On non-monotone approximation schemes for solutions of the second-order differential equations. (Q2249888)

Using the method of upper and lower solutions, the author studies the solvability of the mixed-type boundary value problem \[ x'' = f(t,x,x'), \;\;x'(a) = A, \; x(b) = B, \] which arises, e.g., when we are looking for the radially symmetric solutions of the problem \[ \Delta u + \varphi (u) = 0 \;\;\text{in} \;\Omega, \quad u = 0 \;\;\text{on} \;\partial \Omega . \] If the regular upper and lower functions exist, then the studied ODE problem possesses maximal and minimal solutions that can be approximated by monotone iterations. Moreover, there exits a solution of zero type, i.e., the corresponding equation of variations has a solution with no zero point in \((a,b)\). If the problem has only non-zero-type solutions (i.e., solutions of the corresponding equation of variations are of oscillatory types), non-monotone approximations are possible and the limiting solutions preserves the same (similar) type of their approximations.