Periodic solutions for discontinuous perturbations of the relativistic operator (Q905841)

The following problem is studied: \[ -(\phi(u'))'\in\partial F(t,u), \quad t\in [0,T], \quad u(0)-u(T)=0=u'(0)-u'(T), \eqno{(*)} \] where \(\phi(y) = y/\sqrt{1-|y|^2}\) and \(\partial F\) is the generalized Clarke gradient of \(F(t,\cdot)\) a Lipschitzian map. To establish existence results, the authors reduce \((*)\) to an equivalent non-singular problem on which they apply the non-smooth critical theory developed by K. C. Chang. They also study perturbations of the problem \((*)\) by a function \(h \in L^1([0,T],\mathbb R^N)\) such that \(\int_0^T h(t)dt=0\). The existence of \(N+1\) geometrically distinct solutions is obtained when \(F\) is periodic with respect to its second variable. Some illustrative examples concerning Filippov type solutions are presented.