A new index theory for \(\mathrm{GL}^{+}(2)\)-paths with applications to asymptotically linear systems (Q509743)

The authors establish Maslov-type index theory for matrix paths in \(\mathrm{GL}^+(2)\) starting at the identity and ending in \(\{ M\in \mathrm{GL}^+(2) | \det (I-M) \neq 0\}\). Then they apply the index to the search of periodic solutions of differential equation systems in \(\mathbb R^2\): \[ \dot{x}(t)=f(t,x(t)), \] with \(f\in C^1(\mathbb R \times \mathbb R^2, \mathbb R^2\} )\) and \(f(t,x)=f(t+1,x)\). The parity relation theorem relates this index to the Morse index of the corresponding differential operator. Then they prove that if the system is asymptotically linear and the Morse indices at zero and at infinity are nondegenerate and they are different mod 2, then the system possesses a non-trivial periodic solution. The general schedule of proof is similar to the variational case of Hamiltonian systems, but it also works well also in this different non-variational situation.