Revisiting second-order linear differential equations over Hardy fields

Abstract

We review second-order homogeneous linear differential equations with coefficient functions whose germs lie in a Hardy field (and hence are strongly non-oscillating). We prove a conjecture of Boshernitzan (1982): the oscillating solutions to such an equation are given by amplitude and phase functions with germs in a bigger Hardy field, and hence oscillate in a very regular way. We give sharp conditions for the uniqueness of such germs, study their asymptotic behavior, and use this to obtain information about the zeros and critical points of oscillating solutions.