Entire solutions of an integral equation in \(R^5\) (Q2448997)

Summary: We will study the entire positive \(C^0\) solution of the geometrically and analytically interesting integral equation: \(u(x)=1/C_5 \int_{R^5}|x-y|u^{-q}(y)dy\) with \(0<q\) in \(R^5\). We will show that only when \(q=11\), there are positive entire solutions which are given by the closed form \(u(x)=c(1+|x|^2)^{1/2}\) up to dilation and translation. The paper consists of two parts. The first part is devoted to showing that \(q\) must be equal to 11 if there exists a positive entire solution to the integral equation. The tool to reach this conclusion is the well-known Pohozev identity. The amazing cancelation occurred in Pohozev's identity helps us to conclude the claim. It is this exponent which makes the moving sphere method work. In the second part, as normal, we adopt the moving sphere method based on the integral form to solve the integral equation.