Conley indices on convex sets, attractor-repeller pairs and applications to multiple solutions of nonlinear elliptic equations

We discuss the calculation of homotopy indices on closed convex sets in a Banach space and then use these ideas to prove the existence of multiple solutions of nonlinear elliptic equations. We obtain more information on the solutions than in earlier work. A key idea is to calculate the homotopy index of the stable and mountain pass solutions and the connections joining them. Dedicated to the memory of Jean Leray