Bifurcation and multiplicity results for critical \(p\)-Laplacian problems (Q519277)

The critical quasilinear eigenvalue problem \(-\Delta_p u= \mu|u|^{p-2} u+|u|^{p^*-2} u\) on \(\Omega\), \(u= 0\) on \(\partial\Omega\), where \(\Delta_p\) is the ordinary \(p\)-Laplacian, \(\Omega\) is a bounded domain in \(\mathbb{R}^N\), \(1<p<N\), and \(p^*= Np/ (N-p)\) is the critical Sobolev exponent is studied in this paper. The authors obtain bifurcation and multiplicity results by applying a new abstract theorem involving a pseudo index concerning the \(\mathbb{Z}_2\)-cohomological index. In particular, Corollary 1.2 gives a new result if \(N<p^2\). This extends results for \(p=2\) by \textit{G. Cerami} et al. [Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré, Anal. Non Linéaire 1, 341--350 (1984; Zbl 0568.35039)].