Periodic solutions to parameter-dependent equations with a \(\phi\)-Laplacian type operator (Q2330921)

The authors study the existence and multiplicity of periodic solutions for a scalar equation of the type \[ (\phi(u'))'+f(u)u'+g(t,u)=s, \] where $s$ is a real parameter, $f$ and $g$ are continuous functions, and $g$ is $T$-periodic in the variable $t$. They recall the main result in [\textit{C. Fabry} et al., Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 18, 173--180 (1986; Zbl 0586.34038)] where, assuming that $\phi(u)=u$ and \(\lim_{|u|\to\infty}g(t,u)=+\infty,\text{ uniformly in }t\), it is proved that there is a real constant $s_0$ such that -- for $s<s_0$, there are no $T$-periodic solutions, -- for $s=s_0$, there is at least one $T$-periodic solution, -- for $s>s_0$, there are at least two $T$-periodic solutions. They also recall a result in [\textit{C. Bereanu} and \textit{J. Mawhin}, NoDEA, Nonlinear Differ. Equ. Appl. 15, No. 1--2, 159--168 (2008; Zbl 1146.34035)] for the case $f=0$ and $g(t,u)=q(u)-e(t)$, with $q(u)>0$ for all $u$; assuming \(\lim_{|u|\to\infty}q(u)=0,\text{ uniformly in }t\), it is proved that there is a positive constant $s_0$ such that -- for $s>s_0$, there are no $T$-periodic solutions, -- for $s=s_0$, there is at least one $T$-periodic solution, -- for $0<s<s_0$, there are at least two $T$-periodic solutions. The authors extend these results to situations where the above limits need not be uniform in $t$. In this way, they also generalize the results in [\textit{E. Sovrano} and \textit{F. Zanolin}, Adv. Nonlinear Stud. 18, No. 1, 169--182 (2018; Zbl 1459.34075)] obtained in the special case $\phi(u)=u$.