Multiplicity of positive periodic solutions in the superlinear indefinite case via coincidence degree (Q507556)

In this interesting paper, the authors investigate the existence of positive periodic solutions to the second order ODE \[u'' + c u' + (a^+(t) - \mu a^-(t)) g(u) = 0,\] where \(c\) is an arbitrary constant, \(a(t)\) is a \(T\)-periodic sign-changing function and \(g(u)\) is a nonlinear term having superlinear growth both at zero and at infinity (e.g., \(g(u) = u^p\) for \(p > 1\)). \par Along a line of research initiated in some previous papers, several multiplicity results are obtained, when the parameter \(\mu\) is positive and large enough. First, the existence of \(2^m-1\) positive \(T\)-periodic solutions, where \(m\) is the number of intervals of positivity of \(a(t)\) in a periodicity interval, is established. Second, the existence of positive subharmonic solutions (namely, solutions with minimal period \(kT\), with \(k \geq 2\) an integer number) is discussed, together with an interesting estimate for their number, based on the notion of Lyndon words. Finally, the existence of globally defined solutions with a chaotic behavior is proved. \par The proofs rely on Mawhin's coincidence degree theory, suitably developed for operators defined on possibly unbounded open sets. It is worth noticing that, with such an approach, the non-Hamiltonian case \(c \neq 0\) can also be covered. Moreover, the Neumann boundary value problem can be treated, with minor modifications.