The Existence and Multiplicity of Periodic Solutions for Duffing's Equation <i>ü</i> +<i>g</i> (<i>u</i> ) = <i>s</i> +<i>h</i> (<i>t</i> ) (Q4520429)

Consider the differential equation \(\ddot{u} +g(u)=s+h(t)\), where \(s\) is a parameter and \(h\) is a periodic function. \textit{A. M. del Pino, P. F. Manásevich} and \textit{A. E. Murua} [J. Differ. Equations 95, No.~2, 240-258 (1992; Zbl 0745.34035)] discussed the number of periodic solutions for large \(s\). They assumed that the limits \(g'(+\infty)\) and \(g'(-\infty)\) exist and obtained several multiplicity results in terms of these two numbers. In the present paper, the author extends these results by relaxing the conditions on \(g\). In particular the role of \(g'(\pm \infty)\) is played by the limits of the quotient \({g(u)\over u}\) as \(u\to \pm \infty\). The proofs are obtained by an application of the Poincaré-Birkhoff theorem. A description of this technique as well as more results in this direction can be found in the paper by \textit{F. Zanolin} [Tricomi's ideas and contemporary applied mathematics. Proceedings of the international conference held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Francesco G. Tricomi, Rome, Italy, November 28-29 and Turin, Italy, December 1-2, 1997. Rome: Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Atti Convegni Lincei. 147, 281-302 (1998; Zbl 0987.34014)].