Periodic solutions of pendulum-like perturbations of singular and bounded \({\varphi}\)-Laplacians (Q607506)

The authors consider the problem of the existence and multiplicity of periodic solutions of a differential equation with pendulum-like nonlinearity and bounded or singular \(\phi\)-Laplacian. The model equation is \[ \left(\frac{u'}{\sqrt{1\pm (u')^2}}\right)'+\mu\sin u=h(t), \] where \(\mu>0\) and \(h(t)\) is continuous and \(T\)-periodic. For the relativistic case (minus sign), it is proved that there exist at least two \(T\)-periodic solutions not differing by a multiple of \(2\pi\) under the conditions \[ T<\pi\sqrt{3},\quad |\overline h |<\mu\cos\left(\frac{T}{2\sqrt{3}}\right), \] being \(\overline h\) the mean value of \(h\). This result generalizes a previous one by the reviewer [see \textit{P. J. Torres}, ``Periodic oscillations of the relativistic pendulum with friction'', Phys. Lett. A 372, 42, 6386--6387 (2008)]. The proof relies on topological degree arguments. On the other hand, by using the method of upper and lower solutions, the authors obtain sufficient conditions for \(\|h\|_\infty\), both in the relativistic and the bounded case.