MHB Linear differential equations with constants coefficients

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The discussion focuses on solving linear differential equations with constant coefficients within the ring $\mathbb{C}[z, e^{\lambda z} \mid \lambda \in \mathbb{C}]$. It outlines the process of applying the superposition principle to separate the equation into homogeneous and non-homogeneous parts, leading to the general solution. The method for solving the homogeneous equation involves finding eigenvalues and constructing solutions based on their multiplicities. For non-homogeneous equations, the discussion explains how to assume a solution form and derive necessary conditions for the coefficients. Questions are raised about the uniqueness of solutions and the justification for the number of solutions corresponding to the order of the differential equation.
mathmari
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Hey! :o

Each element of the ring $\mathbb{C}[z, e^{\lambda z} \mid \lambda \in \mathbb{C}]$ is of the form $\displaystyle{\sum_{k=1}^n α_kz^{d_k}e^{β_kz}}$.

A differential equation in this ring is of the form $$Ly = \sum_{k=0}^m \alpha_k y^{(k)}(z)=\sum_{l=1}^n C_lz^{d_l} e^{\beta_l z} , \ \ \alpha_k , \beta_l \in \mathbb{C} \ \ \ \ (*)$$

At the linear differential equations we can apply the superposition principle. That means that we can split the problem $(*)$ into the subproblems $$Ly(z)=0, \ \ Ly(z)=C_lz^{d_l} e^{\beta_l z}, \ \ l=1, 2, \dots , n$$ so into an homogeneous and $n$ non-homogeneous equations. We solve these equations and then we add the solution of the homogeneous $y_{H}(z)$ and the solutions $y_{p_i}(z)$of the $n$ non-homogeneous equations.
So we get the general solution of the equation $(*)$, which is $$y(z)=y_{H}(z)+\sum_{l=1}^n y_{p_i}(z)$$

To solve the homogeneous equation $$\sum_{k=0}^m \alpha_k y^{(k)}(z)=0$$ we find the characteristic equation and its eigenvalues $\lambda_1, \dots , \lambda_m$.

  • If $\lambda_1, \dots , \lambda_m$ are eigenvalues of multiplicity $1$, then the solution of $Ly(z)=0$ is $$y_{H}(z)=\sum_{i=1}^m c_i e^{\lambda_i z}.$$
  • If $\lambda_i$ is an eigenvalues of multiplicity $M>1$, then the $$e^{\lambda_i z}, ze^{\lambda_i z}, z^2e^{\lambda_i z}, \dots , z^{M-1}e^{\lambda_i z}$$ are $M$ linear independent solutions of $Ly(z)=0$.

To solve the equation $$\sum_{k=0}^m \alpha_k y^{(k)}(z)=C_lz^{d_l} e^{\beta_l z} \ \ \ \ \ (**)$$ we do the following:

  • If $\beta_l$ is not one of the eigenvalues:

    We suppose that the solution is in the ring $\mathbb{C}[z, e^{\lambda z} \mid \lambda \in \mathbb{C}]$, so it is of the form $$y(z)=e^{\beta_l z} x(z)$$

    So $$y^{(k)}(z)=\sum_{j=0}^k \binom{k}{j}\beta_l^j e^{\beta_l z}x^{(k-j)}(z)$$

    Substituting in $(**)$ we get the following equation, the order of which is the same as the order of $(**)$, $$\sum_{k=0}^m \beta_k x^{(k)}(z)=C_lz^{d_l}$$

    The solution of the above equation will be polynomials.

    The first non-zero term $\beta_k$ determines the degree of $x$.

    For example if $\beta_o \neq 0$ then the solution will have degree at most $l$, and will be of the form $$x(z)=\gamma_l z^l +\dots +\gamma_0$$
    Then $$x'(z)=l\gamma_l z^{l-1}+\dots +\gamma_1 \\ \dots \\ x^{(l)}(z)=l!\gamma_l$$

    Then $$\sum_{k=0}^m \beta_k x^{(k)}(z)=C_lz^{d_l} \Rightarrow \beta_o\gamma_kz^{d_l}+(\beta_0\gamma_{l-1}+l\gamma_la_1)z^{d_l-1}+ \dots =C_lz^{d_l} $$

    So it must stand $$\beta_0\gamma_l=C_l \Rightarrow \gamma_l=\frac{C_l}{\beta_0} \\ \beta_0\gamma_{l-1}+l\gamma_la_1=0 \\ \dots $$

    So to solve the differential equation we have to solve the above system.

    We write this in the form of matrix. Can we be sure that we will find a unique solution? (Wondering)

    In this ring the number of solutions is equal to the number of the order, right? How can we justify that? (Wondering)
  • If $\beta_l$ is one of the eigenvalues $\lambda_i$, and the multiplicity of $\lambda_i$ is $L$:

    We suppose that the solution is in the ring $\mathbb{C}[z, e^{\lambda z} \mid \lambda \in \mathbb{C}]$, so it is of the form $$y(z)=z^L e^{\beta_l z} x(z)=e^{\beta_l z}\tilde{x}(z)$$ and we continue as in the previous case.
Is everything correct?

Could I improve something at the formulation? (Wondering)
 
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