Mathematics

In this paper, we study the limit, as ε goes to zero, of a particular solution of the equation $\epsilon^2A\ddot u^ε(t)+εB\dot u^ε(t)+\nabla_xf(t,u^ε(t))=0$, where $f(t,x)$ is a potential satisfying suitable coerciveness conditions. The limit $u(t)$ of $u^ε(t)$ is piece-wise continuous and verifies $\nabla_xf(t,u(t))=0$. Moreover, certain jump conditions characterize the behaviour of $u(t)$ at the discontinuity times. The same limit behaviour is obtained by considering a different approximation scheme based on time discretization and on the solutions of suitable autonomous systems.