Nonlinear Perron--Frobenius theory in finite dimensions (Q2486619)

A Perron--Frobenius theory for a class of nonlinear operators in finite dimensions is developed. Very roughly speaking, these operators, which are defined on cones, are positive, homogeneous and locally Lipschitz at the origin. Sufficient conditions are given in order to exhibit the existence of a maximal eigenvalue with a positive eigenfunction (Theorem 25). Uniqueness of eigenvectors is obtained under some additional assumptions. This extends previous work by \textit{C.~Sabot} [Ann.\ Sci.\ Éc.\ Norm.\ Supér., IV.~Sér.\ 30, No.~5, 605--673 (1997; Zbl 0924.60064)] and by the author [J.~Funct.\ Anal.\ 220, 118--156 (2005; Zbl 1068.31005)]. The technical tools include Collatz--Wielandt numbers, Gâteaux derivatives on the boundary of the cone, Hilbert's projective metric and the almost one-dimensional dynamics of the nonlinear map.