Solutions and multiple solutions for problems with the p-Laplacian

In this paper we consider two nonlinear elliptic problems driven by the p-Laplacian and having a nonsmooth potential (hemivariational inequalities). The first is an eigenvalue problem and we prove that if the parameter λ < λ₂ = the second eigenvalue of the p-Laplacian, then there exists a nontrivial smooth solution. The second problem is resonant both near zero and near infinity for the principal eigenvalue of the p-Laplacian. For this problem we prove a multiplicity result. Our approach is variational based on the nonsmooth critical point theory.     

A bifurcation problem governed by the boundary condition I

We deal with positive solutions of Δu = a(x)u ^p in a bounded smooth domain subject to the boundary condition ∂u/∂v = λu, λ a parameter, p > 1. We prove that this problem has a unique positive solution if and only if 0 < λ < σ₁ where, roughly speaking, σ₁ is finite if and only if |∂Ω ∩ {a = 0}| > 0 and coincides with the first eigenvalue of an associated eigenvalue problem. Moreover, we find the limit profile of the solution as λ → σ₁. Supported by DGES and FEDER under grant BFM2001-3894 (J. García-Melián and J. Sabina) and ANPCyT PICT No. 03-05009 (J. D. Rossi). J.D. Rossi is a member of CONICET.     

Eigenvalue problems for nonlinear elliptic equations with unilateral constraints

In this paper we study eigenvalue problems for hemivariational and variational inequalities driven by the p$p$-Laplacian differential operator. Using topological methods (based on multivalued versions of the Leray–Schauder alternative principle) and variational methods (based on the nonsmooth critical point theory), we prove existence and multiplicity results for the eigenvalue problems that we examine.     

Existence and multiplicity of solutions for Neumann problems

In this paper we examine semilinear and nonlinear Neumann problems with a nonsmooth locally Lipschitz potential function. Using variational methods based on the nonsmooth critical point theory, for the semilinear problem we prove a multiplicity result under conditions of double resonance at higher eigenvalues. Our proof involves a nonsmooth extension of the reduction method due to Castro-Lazer-Thews. The nonlinear problem is driven by the p-Laplacian. So first we make some observations about the beginning of the spectrum of (−Δp,W1,p(Z)). Then we prove an existence and multiplicity result. The existence result permits complete double resonance. The multiplicity result specialized in the semilinear case (i.e. p=2) corresponds to the super-sub quadratic situation.     

Existence results for semilinear elliptic variational inequalities with changing sign nonlinearities

In this paper we present some existence results for a class of semilinear elliptic variational inequalities, depending on a real parameter λ, with changing sign nonlinearities. The fundamental tool to prove the existence result is a penalization method combined with the Mountain Pass Theorem and the Linking Theorem, respectively in the case λ < λ ₁ and λ ≥ λ ₁, where λ₁ is the first eigenvalue of the uniformly elliptic operator A involved in the variational inequality.     

Multiple positive solutions for nonlinear eigenvalue problems with the p-Laplacian

In this paper we consider a nonlinear eigenvalue problem driven by the p$p$-Laplacian differential operator and with a nonsmooth potential. Using degree theoretic arguments based on the degree map for certain operators of monotone type, we show that the problem has at least two nontrivial positive solutions as the parameter λ>0$\lambda >0$ varies in a half-line.     

Multiple Positive Solutions for Eigenvalue Problems of Hemivariational Inequalities

We study a nonlinear eigenvalue problem with a nonsmooth potential. The subgradients of the potential are only positive near the origin (from above) and near +∞. Also the subdifferential is not necessarily monotone (i.e. the potential is not convex). Using variational techniques and the method of upper and lower solutions, we establish the existence of at least two strictly positive smooth solutions for all the parameters in an interval. Our approach uses the nonsmooth critical point theory for locally Lipschitz functions. A byproduct of our analysis is a generalization of a result of Brezis-Nirenberg (CRAS, 317 (1993)) on H¹₀ versus C¹₀ minimizers of a C¹-functional.     

Three-term asymptotics for the boundary layers of semilinear elliptic eigenvalue problems

We consider the nonlinear eigenvalue problem −Δu=λ f(u) in Ω u=0 on ∂Ω, where Ω is a ball or an annulus in R^N (N ≥ 2) and λ > 0 is a parameter. It is known that if λ >> 1, then the corresponding positive solution u_λ develops boundary layers under some conditions on f. We establish the asymptotic formulas for the slope of the boundary layers of u_λ with the exact second term and the ‘optimal’ estimate of the third term.     

Constant-sign and sign-changing solutions for nonlinear eigenvalue problems

We prove the existence of multiple constant-sign and sign-changing solutions for a nonlinear elliptic eigenvalue problem under Dirichlet boundary condition involving the p$p$-Laplacian. More precisely, we establish the existence of a positive solution, of a negative solution, and of a nontrivial sign-changing solution when the eigenvalue parameter λ$\lambda$ is greater than the second eigenvalue _λ2${\lambda }_2$ of the negative p$p$-Laplacian, extending results by Ambrosetti–Lupo, Ambrosetti–Mancini, and Struwe. Our approach relies on a combined use of variational and topological tools (such as, e.g., critical points, Mountain-Pass theorem, second deformation lemma, variational characterization of the first and second eigenvalue of the p$p$-Laplacian) and comparison arguments for nonlinear differential inequalities. In particular, the existence of extremal nontrivial constant-sign solutions plays an important role in the proof of sign-changing solutions.     

Existence of a pair of positive solutions for a class of nonlinear eigenvalue problems

In this paper, we consider a nonlinear elliptic equation driven by the p-Laplacian and with a parameter λ > 0. Using a combination of variational and degree theoretic methods, we show that there exists λ^* > 0 such that, if λ > λ^*, then the problem has two positive smooth solutions. Our result extends earlier ones by Rabinowitz (semilinear equations) and Guo (nonlinear equations).      

Multiple nontrivial solutions for nonlinear periodic problems with the p-Laplacian

We consider a nonlinear periodic problem driven by the scalar p-Laplacian with a nonsmooth potential (hemivariational inequality). Using the degree theory for multivalued perturbations of (S)₊-operators and the spectrum of a class of weighted eigenvalue problems for the scalar p-Laplacian, we prove the existence of at least three distinct nontrivial solutions, two of which have constant sign.     

Positive solutions for nonlinear periodic problems

We consider a nonlinear periodic problem driven by the scalar p-Laplacian and with a nonsmooth potential. Using the degree map for multivalued perturbations of (S)₊-operators and the spectrum of a weighted eigenvalue problem for the scalar periodic p-Laplacian, we prove the existence of a strictly positive solution. Michael E. Filippakis: Researcher supported by a grant of the National Scholarship Foundation of Greece (I.K.Y.)     

Existence of three nontrivial solutions for nonlinear Neumann hemivariational inequalities

In this paper we consider a nonlinear Neumann problem driven by the p$p$-Laplacian with a nonsmooth potential (hemivariational inequality). Using minimax methods based on the nonsmooth critical point theory together with suitable truncation techniques, we show that the problem has at least three nontrivial smooth solutions. Two of these solutions have constant sign (one is positive, the other negative).     

Continuous spectrum for a class of nonhomogeneous differential operators

We study the boundary value problem in Ω, u = 0 on ∂Ω, where Ω is a bounded domain in with smooth boundary, λ is a positive real number, and the continuous functions p ₁, p ₂, and q satisfy 1 < p ₂(x) < q(x) < p ₁(x) < N and for any . The main result of this paper establishes the existence of two positive constants λ₀ and λ₁ with λ₀ ≤ λ₁ such that any is an eigenvalue, while any is not an eigenvalue of the above problem.     

Multiplicity of Positive Solutions for a Class of Inhomogeneous Neumann Problems Involving the p(x)-Laplacian

We study the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions for the inhomogeneous Neumann boundary value problems involving the p(x)-Laplacian of the form

Regularity of radial minimizers of reaction equations involving the <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Laplacian

We consider semi-stable, radially symmetric, and decreasing solutions of  − Δ _p u = g(u) in the unit ball of , where p > 1, Δ _p is the p-Laplace operator, and g is a locally Lipschitz function. For this class of radial solutions, which includes local minimizers, we establish pointwise, L ^q , and W ^1,q estimates which are optimal and do not depend on the specific nonlinearity g. Among other results, we prove that every radially decreasing and semi-stable solution u belonging to W ^1,p (B ₁) is bounded whenever n < p + 4p/(p − 1). Under standard assumptions on the nonlinearity g(u) = λf (u), where λ > 0 is a parameter, it is proved that the corresponding extremal solution u ^* is semi-stable, and hence, it enjoys the regularity stated in our main result.     

Semilinear hemivariational inequalities at resonance

In this paper we examine a semilinear hemivariational inequality at resonance in the first eigenvalue λ₁ of (−Δ,H ₀ ¹ (Z)). We prove two existence theorems for such problems. Our approach is variational and is based on the nonsmooth critical point theory of Chang, which uses the subdifferential calculus of Clarke for locally Lipschitz functions.     

A degree theoretic approach for multiple solutions of constant sign for nonlinear elliptic equations

We consider nonlinear elliptic equations driven by the p-Laplacian differential operator. Using degree theoretic arguments based on the degree map for operators of type (S)₊ , we prove theorems on the existence of multiple nontrivial solutions of constant sign.     

Eigenvalue inequalities for the p-Laplacian on a Riemannian manifold and estimates for the heat kernel

In this paper, we successfully generalize the eigenvalue comparison theorem for the Dirichlet p  -Laplacian (1<p<∞$1<p<\infty$) obtained by Matei (2000) [19] and Takeuchi (1998) [22], respectively. Moreover, we use this generalized eigenvalue comparison theorem to get estimates for the first eigenvalue of the Dirichlet p-Laplacian of geodesic balls on complete Riemannian manifolds with radial Ricci curvature bounded from below w.r.t. some point. In the rest of this paper, we derive an upper and lower bound for the heat kernel of geodesic balls of complete manifolds with specified curvature constraints, which can supply new ways to prove the most part of two generalized eigenvalue comparison results given by Freitas, Mao and Salavessa (2013) [9].     

Symmetry breaking for a class of semilinear elliptic problems and the bifurcation diagram for a 1-dimensional problem

We study the behaviour of the positive solutions to the Dirichlet problem IR ⁿ in the unit ball in IR ^R wherep<(N+2)/(N−2) ifN≥3 and λ varies over IR. For a special class of functionsg viz.,g(x)=u ₀ ^p (x) whereu ₀ is the unique positive solution at λ=0, we prove that for certain λ’s nonradial solutions bifurcate from radially symmetric positive solutions. WhenN=1, we obtain the complete bifurcation diagram for the positive solution curve.