Given a non-oscillating gradient trajectory $|\gamma|$ of a real analytic function $f$, we show that the limit $\nu$ of the secants at the limit point $\mathbf{0}$ of $|\gamma|$ along the trajectory $|\gamma|$ is an eigen-vector of the limit of the direction of the Hessian matrix $\operatorname{Hess} (f)$ at $\mathbf{0}$ along $|\gamma|$. The same holds true at infinity if the function is globally sub-analytic. We also deduce some interesting estimates along the trajectory. Away from the ends of the ambient space, this property is of metric nature and still holds in a general Riemannian analytic setting.

We study the densities of uniform random walks in the plane. A special focus is on the case of short walks with three or four steps and less completely those with five steps. As one of the main results, we obtain a hypergeometric representation of the density for four steps, which complements the classical elliptic representation in the case of three steps. It appears unrealistic to expect similar results for more than five steps. New results are also presented concerning the moments of uniform random walks and, in particular, their derivatives. Relations with Mahler measures are discussed.

No abstract.

We present the explicit formulas for the projectors on the generalized eigenspaces associated with some eigenvalues for linear neutral functional differential equations (NFDE) in $L^{p}$ spaces by using integrated semigroup theory. The analysis is based on the main result established elsewhere by the authors and results by Magal and Ruan on non-densely defined Cauchy problem. We formulate the NFDE as a non-densely defined Cauchy problem and obtain some spectral properties from which we then derive explicit formulas for the projectors on the generalized eigenspaces associated with some eigenvalues. Such explicit formulas are important in studying bifurcations in some semi-linear problems.

Dans cet article on \'etudie la diff\'erence entre les deux premi\`eres valeurs propres, le splitting, d'un op\'erateur de Klein--Gordon semi-classique unidimensionnel, dans le cas d'un potentiel sym\'etrique pr\'esentant un double puits. Dans le cas d'une petite barri\`ere de potentiel, B. Helffer et B. Parisse ont obtenu des r\'esultats analogues \`a ceux existant pour l'op\'erateur de Schr\"odinger. Dans le cas d'une grande barri\`ere de potentiel, on obtient ici des estimations des tranform\'ees de Fourier des fonctions propres qui conduisent \`a une conjecture du splitting. Des calculs num\'eriques viennent appuyer cette conjecture.

Let $\phi(n)$ be the Euler phi-function, define $\phi_0(n) = n$ and $\phi_{k+1}(n)=\phi(\phi_{k}(n))$ for all $k\geq 0$. We will determine an asymptotic formula for the set of integers $n$ less than $x$ for which $\phi_k(n)$ is $y$-smooth, conditionally on a weak form of the Elliott--Halberstam conjecture.

We show that the value distribution (complex oscillation) of solutions of certain periodic second order ordinary differential equations studied by Bank, Laine and Langley is closely related to confluent hypergeometric functions, Bessel functions and Bessel polynomials. As a result, we give a complete characterization of the zero-distribution in the sense of Nevanlinna theory of the solutions for two classes of the ODEs. Our approach uses special functions and their asymptotics. New results concerning finiteness of the number of zeros (finite-zeros) problem of Bessel and Coulomb wave functions with respect to the parameters are also obtained as a consequence. We demonstrate that the problem for the remaining class of ODEs not covered by the above ``special function approach" can be described by a classical Heine problem for differential equations that admit polynomial solutions.

Positive solutions are obtained for the boundary value problem \[\begin{cases} -( | u'| ^{p-2}u')' =\lambda f( t,u),\;t\in ( 0,1) ,p>1\\ u( 0) =u(1) =0. \end{cases} \] Here $f(t,u) \geq -M,$ ($M$ is a positive constant) for $(t,u) \in [0\mathinner{,}1] \times (0,\infty )$. We will show the existence of two positive solutions by using degree theory together with the upper-lower solution method.

In this article we determine the global geometry of the planar quadratic differential systems with a weak focus of third order. This class plays a significant role in the context of Hilbert's 16-th problem. Indeed, all examples of quadratic differential systems with at least four limit cycles, were obtained by perturbing a system in this family. We use the algebro-geometric concepts of divisor and zero-cycle to encode global properties of the systems and to give structure to this class. We give a theorem of topological classification of such systems in terms of integer-valued affine invariants. According to the possible values taken by them in this family we obtain a total of $18$ topologically distinct phase portraits. We show that inside the class of all quadratic systems with the topology of the coefficients, there exists a neighborhood of the family of quadratic systems with a weak focus of third order and which may have graphics but no polycycle in the sense of \cite{DRR} and no limit cycle, such that any quadratic system in this neighborhood has at most four limit cycles.

For a given Sturm-Liouville equation whose leading coefficient function changes sign, we establish inequalities among the eigenvalues for any coupled self-adjoint boundary condition and those for two corresponding separated self-adjoint boundary conditions. By a recent result of Binding and Volkmer, the eigenvalues (unbounded from both below and above) for a separated self-adjoint boundary condition can be numbered in terms of the Pr\"ufer angle; and our inequalities can then be used to index the eigenvalues for any coupled self-adjoint boundary condition. Under this indexing scheme, we determine the discontinuities of each eigenvalue as a function on the space of such Sturm-Liouville problems, and its range as a function on the space of self-adjoint boundary conditions. We also relate this indexing scheme to the number of zeros of eigenfunctions. In addition, we characterize the discontinuities of each eigenvalue under a different indexing scheme.

It is well known that rather general mutation-recombination models can be solved algorithmically (though not in closed form) by means of Haldane linearization. The price to be paid is that one has to work with a multiple tensor product of the state space one started from. Here, we present a relevant subclass of such models, in continuous time, with independent mutation events at the sites, and crossover events between them. It admits a closed solution of the corresponding differential equation on the basis of the original state space, and also closed expressions for the linkage disequilibria, derived by means of M\"obius inversion. As an extra benefit, the approach can be extended to a model with selection of additive type across sites. We also derive a necessary and sufficient criterion for the mean fitness to be a Lyapunov function and determine the asymptotic behaviour of the solutions.

Let $X\colon\mathbb{R}^2\to\mathbb{R}^2$ be a $C^1$ map. Denote by $\Spec(X)$ the set of (complex) eigenvalues of $\DX_p$ when $p$ varies in $\mathbb{R}^2$. If there exists $\epsilon >0$ such that $\Spec(X)\cap(-\epsilon,\epsilon)=\emptyset$, then $X$ is injective. Some applications of this result to the real Keller Jacobian conjecture are discussed.

Form domains are characterized for regular $2n$-th order differential equations subject to general self-adjoint boundary conditions depending affinely on the eigenparameter. Corresponding modes of convergence for eigenfunction expansions are studied, including uniform convergence of the first $n-1$ derivatives.

This paper gives a characterization of valuations that follow the singular infinitely near points of plane vector fields, using the notion of L'H\^opital valuation, which generalizes a well known classical condition. With that tool, we give a valuative description of vector fields with infinite solutions, singularities with rational quotient of eigenvalues in its linear part, and polynomial vector fields with transcendental solutions, among other results.

We investigate the bifurcation of limit cycles in one-parameter unfoldings of quadractic differential systems in the plane having a degenerate critical point at infinity. It is shown that there are three types of quadratic systems possessing an elliptic critical point which bifurcates from infinity together with eventual limit cycles around it. We establish that these limit cycles can be studied by performing a degenerate transformation which brings the system to a small perturbation of certain well-known reversible systems having a center. The corresponding displacement function is then expanded in a Puiseux series with respect to the small parameter and its coefficients are expressed in terms of Abelian integrals. Finally, we investigate in more detail four of the cases, among them the elliptic case (Bogdanov-Takens system) and the isochronous center $\mathcal{S}_3$. We show that in each of these cases the corresponding vector space of bifurcation functions has the Chebishev property: the number of the zeros of each function is less than the dimension of the vector space. To prove this we construct the bifurcation diagram of zeros of certain Abelian integrals in a complex domain.

Consider the sixth Painlev\'e equation~(P$_6$) below where $\alpha$, $\beta$, $\gamma$ and $\delta$ are complex parameters. We prove the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of rational solutions of equation~(P$_6$) in term of special relations among the parameters. The number of distinct rational solutions in each case is exactly one or two or infinite. And each of them may be generated by means of transformation group found by Okamoto [7] and B\"acklund transformations found by Fokas and Yortsos [4]. A list of rational solutions is included in the appendix. For the sake of completeness, we collected all the corresponding results of other five Painlev\'e equations (P$_1$)--(P$_5$) below, which have been investigated by many authors [1]--[7].

The nonlinear Sturm-Liouville equation $$ -(py')' + qy = \lambda(1 - f)ry \text{ on } [0,1] $$ is considered subject to the boundary conditions $$ (a_j\lambda + b_j) y(j) = (c_j\lambda + d_j) (py') (j), \quad j = 0,1. $$ Here $a_0 = 0 = c_0$ and $p,r > 0$ and $q$ are functions depending on the independent variable $x$ alone, while $f$ depends on $x$, $y$ and $y'$. Results are given on existence and location of sets of $(\lambda,y)$ bifurcating from the linearized eigenvalues, and for which $y$ has prescribed oscillation count, and on completeness of the $y$ in an appropriate sense.

This paper deals with periodic solutions for the billiard problem in a bounded open set of $\hbox{\Bbbvii R}^N$ which are limits of regular solutions of Lagrangian systems with a potential well. We give a precise link between the Morse index of approximate solutions (regarded as critical points of Lagrangian functionals) and the properties of the bounce trajectory to which they converge.

For the $q$-series $\sum_{n=0}^\infty a^nq^{bn^2+cn}/(q)_n$ we construct a companion $q$-series such that the asymptotic expansions of their logarithms as $q\to 1^{\scriptscriptstyle -}$ differ only in the dominant few terms. The asymptotic expansion of their quotient then has a simple closed form; this gives rise to a new $q$-hypergeometric identity. We give an asymptotic expansion of a general class of $q$-series containing some of Ramanujan's mock theta functions and Selberg's identities.

The aim of the present paper is the computation of Green's functions for the powers $\DDelta^m$ of the invariant Laplace operator on rank-one Hermitian symmetric spaces. Starting with the noncompact case, the unit ball in $\CC^d$, we obtain a complete result for $m=1,2$ in all dimensions. For $m\ge3$ the formulas grow quite complicated so we restrict ourselves to the case of the unit disc ($d=1$) where we develop a method, possibly applicable also in other situations, for reducing the number of integrations by half, and use it to give a description of the boundary behaviour of these Green functions and to obtain their (multi-valued) analytic continuation to the entire complex plane. Next we discuss the type of special functions that turn up (hyperlogarithms of Kummer). Finally we treat also the compact case of the complex projective space $\Bbb P^d$ (for $d=1$, the Riemann sphere) and, as an application of our results, use eigenfunction expansions to obtain some new identities involving sums of Legendre ($d=1$) or Jacobi ($d>1$) polynomials and the polylogarithm function. The case of Green's functions of powers of weighted (no longer invariant, but only covariant) Laplacians is also briefly discussed.

We consider the multiparameter nonlinear Sturm-Liouville problem $$\displaylines{ u''(x) - \sum_{k=1}^m\mu_k u(x)^{p_k} + \sum_{k=m+1}^n \mu_ku(x)^{p_k} = \lambda u(x)^q, \quad x \in I := (-1,1), \cr u(x) > 0, \quad x \in I, \cr u(-1) = u(1) = 0,\cr}$$ where $\mu = (\mu_1, \mu_2, \ldots, \mu_m, \mu_{m+1}, \ldots \mu_n) \in \bar{R}_+^m \times R_+^{n-m} \bigl(R_+ := (0, \infty)\bigr)$ and $\lambda \in R$ are parameters. We assume that $$1 \le q \le p_1 < p_2 < \cdots < p_n < 2q + 3.$$ We shall establish an asymptotic formula of variational eigenvalue $\lambda = \lambda(\mu,\alpha)$ obtained by using Ljusternik-Schnirelman theory on general level set $N_{\mu,\alpha} (\alpha > 0:$ parameter of level set). Furthermore, we shall give the optimal condition of $\{(\mu, \alpha)\}$, under which $\mu_i (m + 1 \le i \le n: \hbox{\rm fixed})$ dominates the asymptotic behavior of $\lambda(\mu,\alpha)$.

In this work we study the global geometry of planar quadratic Hamiltonian systems with a center and we sum up the dynamics of these systems in geometrical terms. For this we use the algebro-geometric concept of multiplicity of intersection $I_p(P,Q)$ of two complex projective curves $P(x,y,z) = 0$, $Q(x,y,z) = 0$ at a point $p$ of the plane. This is a convenient concept when studying polynomial systems and it could be applied for the analysis of other classes of nonlinear systems.

In this paper, we study the local bifurcations of critical periods in the neighborhood of a nondegenerate centre of the reduced Kukles system. We find at the same time the isochronous systems. We show that at most three local critical periods bifurcate from the Christopher-Lloyd centres of finite order, at most two from the linear isochrone and at most one critical period from the nonlinear isochrone. Moreover, in all cases, there exist perturbations which lead to the maximum number of critical periods. We determine the isochrones, using the method of Darboux: the linearizing transformation of an isochrone is derived from the expression of the first integral. Our approach is a combination of computational algebraic techniques (Gr\"obner bases, theory of the resultant, Sturm's algorithm), the theory of ideals of noetherian rings and the transversality theory of algebraic curves.

In this paper we prove, that under certain hypotheses, the planar differential equation: $\dot x=X_1(x,y)+X_2(x,y)$, $\dot y=Y_1(x,y)+Y_2(x,y)$, where $(X_i,Y_i)$, $i=1$, $2$, are quasi-homogeneous vector fields, has at most two limit cycles. The main tools used in the proof are the generalized polar coordinates, introduced by Lyapunov to study the stability of degenerate critical points, and the analysis of the derivatives of the Poincar\'e return map. Our results generalize those obtained for polynomial systems with homogeneous non-linearities.