Multiple positive solutions of a scalar field equation in \(\mathbb{R}^n\) (Q1380889)

From the viewpoint of the calculus of variations, the perturbed Kazdan-Warner problem: \[ -\Delta u+\lambda u= k(x)u^{p-1},\quad u>0\quad\text{in }\mathbb{R}^n,\quad u\to 0\quad\text{at }\infty,\tag{1} \] where \(n\geq 3\) and \(0< p< 2^*=2n/(n-2)\) is studied with regard to the effect of the coefficient \(k(x)\) on the topology of the energy sublevels. The main results are as follows: Under the assumption \((\text{k}_1)\) \(k(x)\) is continuous, \((\text{k}_2)\) \(k_\infty= \lim_{| z|\to\infty}k(z)\) exists, and \((\text{k}_3)\) \(k(z_0)> k^+_\infty= \max\{k_\infty, 0\}\) for some \(z_0\in\mathbb{R}^n\), take the sets \[ M= \left\{z\in\mathbb{R}^n\mid k(z)= \max_{z\in\mathbb{R}^n}k(z)\right\}\quad\text{and}\quad M_\delta= \{x\in \mathbb{R}^n\mid d(x,M)\leq \delta\} \] and denote by \(\text{cat}_{M_\delta}(M)\) the Lyusternik-Schnirelman category of the set \(M\) in \(M_\delta\). Then, for every \(\delta>0\) and for \(p\in [p_\delta,2^*[\) with some \(p_\delta< 2^*\), the problem (1) has at least \(\text{cat}_{M_\delta}(M)\) (weak) solutions. Replacing \((\text{k}_3)\) with \((\text{k}_3')\) \(M\) is contractible in the set \(\{z\in\mathbb{R}^n\mid k(z)\geq t\}\) for some \(t\in ]k^+_\infty,\max_{\mathbb{R}^n}k[\), the problem (1) has at least \(\text{cat}_{M_\delta}(M)+ 1\) solutions if \(\text{cat}_{M_\delta}(M)> 1\) for some \(\delta> 0\). A further result is also obtained when \(k(x)\) is radially symmetric.