinite intervals. For example we show if a is nonincreasing, that is \(a_{j+1}\leq a_ i\) then the solution u(t,a) of (*) exists in the future and \(\| u(t,a)\| \to 0\) as \(t\to \infty\). When a is not nonincreasing we measure quantities that depend on the growth rate of the oscillation of \((a_{j+1})/a_ i\) as i increases. The size of this growth rate will determine whether there exists no solution of (*) or whether a solution will exist on a finite interval or infinite interval. This interval is computed in terms of the measure of the growth rate of the oscillation of \((a_{i+1})/a_ i\). A discussion of the globally invariant subsets of A is given and from this an analysis of the stability and asymptotic stability of the zero solution of (*) is presented. Finally some variations of (*) are given which depend on a parameter which acts like a control in influencing both the rate at which solutions decay as well as the exit time.