Compatibility conditions for nonlinear Neumann problems (Q1181238)

Minimum problems of the form \[ \min\{\int_ \Omega f(x,u,Du)dx+\int_{\partial\Omega}g(x,u)dH^{n-1}:\;u\in W^{1,p}(\Omega;\mathbb{R}^ m)\} \] are studied, especially in the case when \(f\) and \(g\) don't provide a priori compactness with respect to the weak \(W^{1,p}\) topology. This is the case of Neumann problems, in which the existence occurs under suitable compatibility conditions on \(f\) and \(g\). Following \textit{C. Baiocchi}, the authors and \textit{F. Gastaldi} [Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 100, 149-189 (1988; Zbl 0646.73011)] to every functional \(F: X\to]-\infty,+\infty]\) (\(X\) being a topological vector space) its topological recession functional \(F_ \infty\) is associated, and necessary/sufficient conditions in terms of \(F_ \infty\) are given, in order to obtain the existence of at least a solution for the minimization problem \(\min\{F(u):\;u\in X\}\). Several applications to problems like (1) are given, among which \[ \min\{\int_ \Omega[| Du|^ 2+B(u^ +)-g(x)u]dx:\;u\in H^ 1(\Omega)\} \] with \(B: \mathbb{R}^ +\to\mathbb{R}^ +\) convex and strictly increasing, and \[ \min\{\int_ \Omega[| Du|^ 2+B(u)-g(x)u]dx:\;u\in H^ 1(\Omega)\} \] with \(B: \mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}\) periodic.