An infinite dimensional Morse theory with applications

In this paper we construct an infinite dimensional (extraordinary) cohomology theory and a Morse theory corresponding to it. These theories have some special properties which make them useful in the study of critical points of strongly indefinite functionals (by strongly indefinite we mean a functional unbounded from below and from above on any subspace of finite codimension). Several applications are given to Hamiltonian systems, the one-dimensional wave equation (of vibrating string type) and systems of elliptic partial differential equations.

     

A bifurcation result for semi-Riemannian trajectories of the Lorentz force equation

We obtain a bifurcation result for solutions of the Lorentz equation in a semi-Riemannian manifold; such solutions are critical points of a certain strongly indefinite functionals defined in terms of the semi-Riemannian metric and the electromagnetic field. The flow of the Jacobi equation along each solution preserves the so-called electromagnetic symplectic form, and the corresponding curve in the symplectic group determines an integer valued homology class called the Maslov index of the solution.We study electromagnetic conjugate instants with symplectic techniques, and we prove at first, an analogous of the semi-Riemannian Morse Index Theorem (see (Calculus of Variations, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, USA, 1963)). By using this result, together with recent results on the bifurcation for critical points of strongly indefinite functionals (see (J. Funct. Anal. 162(1) (1999) 52)), we are able to prove that each non-degenerate and non-null electromagnetic conjugate instant along a given solution of the semi-Riemannian Lorentz force equation is a bifurcation point.     

Computations of critical groups and applications to asymptotically linear wave equation and beam equation

In this paper, by using the Morse index theory for strongly indefinite functionals developed in [Nonlinear Anal. TMA, in press], we compute precisely the critical groups at the origin and at infinity, respectively. The abstract theorems are used to study the existence (multiplicity) of nontrivial periodical solutions for asymptotically wave equation and beam equation with resonance both at infinity and at zero.     

Nontrivial solutions for resonant noncooperative elliptic systems

In this paper, by introducing some new conditions, we study the nontrivial (multiple) solutions for resonant noncooperative elliptic systems. Our main ingredients are using a new version of Morse theory for strongly indefinite functionals and precisely computing the critical groups of the associated variational functionals at zero and at infinity. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Multiple solutions for a system of equations with p-Laplacian

In the paper, by using of the Limit Index, we prove a theorem applying to get multiple critical values of some strongly indefinite nonsmooth functionals, and then we apply it to a system of equations involving the p-Laplacian.     

About a fatou theorem for the p-laplacian and related estimates for the hausdorff dimension of the support of certain l-harmonic measureS

This paper deals with strongly indefinite functionals whose gradients are Fredholm operators of index 0 and map weakly convergent sequences to weakly convergent sequences. We show how these results apply to a Z^N—invariant semilinear Schrödinger equation on R^N.     

The effects of concave and convex nonlinearities in some noncooperative elliptic systems

We consider a class of elliptic systems leading to strongly indefinite functionals, with nonlinearities which involve a combination of concave and convex terms. Using variational methods, we prove the existence of infinitely many large and small energy solutions. Our approach relies on new critical point theorems which guarantee the existence of infinitely many critical values of a wide class of strongly indefinite even functionals. Our abstract critical points theorems generalize the fountain theorems of T. Bartsch and M. Willem.     

Critical points theorems concerning strongly indefinite functionals and infinite many periodic solutions for a class of Hamiltonian systems

Based on new deformation theorems concerning strongly indefinite functionals, we give some new min-max theorems which are useful in looking for critical points of functionals which are strongly indefinite and satisfy Cerami condition instead of Palais-Smale condition. As one application of abstract results, we study existence of multiple periodic solutions for a class of non-autonomous first order Hamiltonian system

     

Symmetry breaking of solutions of non-cooperative elliptic systems

In this article we study the symmetry breaking phenomenon of solutions of non-cooperative elliptic systems. We apply the degree for G$G$-invariant strongly indefinite functionals to obtain simultaneously a symmetry breaking and a global bifurcation phenomenon.     

Standing waves to discrete vector nonlinear Schrödinger equation

The purpose of this paper is to study a class of periodic discrete vector nonlinear Schrödinger equation. By using the critical point theory for strongly indefinite problems developed by Ding (Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences, World Scientific, Hackensack, NJ, 2007), we prove the existence of non-trivial standing waves for the vector equation with periodic or asymptotically periodic nonlinearities.     

Deformation in locally convex topological linear spaces

We are concerned with a deformation theory in locally convex topological linear spaces. A special "nice" partition of unity is given. This enables us to construct certain vector fields which are locally Lipschitz continuous with respect to the locally convex topology. The existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence of flows associated to the vector fields are established. Deformations related to strongly indefinite functionals are then obtained. Finally, as applications, we prove some abstract critical point theorems.     

Periodic solutions for an asymptotically linear wave equation with resonance

In this paper, we study the existence and multiplicity of nontrivial periodic solutions for an asymptotically linear wave equation with resonance, both at infinity and at zero. The main features are using Morse theory for the strongly indefinite functional and the precise computation of critical groups under conditions which are more general.     

Nonlinear Dirac equations with critical nonlinearities on compact spin manifolds

We study some basic analytical problems for nonlinear Dirac equations involving critical Sobolev exponents on compact spin manifolds. Their solutions are obtained as critical points of certain strongly indefinite functionals defined on H1/2-spinors with critical growth. We prove the existence of a non-trivial solution for the Brezis-Nirenberg type problem when the dimension m of the manifold is larger than 3. We also prove a global compactness result for the associated Palais-Smale sequences and the regularity of -weak solutions.     

Nonmonotone functionals in the Lyapunov direct method for equations of the neutral type

We present new tests for the stability and asymptotic stability of trivial solutions of equations with deviating argument of the neutral type. Unlike well-known results, here we use nonmonotone indefinite Lyapunov functionals. Our class of functionals contains both Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals and Lyapunov-Razumikhin functions as natural special cases. This class of functionals is broad enough that, in a number of stability tests, we have been able to omit the a priori requirement of stability of the corresponding difference operator. In addition, we present tests for the asymptotic stability of solutions of equations of the neutral type with unbounded right-hand side and new estimates for the magnitude of perturbations that do not violate the asymptotic stability if it holds for the unperturbed equation. The obtained estimates single out domains of the phase space in which perturbations should be small and domains in which essentially no constraints are imposed on the perturbation magnitude.     

Homoclinic orbits for a class of first-order nonperiodic asymptotically quadratic Hamiltonian systems with spectrum point zero

In this paper, we study the existence and multiplicity of homoclinic orbits for a class of first-order nonperiodic Hamiltonian systems. By applying two recent critical point theorems for strongly indefinite functionals, we give some new criteria to guarantee that Hamiltonian systems with asymptotically quadratic terms and spectrum point zero have at least one and a finite number of pairs of homoclinic orbits under some adequate conditions, respectively.     

Erratum to: “Multiple critical points of perturbed symmetric strongly indefinite functionals” [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anihpc.2008.06.002]

We correct the statement and the proof of Proposition 9 in [D. Bonheure, M. Ramos, Multiple critical points of perturbed symmetric strongly indefinite functionals, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anihpc.2008.06.002].     

Spectral Flow,Maslov Index and Bifurcation of Semi-Riemannian Geodesics

We give a functional analytical proof of the equalitybetween the Maslov index of a semi-Riemannian geodesicand the spectral flow of the path of self-adjointFredholm operators obtained from the index form. This fact, together with recent results on the bifurcation for critical points of strongly indefinite functionals imply that each nondegenerate and nonnull conjugate (or P-focal)point along a semi-Riemannian geodesic is a bifurcation point.In particular, the semi-Riemannian exponential map is notinjective in any neighborhood of a nondegenerate conjugate point,extending a classical Riemannian result originally due to Morse and Littauer.     

强不定问题的变分方法

简要回顾近年来关于强不定问题的变分方法某些研究方面的发展．首先介绍强不定问题,接着叙述建立强不定问题的变分框架的基本思路,进而给出局部凸拓扑线性空间的形变理论,最后陈述几个基于此形变理论的处理强不定问题的临界点定理．这些理论的应用将在后续文章中介绍．     

Existence results for solutions to nonlinear Dirac equations on compact spin manifolds

We consider super-linear and sub-linear nonlinear Dirac equations on compact spin manifolds. Their solutions are obtained as critical points of certain strongly indefinite functionals on a Hilbert space. For both cases, we establish existence results via Galerkin type approximations and linking arguments. For a particular case of odd nonlinearities, we prove the existence of infinitely many solutions.     

Index estimates for strongly indefinite functionals, periodic orbits and homoclinic solutions of first order Hamiltonian systems

We improve Benci and Rabinowitz's Linking theorem for strongly indefinite functionals, giving estimates for a suitably defined relative Morse index of critical points. Such abstract result is applied to the existence problem of periodic orbits and homoclinic solutions of first order Hamiltonian systems in cases where the Palais-Smale condition does not hold. Received January 27, 1999 / Accepted January 14, 2000 / Published online July 20, 2000