On decomposition of linear systems which are not solved with respect to the derivative (Q2366409)

This paper examines the problem of decomposing the implicit differential equations \(D(t)x'(t)=C(t)x(t)+f(t)\) into two lower dimensional problems. Here \(D(t)\) is a bounded operator on a Banach space \(E\) such that there are two disjoint closed subspaces \(E_ i\) for which \(E=E_ 1+E_ 2\) and each \(E_ i\) is invariant for \(D(t)\) for all \(t\). The approach is based on a calculation that shows that if a certain Riccati equation has a solution \(Y\) and if \(f\) is in the range of \(D\) for each \(t\), and if \(g(t)\) satisfies \((I+DY)g=Ch\), then the substitution \(x=(I+YD)y\) changes the original differential equation into \(Dv'=Sv+g\) where \(S\) also leaves the \(E_ i\) invariant. Thus the problem has been decomposed into two smaller problems. Applications are given to finite dimensional singular perturbations and boundary value problems where \(D\) is nonsingular. What happens if \(D\) is singular is not discussed.