On the existence of positive solutions for a class of singular boundary value problems (Q5935780)

Let \(\alpha\), \(\beta\), \(\gamma\), \(\delta\) be nonnegative real numbers such that \(\alpha\delta+\beta\gamma+\alpha\gamma>0\), let \(F:(0,1)\times [0,\infty)\to [0,\infty)\) be continuous, and take a positive function \(p\in C^1(0,1)\) such that \(\int_0^1 1/p(s) ds<\infty\). The authors consider the following singular boundary value problem \[ \begin{aligned} &{1 \over p(t)} (p(t)y'(t))'+F(t,y(t))=0, \quad t\in (0,1),\\ &\alpha y(0)-\lim_{t\to 0+}\beta p(t)y'(t)=0 =\gamma y(1)+ \lim_{t\to 1-}\delta p(t)y'(t),\end{aligned} \tag{1} \] establish conditions for the existence of positive solutions and, in some cases, provide localization estimates on them. Also, they apply these results to the following eigenvalue problem \[ \begin{aligned} &{1 \over p(t)} (p(t)y'(t))'+\lambda F(t,y(t))=0,\quad t\in (0,1),\\ &\alpha y(0)-\lim_{t\to 0+}\beta p(t)y'(t)=0 =\gamma y(1)+\lim_{t\to 1-}\delta p(t)y'(t), \end{aligned}\tag{2} \] and show, under suitable assumptions on \(F\) and \(p\), the existence of at least two positive solutions to (2) for \(\lambda\in (0,\lambda_0)\), \(\lambda_0\) depending on \(\alpha\), \(\beta\), \(\gamma\), \(\delta\), \(F\) and \(p\). Special emphasis is given to problem (1) in the case when \(\alpha=\gamma=1\) and \(\beta=\delta=0\). In particular, in this situation, the authors provide a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a positive solution. An essential tool in the existence proofs in this paper is the Leray-Schauder degree used in conjunction with growth conditions on \(F\).