Sturmian theory for nonselfadjoint systems (Q1801943)

Let \(K\) be a cone in \(\mathbb{R}^ n\) with the nonempty interior \(K^ 0\). Let \(r(t)\) and \(g(t)\) be \(n\times n\) matrices of continuous functions on \([a,b] \subset [0,\infty)\) and \(r(t)\) be nonsingular for \(t\in[a,b]\). The author considers the system of second order differential equations (1) \((r(t)x')'+q(t)x=0\). It is assumed that \(r^{-1}(t)\) and \(q(t)\) satisfy the positive condition: \(r^{-1}(t): K^ 0\to K^ 0\), \(q(t): K\to K\) but no symmetry assumptions are made on the matrices \(r(t)\) and \(q(t)\). Under some additional conditions on \(r(t)\) and \(q(t)\) the following basic result is proved: If \(b\) is the first conjugate point to \(a\), then there exists a unique (up to multiplication by a constant) nontrivial solution \(x(t)\) of (1) such that \(x(a)=0=x(b)\) and \(x(t)\in K^ 0\) for \(t\in(a,b)\). This result is proved using the theory of \(\mu_ 0\)- positive operators [see e.g., \textit{M. A. Krasnoselskij}, Positive solutions of operator equations, Noordhoff, Groningen (1964; Zbl 0121.10604)]. Results are new even if (1) is selfadjoint.