Qualitative properties of nodal solutions of semilinear elliptic equations in radially symmetric domains

We study the qualitative properties of sign changing solutions of the Dirichlet problem $\mathrm{\Delta }u+f(u)=0$ in Ω, $u=0$ on ?Ω, where Ω is a ball or an annulus and f is a $C^1$ function with $f(0)?0$. We prove that any radial sign changing solution has a Morse index bigger or equal to $N+1$ and give sufficient conditions for the nodal surface of a solution to intersect the boundary. In particular, we prove that any least energy nodal solution is non radial and its nodal surface touches the boundary. To cite this article: A. Aftalion, F. Pacella, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 339 (2004).