Periodic solutions for a class of nonautonomous Hamiltonian systems (Q5906573)

The paper deals with the Hamiltonian system of the form \(-J \dot z - Az = \nabla H(t,z)\), where \(z \in \mathbb{R}^{2k}\), \(A\) is a symmetric matrix, \(H\) is periodic in \(t\). The system is an extension of the second order equation \(\ddot x + Ax + \nabla(t,x) = 0\). The problem of the existence of nontrivial periodic solution for a superlinear Hamiltonian system is studied. The main result is Theorem 2.1 which says if \(H\) is superquadratic at 0 and \(\infty\) (and satisfies an additional hypothesis if the linear part admits a nontrivial solution), then the system has a nontrivial periodic solution. The obtained result generalizes that of \textit{P. H. Rabinowitz} [Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 31, 156-184 (1978; Zbl 0358.70014)].