Qualitative properties of solutions of integral equations (Q732605)

The authors discuss the asymptotic behavior of the solutions of the scalar Volterra integral equation \[ x(t) = f(t) - \int_0^t C(t,s) x(s) ds,\quad t \geq 0. \tag{1} \] The main idea is to differentiate (1) with respect to \(t\) and add the result to a multiple of (1) in order to convert (1) into the more or less equivalent scalar Volterra integro-differential equation \[ x'(t) = k f(t) + f'(t) - [C(t,t) + k] x(t) - \int_0^t [k C(t,s) + C_t(t,s)] x(s) ds,\qquad t \geq 0. \tag{2} \] The idea as such is not new [see, e.g., Section 18.2 in the book by \textit{G. Gripenberg, S.-O. Londen} and \textit{O. Staffans}, Volterra integral and functional equations. Cambridge etc.: Cambridge University Press (1990; Zbl 0695.45002)], but apparently it has not appeared earlier in the present form. The main results say that if the operator norm of the integral operator \((K x)(t) = \int_0^t [k C(t,s) + C_t(t,s)] x(s) ds\) in (2) is small enough in either \(L^\infty(0,\infty)\) or in \(L^1(0,\infty)\), then the integral term in (2) is dominated by the remaining terms so that (2) inherits the stability of the ordinary differential equation \[ x'(t) = -[C(t,t) + k] x(t) + k f(t) + f'(t),\qquad t \geq 0.\tag{3} \] The computation of the norm of the integral operator \(K\) in different \(L^p\)-spaces is described in Chapter 9 of the book by Gripenberg, Londen and Staffans [loc. cit.]. Small nonlinear perturbations may also be allowed. Some further stability results are derived by differentiating (2) and rewriting the result as a system of one first order ordinary differential equation and one first order Volterra integro-differential equation.