Nontrivial solutions of boundary value problems for second order functional differential equations

In this paper we present a theory for the existence of multiple nontrivial solutions for a class of perturbed Hammerstein integral equations. Our methodology, rather than to work directly in cones, is to utilize the theory of fixed point index on affine cones. This approach is fairly general and covers a class of nonlocal boundary value problems for functional differential equations. Some examples are given in order to illustrate our theoretical results.Comment: 19 pages, revised versio

Giant magnons and non-maximal giant gravitons

We produce the open strings on $\mathbb{R}\times S^{2}$ that correspond to the solutions of integrable boundary sine-Gordon theory by making use of the $N$-magnon solutions provided in \cite{KPV} together with explicit moduli. Relating the two boundary parameters in a special way we describe the scattering of giant magnons with non-maximal $Y=0$ giant gravitons and calculate the leading contribution to the associated magnon scattering phase.Comment: 34 pages, 8 figure

Asymptotic methods for delay equations.

Asymptotic methods for singularly perturbed delay differential equations are in many ways more challenging to implement than for ordinary differential equations. In this paper, four examples of delayed systems which occur in practical models are considered: the delayed recruitment equation, relaxation oscillations in stem cell control, the delayed logistic equation, and density wave oscillations in boilers, the last of these being a problem of concern in engineering two-phase flows. The ways in which asymptotic methods can be used vary from the straightforward to the perverse, and illustrate the general technical difficulties that delay equations provide for the central technique of the applied mathematician. © Springer 2006

The boundary sine-Gordon theory: classical and semi-classical analysis

We consider the sine-Gordon model on a half-line, with an additional potential term of the form $-M\cos{\beta\over 2}(\varphi-\varphi_0)$ at the boundary. We compute the classical time delay for general values of $M$, $\beta$ and $\varphi_0$ using $\tau$-function methods and show that in the classical limit, the method of images still works, despite the non-linearity of the problem. We also perform a semi-classical analysis, and find agreement with the exact quantum S-matrix conjectured by Ghoshal and Zamolodchikov.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures. Preprint USC-94-013. (Numerical mistake corrected.

Restricting affine Toda theory to the half-line

We restrict affine Toda field theory to the half-line by imposing certain boundary conditions at $x=0$. The resulting theory possesses the same spectrum of solitons and breathers as affine Toda theory on the whole line. The classical solutions describing the reflection of these particles off the boundary are obtained from those on the whole line by a kind of method of mirror images. Depending on the boundary condition chosen, the mirror must be placed either at, in front, or behind the boundary. We observe that incoming solitons are converted into outgoing antisolitons during reflection. Neumann boundary conditions allow additional solutions which are interpreted as boundary excitations (boundary breathers). For $a_n^{(1)}$ and $c_n^{(1)}$ Toda theories, on which we concentrate mostly, the boundary conditions which we study are among the integrable boundary conditions classified by Corrigan et.al. As applications of our work we study the vacuum solutions of real coupling Toda theory on the half-line and we perform semiclassical calculations which support recent conjectures for the $a_2^{(1)}$ soliton reflection matrices by Gandenberger.Comment: 39 pages, 4 ps figure