A uniqueness result for a semilinear elliptic problem: A computer-assisted proof

Starting with the famous article [A. Gidas, W.M. Ni, L. Nirenberg, Symmetry and related properties via the maximum principle, Comm. Math. Phys. 68 (1979) 209-243], many papers have been devoted to the uniqueness question for positive solutions of −Δu=λu+up in Ω, u=0 on ∂Ω, where p>1 and λ ranges between 0 and the first Dirichlet eigenvalue λ₁(Ω) of −Δ. For the case when Ω is a ball, uniqueness could be proved, mainly by ODE techniques. But very little is known when Ω is not a ball, and then only for λ=0. In this article, we prove uniqueness, for all λ∈[0,λ₁(Ω)), in the case Ω=²(0,1) and p=2. This constitutes the first positive answer to the uniqueness question in a domain different from a ball. Our proof makes heavy use of computer assistance: we compute a branch of approximate solutions and prove existence of a true solution branch close to it, using fixed point techniques. By eigenvalue enclosure methods, and an additional analytical argument for λ close to λ₁(Ω), we deduce the non-degeneracy of all solutions along this branch, whence uniqueness follows from the known bifurcation structure of the problem.     

Removable singularity of the polyharmonic equation

Let x₀∈Ω⊂Rⁿ, n≥2, be a domain and let m≥2. We will prove that a solution u of the polyharmonic equation Δ^mu=0 in Ω?{x₀} has a removable singularity at x₀ if and only if as |x−x₀|→0 for n≥3 and as |x−x₀|→0 for n=2. For m≥2 we will also prove that u has a removable singularity at x₀ if |u(x)|=o(|x−x₀|^2m−n) as |x−x₀|→0 for n≥3 and |u(x)|=o(|x−x₀|^2m−2log(|x−x₀|⁻¹)) as |x−x₀|→0 for n=2.     

Multiple positive and 2-nodal symmetric solutions of elliptic problems with critical nonlinearity

We consider the problem −Δu+a(x)u=f(x)|u|^2*−2u in Ω, u=0 on ∂Ω, where Ω is a bounded smooth domain in RN, N?4, is the critical Sobolev exponent, and a,f are continuous functions. We assume that Ω, a and f are invariant under the action of a group of orthogonal transformations. We obtain multiplicity results which contain information about the symmetry and symmetry-breaking properties of the solutions, and about their nodal domains. Our results include new multiplicity results for the Brezis-Nirenberg problem −Δu+λu=|u|^2*−2u in Ω, u=0 on ∂Ω.     

The heterogeneous Allen-Cahn equation in a ball: Solutions with layers and spikes

Let u? be a single layered radially symmetric unstable solution of the Allen-Cahn equation −?²Δu=u(u−a(|x|))(1−u) over the unit ball with Neumann boundary conditions. Based on our estimate of the small eigenvalues of the linearized eigenvalue problem at u? when ? is small, we construct solutions of the form u?+v?, with v? non-radially symmetric and close to zero in the unit ball except near one point x₀ such that |x₀| is close to a nondegenerate critical point of a(r). Such a solution has a sharp layer as well as a spike.     

Existence of radial solutions with prescribed number of zeros for elliptic equations and their Morse index

In this paper we consider radially symmetric solutions of the nonlinear Dirichlet problem Δu+f(|x|,u)=0 in Ω, where Ω is a ball in RN, N?3 and f satisfies some appropriate assumptions. We prove existence of radially symmetric solutions with k prescribed number of zeros. Moreover, when f(|x|,u)=K(|x|)|u|^p−1u, using the uniqueness result due to Tanaka (2008) [21], we verify that these solutions are non-degenerate and we prove that their radial Morse index is exactly k.     

Coincidence sets in quasilinear elliptic problems of monostable type

This paper concerns the formation of a coincidence set for the positive solution of the boundary value problem: −εΔpu=uq−1f(a(x)−u) in Ω with u=0 on ∂Ω, where ε is a positive parameter, Δpu=div(|∇u|^p−2∇u), 1<q?p<∞, f(s)∼|s|^θ−1s(s→0) for some θ>0 and a(x) is a positive smooth function satisfying Δpa=0 in Ω with infΩ|∇a|>0. It is proved in this paper that if 0<θ<1 the coincidence set Oε={x∈Ω:uε(x)=a(x)} has a positive measure for small ε and converges to Ω with order O(ε1/p) as ε→0. Moreover, it is also shown that if θ?1, then Oε is empty for any ε>0. The proofs rely on comparison theorems and the energy method for obtaining local comparison functions.     

An energy-decreasing rearrangement of level sets preserving the domain and volume constraints

Let Ω⊂R² be a bounded and regular domain, u∈C³(Ω) and V⊂Ω a domain where the subset K₀ of points where the curvature of the t-level sets of u is zero admits a regular t-parameterization. We exhibit a local correction of u in a neighborhood of a particular point x^∗∈K₀⊂V such that the volume ∫f(u) is preserved and the Dirichlet integral ∫²|∇u| decreases. Consequently, a certain monotonic property is deduced for constrained minimizers in H¹(Ω). Our result can be applied to classical variational and free-boundary problems.     

Multiplicity of solutions for the plasma problem in two dimensions

Let Ω be a bounded domain in R², u₊=u if u?0, u₊=0 if u<0, u₋=u₊−u. In this paper we study the existence of solutions to the following problem arising in the study of a simple model of a confined plasma

     

On the stability of the Serrin problem

We investigate stability issues concerning the radial symmetry of solutions to Serrin's overdetermined problems. In particular, we show that, if u is a solution to Δu=n in a smooth domain Ω⊂Rn, u=0 on ∂Ω and |Du| is “close” to 1 on ∂Ω, then Ω is “close” to the union of a certain number of disjoint unitary balls.     

Estimates on fractional power dissipative equations in function spaces

We study the fractional power dissipative equations, whose fundamental semigroup is given by e^{−t(−Δ)α} with α>0. By using an argument of duality and interpolation, we extend space-time estimates of the fractional power dissipative equations in Lebesgue spaces to the Hardy spaces and the modulation spaces. These results are substantial extensions of some known results. As applications, we study both local and global well-posedness of the Cauchy problem for the nonlinear fractional power dissipative equation u_t+(−Δ)^αu=|u|^mu for initial data in the modulation spaces.     

Multiple solutions for a Hénon-like equation on the annulus

For the equation −Δu=||xα|−2|up−1, 1<|x|<3, we prove the existence of two solutions for α large, and of two additional solutions when p is close to the critical Sobolev exponent ^2∗=2N/(N−2). A symmetry-breaking phenomenon appears, showing that the least-energy solutions cannot be radial functions.     

Vanishing exponential integrability for functions whose gradients belong to L(log(e+L))

If the gradient of u(x) is nth power locally integrable on Euclidean n-space, then the integral average over a ball B of the exponential of a constant multiple of |u(x)−u_B|^n/(n−1), u_B=average of u over B, tends to 1 as the radius of B shrinks to zero—for quasi almost all center points. This refines a result of N. Trudinger (1967). We prove here a similar result for the class of gradients in Lⁿ(log(e+L))^α, 0?α?n−1. The results depend on a capacitary strong-type inequality for these spaces.     

Nonresonance between the first two eigenvalues for a Steklov problem

In this paper, we study the solvability of the Steklov problem Δ_pu=|u|^p−2u in Ω, on ∂Ω, under assumptions on the asymptotic behaviour of the quotients f(x,s)/|s|^p−2s and pF(x,s)/|s|^p which extends the classical results with Dirichlet boundary conditions that for a.e. x∈∂Ω, the limits at the infinity of these quotients lie between the first two eigenvalues.     

Concentration on minimal submanifolds for a singularly perturbed Neumann problem

We consider the equation −ε²Δu+u=up in Ω⊆RN, where Ω is open, smooth and bounded, and we prove concentration of solutions along k-dimensional minimal submanifolds of ∂Ω, for N?3 and for k∈{1,…,N−2}. We impose Neumann boundary conditions, assuming 1<p<(N−k+2)/(N−k−2) and ε→⁰⁺. This result settles in full generality a phenomenon previously considered only in the particular case N=3 and k=1.     

Oscillatory radial solutions for subcritical biharmonic equations

It is well known that the biharmonic equation Δ²u=u|u|^p−1 with p∈(1,∞) has positive solutions on Rn if and only if the growth of the nonlinearity is critical or supercritical. We close a gap in the existing literature by proving the existence and uniqueness, up to scaling and symmetry, of oscillatory radial solutions on Rn in the subcritical case. Analyzing the nodal properties of these solutions, we also obtain precise information about sign-changing large radial solutions and radial solutions of the Dirichlet problem on a ball.     

Existence of solutions for degenerate quasilinear elliptic equations

This paper deals with a class of degenerate quasilinear elliptic equations of the form −div(a(x,u,∇u)=g−div(f), where a(x,u,∇u) is allowed to be degenerate with the unknown u. We prove existence of bounded solutions under some hypothesis on f and g. Moreover we prove that there exists a renormalized solution in the case where g∈L¹(Ω) and f∈(L^p′(Ω))^N.     

Local existence of solutions to some degenerate parabolic equation associated with the p-Laplacian

The existence of local (in time) solutions of the initial-boundary value problem for the following degenerate parabolic equation: ut(x,t)−Δpu(x,t)−|u|^q−2u(x,t)=f(x,t), (x,t)∈Ω×(0,T), where 2?p<q<+∞, Ω is a bounded domain in RN, is given and Δp denotes the so-called p-Laplacian defined by Δpu:=∇⋅(|∇u|^p−2∇u), with initial data u₀∈Lr(Ω) is proved under r>N(q−p)/p without imposing any smallness on u₀ and f. To this end, the above problem is reduced into the Cauchy problem for an evolution equation governed by the difference of two subdifferential operators in a reflexive Banach space, and the theory of subdifferential operators and potential well method are employed to establish energy estimates. Particularly, Lr-estimates of solutions play a crucial role to construct a time-local solution and reveal the dependence of the time interval [0,T₀] in which the problem admits a solution. More precisely, T₀ depends only on Lr|u₀| and f.     

On the Cauchy problem for the evolution p-Laplacian equations with gradient term and source

In this paper, the authors study the equation ut=div(|Du|^p−2Du)+|u|^q−1u−λl|Du| in RN with p>2. We first prove that for 1?l?p−1, the solution exists at least for a short time; then for , the existence and nonexistence of global (in time) solutions are studied in various situations.     

On the classification of minimal mass blowup solutions of the focusing mass-critical Hartree equation

Consider the focusing mass-critical nonlinear Hartree equation iut+Δu=−(⁻²|⋅|∗²|u|)u for spherically symmetric initial data with ground state mass M(Q) in dimension d?5. We show that any global solution u which does not scatter must be the solitary wave eitQ up to phase rotation and scaling.