Homoclinic orbits for second order discrete Hamiltonian systems with potential changing sign (Q959990)

This paper investigates second order self-adjoint nonlinear difference equations \[ \Delta[p(n)\Delta x_{n-1}]-A(n)x_n+b(n)\nabla V(x_n)=0, \] where \(\Delta\) is the forward difference operator, \(b(n)\) a real number with sign changes, \(p(n),A(n)\) real symmetric positive definite matrices and \(V\) denotes a nonnegative \(C^1\)-function. Using critical point theory, three sets of sufficient conditions for the above problem to have homoclinic orbits are deduced. The proofs are based on the Mountain Pass theorem and a verification of the corresponding Palais-Smale condition. The obtained results generalize earlier contributions of the authors [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 324, No. 2, 1140--1151 (2006; Zbl 1106.39022)] w.r.t. sign assumptions on the potential \(V\).