Convergence for the prime integral equations connected with the elastic unidimensional bounce problem (Q797338)

The authors prove \(L^ 1\) convergence of the solutions of a sequence of boundary value problems associated with the physical problem of a mass particle moving under the influence of a conservative force on a half- axis, and subject to an elastic rebound condition at the origin. An existence theorem is known for this problem for forces in \(L^ 1\), but counterexamples had demonstrated non-uniqueness of the solution for some smooth force fields. Here the authors exploit the behavior of the equations governing the first integrals of the problem do demonstrate uniqueness for almost all admissible initial data. The approach is to replace the singular boundary condition with a family of smooth force distributions which yield the rebound condition in the limit. For each member of the family there is a corresponding first order partial differential equation in phase space governing first integrals of the motion. The authors define two types of boundary value problems for these equations, corresponding to the approximating and limiting problems, and prove a general theorem of convergence of solutions to establish the uniqueness result for the original problem.