Exact number of solutions of a prescribed mean curvature equation (Q968840): Difference between revisions

The one-dimensional prescribed mean curvature equation \[ -\left(\frac {u'}{\sqrt{1+{u'}^2}}\right)' = f(u) \] under Dirichlet conditions is studied. Using the time map method, it is proved for \(f(u)= \lambda(u^p+u^q)\) that: {\parindent6mm \begin{itemize}\item[1)] If \(1<p<q<+\infty\), then the problem has at most one solution: it has exactly one solution when the positive parameter \(\lambda\) is large enough and no solutions when it is small enough. Furthermore, if some specific inequality involving \(p\) and \(q\) holds, then there exists a number \(\lambda^*\) such that the problem has no solutions for \(\lambda\leq \lambda^*\) and exactly one for \(\lambda>\lambda^*\). \item[2)] If \(0<p<q<1\), then the problem has at most two solutions: it has exactly one solution when the positive parameter \(\lambda\) is small enough and no solutions when it is large enough. Furthermore, if some specific inequality involving \(p\) holds, then there exist numbers \(\lambda_*<\lambda^*\) such that the problem has exactly one solution for \(\lambda\leq \lambda_*\), exactly two for \(\lambda \in (\lambda_*,\lambda^*)\) and no solutions for \(\lambda>\lambda^*\). \end{itemize}}