Sequential and continuum bifurcations in degenerate elliptic equations

We examine the bifurcations to positive and sign-changing solutions of degenerate elliptic equations. In the problems we study, which do not represent Fredholm operators, we show that there is a critical parameter value at which an infinity of bifurcations occur from the trivial solution. Moreover, a bifurcation occurs at each point in some unbounded interval in parameter space. We apply our results to non-monotone eigenvalue problems, degenerate semi-linear elliptic equations, boundary value differential-algebraic equations and fully non-linear elliptic equations.

     

Local Solutions of Weakly Parabolic Quasilinear Differential Equations

We consider a quasilinear parabolic boundary value problem, the elliptic part of which degenerates near the boundary. In order to solve this problem, we approximate it by a system of linear degenerate elliptic boundary value problems by means of semidiscretization with respect to time. We use the theory of degenerate elliptic operators and weighted Sobolev spaces to find a priori estimates for the solutions of the approximating problems. These solutions converge to a local solution, if the step size of the time-discretization goes to zero. It is worth pointing out that we do not require any growth conditions on the nonlinear coefficients and right-hand side, since we lire able to prove L∞ - estimates.     

Spatial Patterns for reaction-diffusion systems with conditions described by inclusions

We consider a reaction-diffusion system of the activator-inhibitor type with boundary conditions given by inclusions. We show that there exists a bifurcation point at which stationary but spatially nonconstant solutions (spatial patterns) bifurcate from the branch of trivial solutions. This bifurcation point lies in the domain of stability of the trivial solution to the same system with Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions, where a bifurcation of this classical problem is excluded.     

Bifurcation and stability results for an equation arising in population genetics

Summary We consider a semilinear elliptic boundary value problem, which arises in population genetics. Although there is no obvious corresponding linearized problem, we establish, by using Implicit Function Theorem methods, necessary and sufficient conditions forbifurcation to occur from a branch of trivial solutions. The stability of the bifurcating solutions is also investigated.     

Spectral aspects of regularization of the Cauchy problem for a degenerate equation

We study the Cauchy problem for an equation whose generating operator is degenerate on some subset of the coordinate space. To approximate a solution of the degenerate problem by solutions of well-posed problems, we define a class of regularizations of the degenerate operator in terms of conditions on the spectral properties of approximating operators. We show that the behavior (convergence, compactness, and the set of partial limits in some topology) of the sequence of solutions of regularized problems is determined by the deficiency indices of the degenerate operator. We define an approximative solution of the degenerate problem as the limit of the sequence of solutions of regularized problems and analyze the dependence of the approximative solution on the choice of an admissible regularization.     

A bifurcation phenomenon in a singularly perturbed two-phase free boundary problem of phase transition

In this paper, we prove a bifurcation phenomenon in a two-phase, singularly perturbed, free boundary problem of phase transition. We show that the uniqueness of the solution for the two-phase problem breaks down as the boundary data decreases through a threshold value. For boundary values below the threshold, there are at least three solutions, namely, the harmonic solution which is treated as a trivial solution in the absence of a free boundary, a nontrivial minimizer of the functional under consideration, and a third solution of the mountain-pass type. We classify these solutions according to the stability through evolution. The evolution with initial data near a stable solution, such as the trivial harmonic solution or a minimizer of the functional, converges to the stable solution. On the other hand, the evolution deviates away from a non-minimal solution of the free boundary problem.     

A problem with generalized fractional integro-differentiation operators of arbitrary order

For a degenerate hyperbolic equation we study a problem with fractional integro-differentiation operators in the boundary condition on the characteristic part of the boundary. We determine intervals for parameters of generalized operators of arbitrary order with a Gauss hypergeometric function such that the problem either is uniquely solvable or has more than one solution.     

Global bifurcation results for semilinear elliptic boundary value problems with indefinite weights and nonlinear boundary conditions

We investigate the global nature of bifurcation components of positive solutions of a general class of semilinear elliptic boundary value problems with nonlinear boundary conditions and having linear terms with sign-changing coefficients. We first show that there exists a subcontinuum, i.e., a maximal closed and connected component, emanating from the line of trivial solutions at a simple principal eigenvalue of a linearized eigenvalue problem. We next consider sufficient conditions such that the subcontinuum is unbounded in some space for a semilinear elliptic problem arising from population dynamics. Our approach to establishing the existence of the subcontinuum is based on the global bifurcation theory proposed by López-Gómez. We also discuss an a priori bound of solutions and deduce from it some results on the multiplicity of positive solutions.     

Nontrivial solutions to boundary value problems for semilinear strongly degenerate elliptic differential equations

In this paper we study boundary value problems for semilinear equations involving strongly degenerate elliptic differential operators. Via a Pohozaev??s type identity we show that if the nonlinear term grows faster than some power function then the boundary value problem has no nontrivial solution. Otherwise when the nonlinear term grows slower than the same power function, by establishing embedding theorems for weighted Sobolev spaces associated with the strongly degenerate elliptic equations, then applying the theory of critical values in Banach spaces, we prove that the problem has a nontrivial solution, or even infinite number of solutions provided that the nonlinear term is an odd function.     

Problemi parabolici degeneri

We establish existence theorems for weak solutions of boundary value problems associated with degenerate parabolic operators.     

A family of degenerate elliptic operators: Maximum principle and its consequences

In this paper we investigate the validity and the consequences of the maximum principle for degenerate elliptic operators whose higher order term is the sum of k eigenvalues of the Hessian. In particular we shed some light on some very unusual phenomena due to the degeneracy of the operator. We prove moreover Lipschitz regularity results and boundary estimates under convexity assumptions on the domain. As a consequence we obtain the existence of solutions of the Dirichlet problem and of principal eigenfunctions.     

Bifurcation direction and exchange of stability for variational inequalities on nonconvex sets

This paper concerns Crandall–Rabinowitz type bifurcation for abstract variational inequalities on nonconvex sets and with multidimensional bifurcation parameter. We derive formulae which determine the bifurcation direction and, in the case of potential operators, the stability of all solutions close to the bifurcation point. In particular, it follows that in some cases an exchange of stability appears similar to the case of equations, but in some other cases stable nontrivial solutions bifurcate at points where there is no loss of stability of the trivial solution. As an application we consider a system of two second order ODEs with nonconvex unilateral boundary conditions.     

Carleman estimates and null controllability for boundary-degenerate parabolic operators

Motivated by several examples coming from physics, biology, and economics, we consider a class of parabolic operators that degenerate at the boundary of the space domain. We study null controllability by a locally distributed control. For this purpose, a specific Carleman estimate for the solutions of degenerate adjoint problems is proved. To cite this article: P. Cannarsa et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 347 (2009).     

The mixed problem for degenerate elliptic equations of second order

The present paper deals with the mixed boundary value problem for elliptic equations with degenerate rank 0. We first give the formulation of the problem and estimates of solutions of the problem, and then prove the existence of solutions of the above problem for elliptic equations by the above estimates and the method of parameter extension. We use the complex method, namely first discuss the corresponding problem for degenerate elliptic complex equations of first order, afterwards discuss the above problem for degenerate elliptic equations of second order.     

An Oscillation Theorem for Self-Adjoint Differential Equations

We consider a class of degenerate classical pseudodifferential operators on a closed curve and compute their index in Sobolev spaces. The index is expressed as a winding number by means of the principal and the subprincipal symbol. Furthermore, applications to the smoothness of solutions and the degenerate oblique derivative problem in the plane are given.     

Truncated matrix trigonometric problem of moments: operator approach

We study the truncated matrix trigonometric problem of moments. A parametrization of all solutions of this problem (both in the nondegenerate and degenerate cases) is obtained by using the operator approach. This parametrization establishes the one-to-one correspondence between a certain class of analytic functions and all solutions of the problem. We use the important Chumakin results on the generalized resolvents of isometric operators.     

The mixed problem for a nonlinear degenerate elliptic equation of second order

The present paper deals with the mixed boundary value problem for a nonlinear elliptic equation with degenerate rank 0. We first give the formulation of the problem and estimates of solutions of the problem, and then prove the uniqueness and existence of solutions of the above problem for the nonlinear elliptic equation by the extremum principle and the method of parameter extension. The complex method is used to discuss the corresponding problem for degenerate elliptic complex equation of first order and then that of second order.     

Boundary value problems for two types of degenerate elliptic systems in <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis><Superscript>4</Superscript>

Firstly, the Riemann boundary value problem for a kind of degenerate elliptic system of the first order equations in R ⁴ is proposed. Then, with the help of the one-to-one correspondence between the theory of Clifford valued generalized regular functions and that of the degenerate elliptic system’s solution, the boundary value problem as stated above is transformed into a boundary value problem related to the generalized regular functions in Clifford analysis. Moreover, the solution of the Riemann boundary value problem for the degenerate elliptic system is explicitly described by using a kind of singular integral operator. Finally, the conditions for the existence of solutions of the oblique derivative problem for another kind of degenerate elliptic system of the first order equations in R ⁴ are derived.     

On dynamics of quantum states generated by the Cauchy problem for the Schrödinger equation with degeneration on the half-line

The paper considers the Cauchy problem for the Schrödinger equation with operator degenerate on the semiaxis and the family of regularized Cauchy problems with uniformly elliptic operators whose solutions approximate the solution of the degenerate problem. The author studies the strong and weak convergences of the regularized problems and the convergence of values of quadratic forms of bounded operators on solutions of the regularized problems when the regularization parameter tends to zero.     

A global bifurcation phenomenon for second order singular boundary value problems

We establish an existence result of unbounded continuum of solutions from the trivial branch for a second order singular boundary value problem. As an application, we prove several existence and multiplicity results of positive solutions for certain singular boundary value problems.