Oscillation of delay differential equations on time scales. (Q1411011)

The authors consider linear delay dynamic equations \[ x^\Delta(t)+p(t)x(\tau(t))=0 \leqno (\ast) \] on a time scale \({\mathbb T}\), i.e., a closed subset of the reals, which is assumed to be unbounded above. Moreover, \(-p:{\mathbb T}\to{\mathbb R}\) is supposed to be regressive, rd-continuous, and \(\tau:{\mathbb T}\to{\mathbb T}\) satisfies \(\tau(t)<t\) for all \(t\in{\mathbb T}\). Using a necessary condition for the existence of an eventually periodic solution, an oscillation criterion for \((\ast)\) is obtained. Furthermore, the authors deduce sufficient conditions for the existence of positive solutions, and for the oscillatory behavior of a nonhomogeneous version of \((\ast)\). These criteria generalize well known results for ordinary differential and difference equations to dynamic equations on time scales.