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R. D. DRIVERS
Abstract. The uniqueness theorem of this paper answers an open question for a system of differential
equations arising in a certain n-body problem of classical electrodynamics. The essence of the result can be
illustrated using the scalar prototype equation x gl(x)+ g2(t + x) with x(0)=0. The solution of the latter
will be unique provided gl and g2 are continuous positive functions of bounded variation.
The theorem proved in this paper presents a criterion weaker than a Lipschitz
condition which assures uniqueness of solutions of a system of ordinary differential
equations. It was designed to resolve an open question in classical electrodyamics
described at the end of the paper.
Before stating the theorem, let us illustrate it with two scalar examples typifying the
problems we had in mind. These examples are easily treated with the theorem which
follows. We are unaware of any previous uniqueness theorem which would handle them
or the electrodynamics problem of Example 3.
Example 1. If gl and g2 are continuous positive functions of bounded variation on
an open interval containing 0, then the equation
with x(0)
x=g(x)+g2(t+x)
x= (t + x5/3) /3
x=f(t,x)
(1)
with initial conditions
X(to)=Xo.
Let S be a subset (not necessarily open) of R n/l, and let f" S--> R n. Then, given
(to, x0) S, a solution of (1) and (2) is defined as any differentiable function x on an
interval J such that (t, x(t)) S and x= f(t, x(t)) for J, while to J and X(to) Xo. (If J
contains either of its endpoints, x(t) is a one-sided derivative there).
(2)
(3)
]g(h(t, ))-g(h(t,
142
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on U (q $, where
(4)
Ot
i=1
l:O h
ohi(t,
"+
fi(t, j) >- P
E
Ot
i=1
(5)
on U f3 S
and
(6)
on U.
gi(hi(a, x(a))) O.
(7)
Define
z(t)
Ia
IIx(s)-y(s)ll ds fora<-t<b.
Ilx(t)-y(t)ll<-z(t) on
[a,b).
Choose c (a, b] sufficiently small so that (s, x(s)) and (s, y(s)) remain in U for
a _<-s < c. Then, from (6),
, m.
>-_ p
Downloaded 11/25/14 to 169.233.7.23. Redistribution subject to SIAM license or copyright; see http://www.siam.org/journals/ojsa.php
Thus for a =< < c, using (3) and the monotonicity of each
z(t)<-K
g/.
143
gives
<=K(t-a)z(t)+Kp
/.=l
fa
[gi(h/.(sx(s))+Mz(s))
d
K(t-a)z(t)+-p
K
p
/=l
g/(u) du
/=1
h(t,x(t))-Mz(t)
[g/(u)l <
when lu
6m---
Then choose 8 e (0, 1/6K) such that a + 6 <= c and, for each/,
Now for
proof.
[hi(t, x(t))-h/(a,x(a))l+Mz(t)<3a
a < < a + 6 one finds z(t) <= 5z(t)/6.
The motivation for this paper was the following problem from classical electrodynamics.
Example 3. Consider n electrically charged point particles moving along the x-axis
at distinct positions, Xl(t),x2(t)," ,Xn(t). Assume that the motion of particle ]
depends only on the electromagnetic fields produced by the other n 1 particles, with
these fields traveling to particle ] at the speed of light, c.
The required fields are calculated in terms of the trajectories of the other particles
from the retarded Li6nard-Wiechert potentials; they are substituted into the Lorentz
force law for particle/. Introducing vi x/c for the velocity of particle as a multiple of
c, one obtains a system of delay differential equations with state-dependent delays:
(8)
v__v)3/2=E_Ki/
(1
(9)
oi/ + V
oi
ri/
IA
tri/ ---sgn
ri/
cri/
vi(t- ri/)
].
In these equations, v/ and ri/ without an argument stand for v/(t) and ri/(t).
In order to solve the system of n 2 equations represented by (8) and (9) when -> 0,
one should know not only
(10)
s f,
1,..., n.
but also the values of vi(t) for _-< 0,
Now, consideration of the problem in three-dimensional motion has led to the
conclusion that accelerations should not be assumed continuous, but only integrable
[2]. Thus it seems reasonable even in the case of one-dimensional motion to assume
144
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(11)
vi,
say
1...., n,
problem.
REFERENCES
[1] R. D. DRIVER