Periodic solutions with prescribed minimal period for second-order Hamiltonian systems with non-symmetric potentials (Q6570183)

The paper proves the Rabinowitz conjecture for the second-order Hamiltonian system under an additional hypothesis on the potential. Specifically, under the mentioned new hypothesis, it is shown that there is a periodic non-constant solution with arbitrarily prescribed minimal period.\N\NIn contrast with previous work on the problem, the new hypothesis neither involves further regularity on the potential nor any additional symmetry.\N\NA crucial object in the approach taken by the authors is the Nehari-Pankov set. This set, introduced by \textit{Z. Nehari} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 95, 101--123 (1960; Zbl 0097.29501); Acta Math. 105, 141--175 (1961; Zbl 0099.29104)] and adapted by \textit{A. Pankov} [Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst. 19, No. 2, 419--430 (2007; Zbl 1220.35164)], is a topological manifold containing all of the non-trivial critical points of a functional whose critical points are solutions of the original problem. The non-trivial critical points of this functional are the non-constant periodic solutions of the second-order Hamiltonian system in question.\N\NWithout assuming further regularity conditions on the potential, the Nehari-Pankov set will not be a smooth manifold in general and the Pankov approach cannot be adapted to this problem. However, inspired by the work of \textit{A. Szulkin} and \textit{T. Weth} [J. Funct. Anal. 257, No. 12, 3802--3822 (2009; Zbl 1178.35352)], the problem of finding critical points in the Nehari-Pankov set is solved. Actually, the authors show the existence of ground states of Nehari-Pankov type. These are minima of the action functional restricted to the Nehari-Pankov set.\N\NThe strategy is very similar to that of the work of A. Szulkin and T. Weth [loc. cit.]. Indeed, certain convex sets are introduced with the property that their intersection with the Nehari-Pankov set provide global maxima restricted to these convex sets. This allows to write the infimum of the functional on the Nehari-Pankov set as a minmax value.\N\NHere, the authors' approach departs from that of A. Szulkin and T. Weth [loc. cit.], and the linking theorem is applied to obtain a Palais-Smale sequence from which a ground state is found. Finally, it is proved that the ground state property on the critical point implies that the period of the respective non-constant periodic orbit is minimal.