On stability of annth-order equation in a critical case (Q4940540)

The stability of the trivial solution to the equation \[ y^{(n)}+\sum_{s=1}^{n}p_s(t)y^{(n-s)}=F(t,y,\ldots ,y^{(n-1)}) \] is studied. The critical case is considered when \(p_s(t)=\pi ^s(t)(p_s^0+o(1))\), where \(\pi(t)\) is a positive function, and the equation \(\lambda ^n+\sum_{s=1}^{n}p_s^0\lambda ^{n-s}=0\) has \(n_0,\;1\leq n_0\leq n\), roots with zero real part and the other roots lie in the left half-plane. Sufficient stability and instability conditions are obtained by reducing the equation to a linear system part of which has, in some sense, almost diagonal form when \(t\to\infty \). The paper does not contain full proofs of the statements which are formulated.