Oscillatory criteria for differential equations with deviating argument (Q2644835)

The author deals with the differential equation \(L_ ny(t)+h(t,y(s(t)),...,y^{(n-1)}(s(t)))=0,\quad n>1,\quad t\geq t_ 0,\) \(L_ 0y(t)=a_ 0(t)y(t),\) \(L_ iy(t)=a_ i(t)(L_{i-1}y(t))',\) \(i=1,...,n\). The basic assumptions are: \(\int^{\infty}_{t_ 0}a_ i(t)^{-1} dt=\infty;\) \(y_ 0h(t,y_ 0,y_ 1,...,y_{n-1})\) is of constant sign for all \(t\geq t_ 0\) and \(y_ i\in {\mathbb{R}}^ 1\); s(t)\(\to \infty\) as \(t\to \infty\). In the set of all nonoscillatory solutions two classes are possible: a) \(\lim | L_ iy(t)| =\infty\) for all \(i=0,1,...,n-1\); b) there exists \(k\in (0,1,...,n-1)\) such that lim \(L_ ky(t)\) is finite, lim \(L_ iy(t)=\infty sgn y(t)\), \(i=0,1,...,k-1\), and lim \(L_ iy(t)=0\), \(i=k+1,...,n-1.\) A nonoscillatory solution \(y\in V_ k\), \(k=0,1,...,n-1\), if the case b) occurs. The author states conditions which guarantee that lim \(L_ k(t)=0\) or \(V_ k\) is empty.