Constant-sign solutions of a system of Volterra integral equations (Q2460564)

Using Krasnosel'skii's compression/expansion theorem on a cone, a result about the existence of a componentwise positive (or negative) continuous solution of a Volterra-Hammerstein system \[ u_i(t)=\int_0^tg_i(t,s)[f_i(s,u_1(s),\dots,u_n(s))- h_i(s,u_1(s),\dots,u_n(s))]\,ds \] is obtained where \(f_i\) is componentwise nonincreasing and \(h_i\) is nondecreasing (or oppositely, respectively). Since considerations at \(0\) play no role, \(h_i\) may also be singular at \(0\). The crucial hypothesis is of course the existence of a pair of ``super-'' and ``subsolutions'' of a certain form which ensures the compression/expansion condition. If several such pairs exist (with increasing norm) also the original problem will have several solutions. For some special cases (\(f_i=0\), \(h_i=0\), or \(g_i(t,s)=(t-s)^{\gamma-1}\) with \(\gamma>1\)) slightly more convenient (sufficient) conditions for the remaining assumptions are obtained in terms of certain growth hypotheses.