Optimal interval lengths for nonlocal boundary value problems associated with third order Lipschitz equations (Q2497413)

The authors study boundary value problems consisting of the equation \[ y'''=f(t,y,y',y'') \tag{1} \] and either of the nonlocal three-point boundary conditions given by \[ y(t_1)=y_1, \quad y'(t_1)=y_2,\quad y(t_2)-y(t_3)=y_3; \] \[ y(t_1)-y(t_2)=y_1,\quad y(t_3)=y_2,\quad y'(t_3)=y_3, \] with \(a<t_1<t_2<t_3<b\) and \(y_1,y_2,y_3 \in\mathbb{R}\), or boundary value problems consisting of equation (1) together with either of the nonlocal four-point boundary conditions given by \[ y(t_1)=y_1,\quad y(t_2)=y_2,\quad y(t_3)-y(t_4)=y_3; \] \[ y(t_1)-y(t_2)=y_1,\quad y(t_3)=y_2,\quad y(t_4)=y_3, \] with \(a<t_1<t_2<t_3<t_4<b\) and \(y_1,y_2,y_3\in\mathbb{R}.\) In terms of the Lipschitz constants \(k_i, i=1,2,3,\) they characterize optimal bounds on the length of intervals on which there exist unique solutions of the above problems. These bounds are obtained through an application of the Pontryagin maximum principle from the theory of optimal control.