Asymptotic stability properties of \(\theta\)-methods for the pantograph equation (Q1360550)

The authors consider the asymptotic stability properties of \(\theta\)-methods when applied to the pantograph equation \[ y'(t)= ay(t)+ by(qt)+ cy'(qt), \qquad q\in(0,1).\tag{1} \] It is shown that asymptotic stability is obtained when \(\theta>1/2\) for a certain constrained variable stepsize implementation which is characterized by the property that the solution of the equation in every interval is determined by the knowledge of the solution on the preceding interval. Some consideration is also given to the stability of one-leg \(\theta\)-methods on the non-autonomous version of (1) with \(c(t)\equiv 0\).