A linearization for a class of \(\lambda\)-nonlinear boundary eigenvalue problems (Q1576941)

Given a \(\lambda \)-nonlinear eigenvalue problem (BEP) for a system of ordinary linear differential equations (ODEs) it is desirable to have an equivalent BEP which is \(\lambda \)-linear, e.g., to obtain results on completeness, minimality and basis property of the system of eigenfunctions and associated functions, see e.g. the author [Math. Nachr. 214, 129-172 (2000; Zbl 0959.34069)]. Such parameter linearizations have been obtained e.g. by \textit{A. A. Shkalikov} [Tr. Semin. Im. I. G. Petrovskogo 9, 190-229 (1983; Zbl 0553.34014)] and \textit{H. Langer} and \textit{M. Möller} [Integral Equations Oper. Theory 14, No. 1, 105-119 (1991; Zbl 0736.47017)]. However, those linearized problems are no more BEPs in the usual sense. In this paper, a linearization is achieved which leads to a BEP in the usual sense for a larger system of ODEs. This has the advantage that all results for those problems, like estimates of Green's function, are immediately available. In section 3 a sufficient condition is given for the boundary operator function to be the transfer function of a \(\lambda \)-linear pencil, and in section 4 such a \(\lambda \)-linear pencil is constructed explicitly. The full linearization of the boundary eigenvalue operator function is written down in section 5, which also contains a simple example of a linearization for a \(2\times 2\) system with \(\lambda \)-quadratic boundary conditions. Section 6 is concerned with BEPs for ODEs of the form \(N\eta=\lambda P\eta\), where \(N\) and \(P\) are scalar ordinary differential expressions of order \(n\) and \(p\), \(n>p\). The usual construction of an associated first-order system, followed by the \(\lambda \)-linearization as in section 5, gives the full parameter-linearized first-order system boundary value problem. Finally, in section 7 this linearization is applied to the Orr-Sommerfeld equation.