Sign-preserving solutions for a class of asymptotically linear systems of second-order ordinary differential equations (Q2135287)

In this paper, the existence of multiple solutions is proved for the Dirichlet problem associated with a system of ordinary differential equations of the form \[ u'' + A(t,u)u = 0, \quad u \in \mathbb{R}^2 \] where \(A\) is a symmetric \(2 \times 2\) matrix. More precisely, the matrix \(A\) is required to be asymptotically linear at zero and at infinity, that is \[ \lim_{u \to 0} A(t,u) = A_0(t) \] and \[ \lim_{\vert u \vert \to \infty} A(t,u) = A_\infty(t). \] Moreover, it is assumed that the entry \(a_{12}\) of the matrix \(A\) is sign-definite. Under these hypotheses, the existence of two solutions is proved whenever the Morse index of \(A_0\) is zero while the Morse index of \(A_\infty\) is non-zero (or viceversa). Moreover, it is shown that such solutions are sign-preserving component-wise, meaning that each component of the two vector solutions \(u_i = (x_i,y_i)\), with \(i=1,2\), has definite sign (depending on the sign of \(a_{12}\)). The proof relies on a higher-dimensional shooting technique, a crucial role being played by a careful analysis of the behavior of the phase angles (in connection with the index theory for linear Hamiltonian systems).