On damped second-order gradient systems (Q2351985)

The authors develop some new tools for the asymptotic behavior as \(t\to\infty\) of solutions \({u:\mathbb{R}_+\to\mathbb{R}^N}\) of the following second order system \[ u''(t)+\gamma u'(t)+\nabla G(u(t))=0,\quad t\in\mathbb{R}_+, \] where \(\gamma\) is a positive real number -- a damping coefficient, \(N\geq 1\) is an integer and \(G\in C^2(\mathbb{R}^N)\) is a real-valued function. This system models, for instance, the motion of an object subject to a force deriving from a potential \(G\) (e.g. gravity) and to a viscous friction force \(-\gamma u'\). The aim of the paper is to provide a deeper understanding of the asymptotic behavior of such a system and of the mechanisms behind the stabilization of trajectories at infinity. The study is mainly based on Kurdyka-Łojasiewicz functions, Łojasiewicz inequality and o-minimal structure. The article contains a long reference list (49 items) and will be of good use for researchers deal with the analysis of gradient-like methods and related problems.