Averaging technique for the oscillation of second order damped elliptic equations (Q943521)

The author studies the second order elliptic partial differential equation \[ \sum_{i,j=1}^N D_i[a_{ij}(x)D_jy] + \sum_{i=1}^N b_i(x)D_iy + c(x)f(y) = 0 \leqno(*) \] in \(\Omega=\{x\in{\mathbb{R}}^N:|x| > 1\}\). The coefficients \(a_{ij},b_i,c\) are assumed to satisfy some natural regularity assumptions, while \(f\in C({\mathbb{R}})\cap C^1({\mathbb{R}}\backslash\{0\})\) with \(f'(y)\geq k>0\) and \(yf(y)>0\) for \(y\neq 0\). A nontrivial solution \(y\) of \((*)\) is said to be oscillatory if \(\{x\in \Omega:y(x)=0\}\) is unbounded; otherwise it is said to be nonoscillatory. \((*)\) is said to be oscillatory if all its nontrivial solutions are oscillatory. For the one dimensional equation \[ y''(t)+c(t)y(t)=0 \leqno(**) \] various oscillation criteria are known. \textit{W. B.~Fite} [American M. S. Bull. 24, 270; American M. S. Trans. 19, 341--352 (1918; JFM 46.0702.02)] showed that if \(c\in C([1,\infty))\) satisfies \[ \lim_{t\rightarrow\infty} \int_1^t c(s)\,ds = \infty, \] then \((**)\) is oscillatory. A weaker condition was subsequently found by \textit{A.~Wintner} [Q. Appl. Math. 7, 115--117 (1949; Zbl 0032.34801)]. Various generalizations of these results have been proved. In particular, \textit{I.V.~Kamenev} [Mat. Zametki 23, 249--251 (1978; Zbl 0386.34032)] showed that \((**)\) is oscillatory if there exists an \(\alpha>1\) such that \[ \limsup_{t\rightarrow\infty} {1\over{t^\alpha}} \int_1^t (t-s)c(s)\,ds = \infty. \] Many authors have extended these results in various ways to the corresponding partial differential equation, \[ \sum_{i,j=1}^N D_i[a_{ij}(x)D_jy] + c(x)f(y) = 0, \leqno(***) \] for example, \textit{E.S.~Noussair} and \textit{C. A.~ Swanson} [Can. J. Math. 32, 908--923 (1980; Zbl 0395.35027)]. More recently, \textit{Z. T.~Xu, D. K.~Ma} and \textit{B. G.~Jia} [Acta Math. Sci. A 24, No. 2, 144--151 (2004)] and \textit{R. K.~Zhuang, Q. R.~Wang} and \textit{S. M.~Zhu} [Acta Math. Sin. 48, No. 3, 527--534 (2005; Zbl 1124.35317)] found some oscillation criteria for solutions of \((***)\). Here the author proves oscillation criteria for \((*)\) that extend the condition of Kamenev. The proof uses a partial Riccati transform used by Noussair and Swanson, combined with an averaging technique used by Wintner. The results extend and improve various results of previous authors.