A relationship between linear stability and index of oscillations for Lagrangian equation at higher order zones (Q1729261)

This paper is motivated by the study of the linear stability of periodic solutions, also called oscillations which has played an important role historically in the development of Lyapunov stability of the following Lagrangian equation \[ \ddot{x} + g(t, x) = 0, \tag{(1.1)} \] where \(g : \mathbb{R}\times\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}\) is a \(T\)-periodic function in \(t\) and continuous in \(x\). The existence and multiplicity of periodic solutions of (1.1) or more general types of nonlinear second-order differential equations have been investigated extensively by many authors. Under the conditions on the derivative of g with respect to the second variable \(g_x(t, x)\), some important progress on the existence and linear stability conditions for T-periodic solutions of (1.1). Motivated by the existing results, the authors focus their attentions on a complete linear stability study when some nonuniform nonresonance conditions hold. To do this, they establish some results concerning the connection between linear stability and index at higher order zones. Their method is based on the use of topological degree arguments and combines some ideas introduced in [\textit{R. Ortega}, J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 42, No. 3, 505--516 (1990; Zbl 0677.34042)].