Multiplicity of solutions to uniformly elliptic fully nonlinear equations with concave-convex right-hand side

We deal with existence, non-existence and multiplicity of solutions to the model problem

(P)     

Spectral stability of Dirichlet second order uniformly elliptic operators

We prove sharp stability results for the dependence of the eigenvalues of second order uniformly elliptic linear operators with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions upon domain perturbation.     

Sign-changing solutions of critical growth nonlinear elliptic systems

In this paper, we are concerned with the existence of sign-changing solutions of a class of nonlinear elliptic systems with critical growth.     

Optimization problems on general classes of rearrangements

This paper is concerned with maximization and minimization problems of the energy integral associated to p-Laplace equations depending on functions that belong to a class of rearrangements. We prove existence and uniqueness results, and present some features of optimal solutions. The radial case is discussed in detail. We also prove a result of uniqueness for a class of p-Laplace equations under non-standard assumptions.     

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.     

Monotonicity of solutions of Fully nonlinear uniformly elliptic equations in the half-plane

In this paper we study the monotonicity of positive (or non-negative) viscosity solutions to uniformly elliptic equations F(∇u,D²u)=f(u) in the half plane, where f is locally Lipschitz continuous (with f(0)?0) and zero Dirichlet boundary conditions are imposed. The result is obtained without assuming the u or |∇u| are bounded.     

Nontrivial solutions to semilinear elliptic problems involving two critical Hardy-Sobolev exponents

In this paper, we investigate a semilinear elliptic equation, which involves doubly critical Hardy-Sobolev exponents and a Hardy-type term. By means of the Linking Theorem and delicate energy estimates, the existence of nontrivial solutions to the problem is established.     

On the singular elliptic systems involving multiple critical Sobolev exponents

In this paper, a singular elliptic system is investigated, which involves multiple critical Sobolev exponents and Hardy-type terms. By using variational methods and analytical techniques, the existence of positive and sign-changing solutions to the system is established.     

Mesh-independence of semismooth Newton methods for Lavrentiev-regularized state constrained nonlinear optimal control problems

A class of nonlinear elliptic optimal control problems with mixed control-state constraints arising, e.g., in Lavrentiev-type regularized state constrained optimal control is considered. Based on its first order necessary optimality conditions, a semismooth Newton method is proposed and its fast local convergence in function space as well as a mesh-independence principle for appropriate discretizations are proved. The paper ends by a numerical verification of the theoretical results including a study of the algorithm in the case of vanishing Lavrentiev-parameter. The latter process is realized numerically by a combination of a nested iteration concept and an extrapolation technique for the state with respect to the Lavrentiev-parameter.     

The Brezis–Nirenberg problem for fractional elliptic operators

Let be a uniformly elliptic operator in divergence form in a bounded open subset Ω of . We study the effect of the operator on the existence and nonexistence of positive solutions of the nonlocal Brezis–Nirenberg problem where denotes the fractional power of with zero Dirichlet boundary values on , , and λ is a real parameter. By assuming for all and near some point , we prove existence theorems for any , where denotes the first Dirichlet eigenvalue of . Our existence result holds true for and in the interior case () and for and in the boundary case (). Nonexistence for star‐shaped domains is obtained for any .     

Non-autonomous second order Hamiltonian systems

We study the existence of periodic solutions for a second order non-autonomous dynamical system containing variable kinetic energy terms. Our assumptions balance the interaction between the kinetic energy and the potential energy with neither one dominating the other. We study sublinear problems and the existence of non-constant solutions.     

Isoperimetric inequalities,Wulff shape and related questions for strongly nonlinear elliptic operators

We investigate the first eigenvalue of a highly nonlinear class of elliptic operators which includes the p--Laplace operator $\Delta_p u=\sum_i {{\partial}\over{\partial x_i}} (\vert\nabla u \vert^{p-2}{{\partial u}\over{\partial x_i}})$, the pseudo-p-Laplace operator $\tilde\Delta_p u=\sum_i {{\partial}\over{\partial x_i}} (\vert {{\partial u}\over{\partial x_i}} \vert^{p-2} {{\partial u}\over{\partial x_i}})$ and others. We derive the positivity of the first eingefunction, simlicity of the first eigenvalue, Faber-Krahn and Payne-Rayner type inequalities. In another chapter we address the question of symmetry for positive solutions to more general equations. Using a Pohozaev-type inequality and isoperimetric inequalities as well as convex rearrangement methods we generalize a symmetry result of Kesavan and Pacella. Our optimal domains are level sets of a convex function H ^o. They have the so-called Wulff shape associated with H and only in special cases they are Euclidean balls.     

Markovian extensions of symmetric second order elliptic differential operators

Let be bounded with a smooth boundary Γ and let S be the symmetric operator in given by the minimal realization of a second order elliptic differential operator. We give a complete classification of the Markovian self‐adjoint extensions of S by providing an explicit one‐to‐one correspondence between such extensions and the class of Dirichlet forms in which are additively decomposable by the bilinear form of the Dirichlet‐to‐Neumann operator plus a Markovian form. By such a result two further equivalent classifications are provided: the first one is expressed in terms of an additive decomposition of the bilinear forms associated to the extensions, the second one uses the additive decomposition of the resolvents provided by Kre?n's formula. The Markovian part of the decomposition allows to characterize the operator domain of the corresponding extension in terms of Wentzell‐type boundary conditions. Some properties of the extensions, and of the corresponding Dirichlet forms, semigroups and heat kernels, like locality, regularity, irreducibility, recurrence, transience, ultracontractivity and Gaussian bounds are also discussed.     

On nontrivial solutions of critical polyharmonic elliptic systems

In the present work, we consider elliptic systems involving polyharmonic operators and critical exponents. We discuss the existence and nonexistence of nontrivial solutions to these systems. Our theorems improve and/or extend the ones established by Bartsch and Guo [T. Bartsch, Y. Guo, Existence and nonexistence results for critical growth polyharmonic elliptic systems, J. Differential Equations 220 (2006) 531-543] in both aspects of spectral interaction and regularity of lower order perturbations.     

Estimates for solutions of quasilinear problems with dead cores

A Rayleigh-Faber-Krahn type inequality is used to derive bounds for boundary value problems appearing in reaction-diffusion problems where the reactant is consumed. Interesting quantities are the minimum of the solution and the measure of the set where it vanishes. The proofs are rather elementary and apply to problems possessing solutions in a weak sense.     

On uniqueness for nonlinear elliptic equation involving the Pucci's extremal operator

In this article we study uniqueness of positive solutions for the nonlinear uniformly elliptic equation in RN, limr→∞u(r)=0, where denotes the Pucci's extremal operator with parameters 0<λ?Λ and p>1. It is known that all positive solutions of this equation are radially symmetric with respect to a point in RN, so the problem reduces to the study of a radial version of this equation. However, this is still a nontrivial question even in the case of the Laplacian (λ=Λ). The Pucci's operator is a prototype of a nonlinear operator in no-divergence form. This feature makes the uniqueness question specially challenging, since two standard tools like Pohozaev identity and global integration by parts are no longer available. The corresponding equation involving is also considered.     

Limiting properties of the second order Ginzburg–Landau minimizers

The author studies the weak convergence for the gradient of the minimizers for a second order energy functional when the parameter tends to 0. And this paper is also concerned with the location of the zeros and the blow-up points of the gradient of the minimizers of this functional. Finally, the strong convergence of the gradient of the radial minimizers is obtained.     

On general boundary-value problems for nonlinear elliptic equations of second order in a multiply connected plane domain

This paper deals with some general irregular oblique derivative problems for nonlinear uniformly elliptic equations of second order in a multiply connected plane domain. Firstly, we state the well-posedness of a new set of modified boundary conditions. Secondly, we verify the existence of solutions of the modified boundary-value problem for harmonic functions, and then prove the solvability of the modified problem for nonlinear elliptic equations, which includes the original boundary-value problem (i.e. boundary conditions without involving undertermined functions data). Here, mainly, the location of the zeros of analytic functions, a priori estimates for solutions and the continuity method are used in deriving all these results. Furthermore, the present approach and setting seems to be new and different from what has been employed before.The research was partially supported by a UPGC Grant of Hong Kong.