Oscillatory solutions of fourth order conservative systems via the Conley index (Q424434)

The main example in this paper and primary motivation is the fourth-order equation \[ u''''+\alpha u'''- u+ u^3= 0,\tag{\(*\)} \] which arises in the study of pattern for motion phenomena. The Lagrangian density for equation \((*)\) is \[ L(u,v,w)= {1\over 2} w^2- {\alpha\over 2} v^2+{1\over 4} (u^2- 1)^2. \] Solutions of equation \((*)\) have a conserved energy-like quantity \[ E(u)= -u'u'''+{1\over 2}(u'')^2- {\alpha\over 2}(u')^2-{1\over 4}(u^2- 1)^2. \] For \(\alpha<0\), equation \((*)\) is called the eFK equation, while for \(\alpha\geq 0\) it is called the Swift-Hohenberg equation. The energy level \(E= 0\) contains two homogeneous states \(u_{\pm}=\pm 1\), and this energy level acts as an organizing center for the dynamics. There is interestingly complicated dynamics at this singular energy level and it leads to analytical difficulties. The main elements of the authors' approach are the discretization of second-order Lagrangians that satisfy the twist property and the theory of braid invariants due to Ghist et al. However, the braid invariants of relevance are improper. That is, the relevant braid classes are non-isolating neighborhoods of the flow, so their Conley index is not universal. The authors therefore develop the theory of the braid invariant for improper braid classes. The theory is then applied to equation \((*)\), particularly in the case where \(\alpha>\sqrt{8}\), to study periodic solutions that oscillate around equilibrium points of center type.