Electronic Journal of Differential Equations, Vol. 2013 (2013), No. 250, pp. 1–9. ISSN: 1072-6691. URL: http://ejde.math.txstate.edu or http://ejde.math.unt.edu ftp ejde.math.txstate.edu ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR OF POSITIVE SOLUTIONS OF THE NONLINEAR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION t2 u00 = un MENG-RONG LI, HSIN-YU YAO, YU-TSO LI Abstract. In this article we study properties of positive solutions of the ordinary differential equation t2 u00 = un for 1 < n ∈ N, we obtain conditions for their blow-up in finite time, and some properties for global solutions. Equations containing more general nonlinear terms are also considered. 1. Introduction Some interesting results on the blow-up, blow-up rates, and estimates for the lifespan of solutions of the Emden-Fowler equation and the semi-linear wave equation u + f (u) = 0 have been obtained, as shown in the references. Here we wish to study the Emden-Fowler type wave equation, i.e. solutions, independent of the space variable x, of the equation t2 utt − ∆u = un for n > 1. The existence and uniqueness of local solutions of the initial-value problem t2 u00 = un , 1 < n ∈ N, u(1) = u0 , u0 (1) = u1 , (1.1) follow by standard arguments. Considering the transformation t = es , u(t) = v(s), we have t2 u00 (t) = −vs (s) + vss (s), v(s)n = −vs (s) + vss (s) and v(0) = u(1) = u0 ; vs (0) = u0 (1) = u1 , the problem (1.1) can be transformed into vss (s) − vs (s) = v n (s), v(0) = u0 , (1.2) vs (0) = u1 . Thus, the existence of local solutions u for (1.1) in (1, T ) is equivalent to the existence of local solutions v for (1.2) in (0, ln T ). In this article, we give estimates for the life-span T ∗ of positive solutions u of (1.1) in three different cases. The main results are as follows: 1−n 2 2 , ε ∈ (0, 1); (a) u1 = 0, u0 > 0: T ∗ ≤ ek1 , k1 := s0 + 2(n+3) 8− n−1 v(s0 ) (b) u1 > 0, u0 > 0: q (i) E(0) ≥ 0, T ∗ ≤ ek2 , k2 := 1−n 2 2 n+1 n−1 2 u0 2 u0 ; n−1 u1 ; (ii) E(0) < 0, T ∗ ≤ ek3 , k3 := 1 (c) u1 < 0, u0 ∈ (0, (−u1 ) n ): u(t) ≤ (u0 − u1 − un0 ) + (u1 + un0 )t − un0 ln t. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification. 34A34, 34C11, 34C60. Key words and phrases. Nonlinear differential equation; Emden-Fowler equation; blow-up rate. c 2013 Texas State University - San Marcos. Submitted October 5, 2013. Published November 20, 2013. 1 2 M.-R. LI, H.-Y. YAO, Y.-T. LI EJDE-2013/250 where E(0) is defined in the next section and s0 is given by (3.3). In Section 6, we replace the nonlinear term v n by a more general increasing function f (v). 2. Notation and some lemmas For a given function v, we use the following functions n−1 2 a(s) := v(s)2 , E(0) := u21 − un+1 , J(s) := a(s)− 4 , 0 n+1 where u0 and u1 are the given initial conditions. By an easy calculation we can obtain the following two Lemmas; we shall omit the proof of the first lemma. Lemma 2.1. Suppose that v ∈ C 2 [0, T ] is the solution of (1.2), then Z s 2 v(s)n+1 = E(0), E(s) = vs (s)2 − 2 vs (r)2 dr − n+1 0 Z s 2 00 0 (n + 3)vs (s) = (n + 1)E(0) + a (s) − a (s) + 2(n + 1) vs (r)2 dr, 0 Z s n+3 n2 − 1 a0 (s) 00 n−1 J (s) = (E(0) − J(s) +2 vs (r)2 dr), 4 n+1 0 2(n+1) 2(n+1) (n − 1)2 E(0)(J(s) n−1 − J(0) n−1 ) J 0 (s)2 = J 0 (0)2 + 4 Z s 2(n+1) (n − 1)2 J(s) n−1 vs (r)2 dr. + 2 0 (2.1) (2.2) (2.3) (2.4) Lemma 2.2. For u0 > 0, the positive solution v of (1.2) satisfies: (i) If u1 ≥ 0, then vs (s) > 0 for all s > 0 1 n (ii) If u1 < 0, u0 ∈ (0, (−u1 ) ), then vs (s) < 0 for all s > 0. (2.5) (2.6) un0 Proof. (i) Since vss (0) = u1 + > 0, we know that vss (s) > 0 in [0, s1 ) and vs (s) is increasing in [0, s1 ) for some s1 > 0. Moreover, since v and vs are increasing in [0, s1 ), vss (s1 ) = vs (s1 ) + v(s1 )n > vs (0) + v(0)n > 0 for all s ∈ [0, s1 ) and vs (s1 ) > vs (s) > 0 for all s ∈ [0, s1 ), we know that there exists a positive number s2 > 0, such that vs (s) > 0 for all s ∈ [0, s1 + s2 ). Continuing this process, we obtain vs (s) > 0 for all s > 0, for which the solution exists. (ii) Since vss (0) = vs (0) + v(0)n = u1 + un0 < 0, there exists a positive number s1 > 0 such that vss (s) < 0 in [0, s1 ), vs (s) is decreasing in [0, s1 ); therefore, vs (s) < vs (0) = u1 < 0 for all s ∈ [0, s1 ) and v(s) is decreasing in [0, s1 ). Moreover, since v and vs are decreasing in [0, s1 ), vss (s) = vs (s) + v(s)n < vs (0) + v(0)n < 0 for all s ∈ [0, s1 ) and vs (s1 ) < vs (s) < 0 for all s ∈ [0, s1 ), we know that there exists a positive number s2 > 0, such that vs (s) < 0 for all s ∈ [0, s1 + s2 ). Continuing this process, we obtain vs (s) < 0 for all s > 0 in the interval of existence. 3. Life-span of positive solutions of (1.1) when u1 = 0, u0 > 0 In this section we want to estimate the life-span of a positive solution u of (1.1) if u1 = 0, u0 > 0. Here the life-span T ∗ of u means that u is the solution of equation (1.1) and u exists only in [0, T ∗ ) so that the problem (1.1) possesses a positive solution u ∈ C 2 [0, T ∗ ). EJDE-2013/250 ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR 3 Theorem 3.1. For u1 = 0, u0 > 0, the positive solution u of (1.1) blows up in finite time; that is, there exists T ∗ < ∞ so that u(t)−1 → 0 as t → T ∗ . Proof. By (2.5), we know that vs (s) > 0, a0 (s) > 0 for all s > 0 provided that u1 = 0, u0 > 0. By Lemma 2.1, a00 (s) − a0 (s) = 2(vs (s)2 + v(s)n+1 ), (a0 (s)e−s )0 = e−s (a00 (s) − a0 (s)) = 2e−s (vs (s)2 + v(s)n+1 ), Z s Z s n+1 0 −s −r 2 n+1 a (s)e = 2 e (vs (r) + v(r) )dr ≥ 4 e−r vs (r)v(r) 2 dr, 0 0 and a0 (0) = 0, hence we have Z s 8 (v(r)(n+3)/2 e−r |sr=0 + v(r)(n+3)/2 e−r dr) n+3 0 Z s 8 8 (n+3)/2 −s (n+3)/2 (v(s) e − v(0) )+ v(r)(n+3)/2 e−r dr. = n+3 n+3 0 a0 (s)e−s ≥ Since a0 (s) > 0 for all s > 0, v is increasing on (0, ∞) and Z s 8 8 (v(s)(n+3)/2 e−s − v(0)(n+3)/2 ) + v(0)(n+3)/2 e−r dr n+3 n+3 0 8 8 = (v(s)(n+3)/2 e−s − v(0)(n+3)/2 ) + v(0)(n+3)/2 (1 − e−s ), n+3 n+3 8 8 (n+3)/2 a0 (s) ≥ (v(s)(n+3)/2 − v(0)(n+3)/2 ) = (v(s)(n+3)/2 − u0 ). n+3 n+3 (3.1) Using u1 = 0 and integrating (1.2), we obtain Z s vs (s) = v(s) − u0 + v(r)n dr, 0 Z s vs (s) ≥ v(s) − u0 + v(0)n dr = v(s) − u0 + un0 s, (3.2) 0 −s −s −s n (e v(s))s = e (vs (s) − v(s)) ≥ e (u0 s − u0 ), 8 8 (n+3)/2 ). a0 (s) ≥ (v(s)(n+3)/2 − v(0)(n+3)/2 ) = (v(s)(n+3)/2 − u0 n+3 n+3 a0 (s)e−s ≥ According to (3.2), and since v 0 (s) > 0, v(s)(n+3)/2 ≥ (u0 + un0 (es − 1 − s))(n+3)/2 , for all ∈ (0, 1), we obtain v(s)(n+3)/2 ≥ (u0 + un0 (es − 1 − s))(n+3)/2 , (n+3)/2 v(s)(n+3)/2 − 8u0 (n+3)/2 ≥ (u0 + un0 (es − 1 − s))(n+3)/2 − 8u0 (n+3)/2 ≥ (u0 n(n+3) 2 + u0 (n+3)/2 = ( − 8)u0 n+3 (es − 1 − s)(n+3)/2 ) − 8u0 2 n(n+3) 2 + u0 (es − 1 − s)(n+3)/2 . Now, we want to find a number s0 > 0 such that es0 − s0 = 1 + 8 − n+3 (1−n) 2/(n+3) u0 2 . (3.3) 4 M.-R. LI, H.-Y. YAO, Y.-T. LI EJDE-2013/250 This means that there exists a number s0 > 0 satisfying (3.3) with ∈ (0, 1) such that (n+3)/2 v(s)(n+3)/2 − 8u0 ≥ 0 for all s ≥ s0 . From (3.1), it follows that a0 (s) ≥ 8 8 (n+3)/2 v(s)(n+3)/2 − u n+3 n+3 0 (n+3)/2 v(s)(n+3)/2 − 8u0 8− v(s)(n+3)/2 + n+3 n+3 8− ≥ v(s)(n+3)/2 , for all s ≥ s0 . n+3 For all s ≥ s0 , ∈ (0, 1), we obtain that = 8− v(s)(n+3)/2 , n+3 n+1 8− v(s)− 2 vs (s) ≥ , 2(n + 3) 1−n 2 8− (v(s) 2 )s ≥ 1−n 2(n + 3) 2v(s)vs (s) ≥ and hence 8− 1−n . 2(n + 3) 2 Integrating the above inequality, we conclude that 1−n 1−n 8− n−1 v(s) 2 ≤ v(s0 ) 2 − (s − s0 ). 2(n + 3) 2 (v(s) 1−n 2 )s ≤ Thus, there exists a number s∗1 ≤ s0 + 1−n 2(n + 3) 2 v(s0 ) 2 =: k1 8− n−1 such that v(s)−1 → 0 for s → s∗1 , that is, u(t)−1 → 0 as t → ek1 , which implies that the life-span T ∗ of a positive solution u is finite and T ∗ ≤ ek1 . 4. Life-span of positive solutions of (1.1) when u1 > 0, u0 > 0 In this section we estimate the life-span of a positive solution u of (1.1) whenever u1 > 0, u0 > 0. Theorem 4.1. For u1 > 0, u0 > 0, the positive solution u of (1.1) blows up in finite time; that is, there exists a number T ∗ < ∞ so that u(t)−1 → 0 as t → T ∗ . Proof. We separate the proof into two parts depending on whether E(0) ≥ 0 or E(0) < 0. (i) Assume that E(0) ≥ 0. By (2.1) and (2.5) we have 2 v(s)n+1 ≥ E(0), n+1 r 2 2 2 n+1 vs (s) ≥ v(s) + E(0), vs (s) ≥ v(s)n+1 + E(0). n+1 n+1 vs (s)2 − EJDE-2013/250 ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR 5 Since E(0) ≥ 0, we obtain r n+1 2 v(s) 2 , n+1 r 2 − n+1 2 v(s) · vs (s) ≥ , n+1 r 1−n 1−n 2 (v(s) 2 )s ≤ . 2 n+1 vs (s) ≥ Integrating the above inequality, we obtain v(s) 1−n 2 1−n 2 ≤ u0 1−n + 2 r 2 s. n+1 Thus, there exists r n + 1 1−n 2 u0 2 =: k2 ≤ n−1 2 such that v(s)−1 → 0 for s → s∗2 ; that is, u(t)−1 → 0 as t → ek2 , which means that the life-span T ∗ of a positive solution u is finite and T ∗ ≤ ek2 . s∗2 (ii ) Assume that E(0) < 0. From (2.1) and (2.5) we obtain that J 0 (s) = a0 (s) > 0, vs (s) > 0 for all s > 0 and s Z s n−1 2 n+1 n+1 0 J (s) = − + E(0)a(s)− 2 + 2a(s)− 2 vs (r)2 dr 2 n+1 0 r 2 n−1 n+1 + E(0)a(s)− 2 , ≤− 2 n+1 Z r n−1 s 2 n+1 J(s) ≤ J(0) − + E(0)a(r)− 2 dr. 2 n + 1 0 − n+3 4 a0 (s), − n−1 4 a(s) Since E(0) < 0 and a0 (s) > 0 for all s > 0, Z r n−1 s 2 n+1 J(s) ≤ J(0) − + E(0)a(0)− 2 dr 2 n+1 0 r n−1 n − 1 2 n+1 = a(0)− 4 − + E(0)a(0)− 2 s. 2 n+1 Thus, there exists a number s∗3 ≤ n−1 n+1 1 2 2 a(0)− 4 ( + E(0)a(0)− 2 )− 2 =: k3 n−1 n+1 such that J(s∗3 ) = 0 and a(s)−1 → 0 for s → s∗3 ; that is, u(t)−1 → 0 as t → ek3 . This means that the life-span T ∗ of u is finite and T ∗ ≤ ek3 . 5. Life-span of positive solutions of (1.1) when u1 < 0 Finally, we estimate the life-span of a positive solution u of (1.1) when u1 < 0. 1 Theorem 5.1. For u1 < 0, u0 ∈ (0, (−u1 ) n ) we have u(t) ≤ (u0 − u1 − un0 ) + (u1 + un0 )t − un0 ln t, 6 M.-R. LI, H.-Y. YAO, Y.-T. LI EJDE-2013/250 and in particular, if E(0) ≥ 0, we have 1−n u(t) ≤ (u0 2 + n−1 2 r 2 2 ln t) 1−n . n+1 Proof. (i) By (1.2) Rand integrating this equation with respect to s, we get vs (s) = s (u1 − u0 ) + v(s) + 0 v(r)n dr. By (2.6), we have that v is decreasing and Z s vs (s) ≤ (u1 − u0 ) + v(s) + v(0)n dr = (u1 − u0 ) + v(s) + un0 s, 0 e −s s Z v(s) − u0 ≤ (u1 − u0 ) e −r dr + un0 s Z re−r dr 0 0 = (u1 − u0 )(1 − e−s ) + un0 (−se−s − e−s + 1); that is, u(t) ≤ (u0 − u1 ) + u1 t + un0 (t − 1 − ln t) = (u0 − u1 − un0 ) + (u1 + un0 )t − un0 ln t. (ii) If E(0) ≥ 0, by (2.1), we have Z s 2 n+1 v(s) = E(0) + 2 vs (r)2 dr ≥ E(0), vs (s) − n+1 0 2 2 n+1 2 v(s) ≥ v(s)n+1 . vs (s) ≥ E(0) + n+1 n+1 q q n+1 1−n 2 2 2 By (2.6), we obtain that −vs (s) ≥ n+1 v(s) 2 , n−1 (v(s) 2 )s ≥ n+1 and r 1−n 1−n 2 2 s≤ (v(s) 2 − v(0) 2 ), n+1 n−1 r 1−n 1−n 2 n−1 2 v(s) 2 ≥ (u0 + s). 2 n+1 2 Then, we know that 1−n 2 v(s) ≤ (u0 n−1 + 2 r 2 2 s) 1−n , n+1 for all s ≥ 0; that is, 1−n 2 u(t) ≤ (u0 n−1 + 2 r 2 2 ln t) 1−n n+1 for all t ≥ 1. 6. A generalization of Theorem 4.1 In this section we want to extent the blow-up result for the following generalization of (1.2), vss (s) − vs (s) = f (v), (6.1) v(0) = v0 , vs (0) = v1 , where f is an increasing continuous function with f (0) = 0. We have the following result. EJDE-2013/250 ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR 7 Theorem 6.1. Suppose that f is an increasing R v function with f (0) = 0 and suppose v is a positive solution of (6.1). If F (v) := 0 f (r)dr, then Z s vs (r)2 dr − 2F (v(s)) (6.2) Ē(s) := vs (s)2 − 2 0 is constant. Furthermore, if there exists a positive constant k such that F (s) ≥ ksp+1 , p > 1 for all s ≥ 0, and v1 > 0, then the life span of v is finite. Proof. By an argument similar to that used in proving (2.1), we easily obtain that Ē(s) is a constant. Since f is increasing, we have vf (v) = (v − 0) · (f (v) − f (0)) ≥ 0 for v ≥ 0, thus 2 Z 2 (v )s − 2v (s) ≥ 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2 s vs2 (r)dr. (6.3) 0 By (6.2) and (6.3), we have Ē(s) = v12 − 2F (v0 ) := Ē, and v 2 (s) ≥ v0 v1 e2s − v0 (v1 − v0 ), Z s 2 2 (v )s − 2v (s) ≥ 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2 vs2 (r)dr 0 Z s Z r = 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2 (Ē + 2F (v(r)) + 2 vs (η)2 dη)dr 0 0 Z s ≥ 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2Ēs + 4k v p+1 (r)dr 0 Z s p+1 1−p ≥ 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2Ēs + 4ks ( v 2 (r)dr) 2 . (6.4) (6.5) 0 Let Rs 0 2 v (r)dr := b(s), e −s b(s) = B(s). Then b(s)00 − 2b(s)0 ≥ 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2Ēs + 4ks1−p b(s) p+1 2 for s > 0 and by (6.5), we have (e−s (b(s)0 − b(s)))0 = e−s (b(s)00 − 2b(s)0 + b(s)) ≥ 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2Ēs + 4ks1−p e−s b p+1 2 (6.6) + e−s b(s) = 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2Ēs + 4ks1−p (e−s b(s)) p+1 2 e p−1 2 s + e−s b(s) ≥ 0, (e−s b(s))00 = (e−s (b(s)0 − b(s)))0 p+1 es p+1 −s ) 2 (e b(s)) 2 + e−s b(s) s2 p+1 p+1 ≥ 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2Ēs + 22− 2 k(e−s b(s)) 2 + e−s b(s), ≥ 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2Ēs + 4k( p+1 p+1 B(s)00 ≥ 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2Ēs + 22− 2 kB(s) 2 + B(s). From (6.4) it follows that v0 v1 2s b(s) ≥ (e − 1) − v0 (v1 − v0 )s, 2 v 0 v1 s B(s) ≥ (e − e−s ) − v0 (v1 − v0 )se−s , 2 (6.7) 8 M.-R. LI, H.-Y. YAO, Y.-T. LI 2v0 (v1 − v0 ) + 2Ēs + EJDE-2013/250 B(s) ≥ 0, 2 s ≥ s0 for some s0 > 0. Therefore, B(s) v0 v1 s ≥ e , 2 5 B(s)00 ≥ B 0 (s) ≥ s ≥ s0 , v0 v1 s (e − es0 ) + B 0 (s0 ) > 0, s ≥ s1 5 for some s1 > s0 . By (6.7), for all s ≥ s1 , ((B(s)0 )2 )0 = 2B(s)0 B(s)00 p−1 2 p+1 kB(s) 2 B(s)0 p−1 p+3 2 = 22− 2 k (B(s) 2 )0 , p+3 ≥ 22− p−1 p+3 23− 2 k p+3 (B ) − B (s1 ) ≥ (B 2 − B(s1 ) 2 ), p+3 0 2 0 2 p−1 p+3 23− 2 k p+3 (B 2 − B(s1 ) 2 ) + B 0 (s1 )2 p+3 23− p−1 3− p−1 2 k 2 k p+3 p+3 p+3 2 B 2 + B 2 − 2B(s1 ) 2 + B 0 (s1 )2 , = 2(p + 3) 2(p + 3) (B 0 )2 ≥ 7−p p+3 2 4 B 4 B ≥√ p+3 0 for s ≥ s2 , for some s2 > s1 ; hence, for s ≥ s2 , 7−p p+3 1−p 2 4 4 (B 4 )0 = B −4 B 0 (s) ≥ √ , 1−p p+3 7−p B(s) 1−p 4 ≤ B(s2 ) 1−p 4 − p−1 2 4 √ (s − s2 ) 4 p+3 for all s ≥ s2 > 0. Thus B(s) blows up at a finite s∗ . Since b(s) = es B(s), b(s) also blows up at s∗ . Further, since v 2 (s) = b0 (s) ≥ 2b(s), v(s) blows up at s∗ , as well. Acknowledgements. Thanks are due to Professors Tai-Ping Liu, Ton Yang and Shih-Shien Yu for their continuous encouragement; to the anonymous referee for his/her helpful comments; and to Professor K. Schmitt for his comments and suggestions on Theorem 6.1. The authors want to thank Metta Education, Grand Hall and Auria Solar for their financial assistance. References [1] M. R. Li; Nichtlineare Wellengleichungen 2. Ordnung auf beschränkten Gebieten. PhDDissertation, Tübingen 1994. [2] M. R. Li; Estimates for the life-span of solutions of semilinear wave equations. Comm. Pure Appl. Anal., 2008, 7(2): 417-432. [3] M. R. Li; On the blow-up time and blow-up rate of positive solutions of semilinear wave equations u − up = 0 in 1-dimensional space. Comm.Pure Appl. Anal., to appear. [4] M. R. Li; On the semilinear wave equations. Taiwanese J. Math., 1998, 2(3): 329-345. [5] M. R. Li, L. Y. Tsai; On a system of nonlinear wave equations. Taiwanese J. Math., 2003, 7(4): 555-573. EJDE-2013/250 ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR 9 [6] M. R. Li, L. Y. Tsai; Existence and nonexistence of global solutions of some systems of semilinear wave equations. Nonlinear Analysis, 2003, 54: 1397-1415. [7] Meng-rong Li, Jenet Pai; Quenching problem in some semilinear wave equations. Acta Math. Sci., 2008, 28B(3): 523-529. [8] M. R. Li; On the generalized Emden-Fowler Equation u00 (t)u(t) = c1 + c2 u0 (t)2 with c1 ≥ 0, c2 ≥ 0. Acta Math. Sci., 2010 30B(4): 1227-1234. [9] M. R. Li; Blow-up results and asymptotic behavior of the Emden-Fowler Equation. Acta Math. Sci., 2007, 4: 703-734. [10] Meng-Rong Li, Yue-Loong Chang, Yu-Tso Li; A Mathematical Model of Enterprise Competitive Ability and Performance through Emden-Fowler Equation (II), Acta Mathematica Scientia, 2013, 33(4): 1127-1140. Meng-Rong Li Department of Mathematical Sciences, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan E-mail address: liwei@math.nccu.edu.tw Hsin-Yu Yao Department of Mathematical Sciences, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan E-mail address: diadia0914@gmail.com Yu-Tso Li Department of Aerospace and Systems Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan E-mail address: joycelion74@gmail.com