Periodic solutions for a singular damped differential equation (Q2263541)

The authors prove the existence of a \(T\)-periodic solution for a scalar second order equation of the type \[ u''(t)+q(t)u'(t)+f(u(t))=g(t), \] where all functions are continuous, \(q(t)\) and \(g(t)\) are \(T\)-periodic, and \(f:\,]0,+\infty[\,\to{\mathbb R}\) has a singularity of repulsive type at the origin. Assuming that \(\int_0^Tq(t)\,dt=0\), they have a variational structure, and by suitable assumptions at \(0\) and at \(+\infty\) they are able to apply the mountain pass theorem to obtain the desired \(T\)-periodic solution.