Complex dynamics in pendulum-type equations with variable length (Q376306)

The authors consider the scalar equation \[ x''+ w(t)f(x)=0, \] where \(f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}\) is a locally Lipschitz \(L\)-periodic continuous function presenting some characteristic conditions of the sine function due to the fact that the equation arises from the model of a pendulum with variable length in a constant gravitational field. Here, \(w\) is a positive \(T\)-periodic function belonging to \(L^1([0,T])\), the solutions of the equation being viewed in the Carathéodory sense. When \(w\) is a stepwise function, namely \(w(t)=B\) if \(0\leq t<T_B\) and \(w(t)=A\) if \(T_B\leq t < T_A+T_B:=T,\) with \(0<A<B,\) the authors prove the existence of complex dynamics for \(\Phi,\) including chaos in the coin-tossing sense (see \textit{U. Kirchgraber} and \textit{D. Stoffer} [Z. Angew. Math. Mech. 69, No. 7, 175--185 (1989; Zbl 0713.58035)]), where \(\Phi(z_0)=(x(T,z_0),y(T,z_0))\), \(z_0\in\mathbb{R}^2,\) is the Poincaré map corresponding to the equivalent first order system \(x'=y, y'=-w(t)f(x)\). The main topological tool is the ``stretching along the paths''-technique on oriented rectangles. Finally, the application of their discrete analysis to the dynamics of the solutions of the differential equation provides the main results of the paper. For the convenience of the reader we reproduce them:\newline ``Theorem 4.1. Let \(m,\ell\) be two positive integers with \(\max\{m,\ell\}\geq 2\). Let \(\xi:=(m_i,\ell_i)_{i\in\mathbb{Z}}\) be an arbitrary two-sided sequence of pairs of integers, with \(1\leq m_i\leq m\) and \(1\leq \ell_i\leq \ell\) for each integer \(i\). Then, there exists a solution \(\widetilde{x}(\cdot)\) of the initial second order equation such that \((\widetilde{x}(t),\widetilde{x}'(t))\) has precisely \(2m_i\) crossings of the stable equilibrium \((0,0)\) for \(t\in [iT,iT+T_B)\) and precisely \(\ell_i\) crossings of the position of the unstable equilibrium with positive velocity for \(t\in[iT+T_B,(i+1)T)\). Moreover, if the sequence \(\xi\) is \(k\)-periodic for some \(k\geq 1\), then there exists at least one solution \(\widetilde{x}(\cdot)\) with the nodal properties described above and such that \(\widetilde{x}(t+kT)=\widetilde{x}(t)\) for each \(t\in\mathbb{R}\)''.\newline Moreover, the result is stable with respect to small perturbations, that is, \[ x''+cx'+q(t)f(x)=0 \] has solutions with the same dynamics as described before, whenever \(c\) is a suitable small constant and \(q\) is a measurable \(T\)-periodic function near to \(w\) in the \(L^1\) sense. ``Theorem 4.2. Chosen any pair of positive integers \((m^*,\ell^*)\) we can find \(\tau_B^*\) and \(\tau_A^*\) such that if \(T_B\geq \tau_B^*\) and \(T_A\geq \tau_A^*\), the following holds for the solutions of the initial second order equation: given any two-sided sequence \(\xi:=(m_i,\ell_i)_{i\in\mathbb{Z}}\) of integers with \(1\leq m_i\leq m^*\) and \(1\leq |\ell_i|\leq \ell\), there exists a motion having precisely \(m_i\) crossings of the stable equilibrium \((0,0)\) for \(t\in [iT,iT+T_B)\) and precisely \(|\ell_i|\) crossings of the position of the unstable equilibrium \((\alpha,0)\equiv (\beta,0)\) with positive (or negative) velocity, according to the sign of \(\ell_i,\) for \(t\in[iT+T_B,(i+1)T)\). Moreover, if the sequence \(\xi\) is \(k\)-periodic for some \(k\geq 1\), then there exists at least one solution \(\widetilde{x}(\cdot)\) with the nodal properties described above and such that \(\widetilde{x}(t+kT)=\widetilde{x}(t)\) for each \(t\in\mathbb{R}\).\newline The above results are stable with respect to small perturbations of the initial second order equation of the type considered in Theorem 4.1.''