On multiple solutions of a nonlinear Neumann problem (Q1183234)

Consider the \(\text{BVP}_ t\) \(-u''=f(x,u)\), \(u'(0)=t\sigma_ 1\), \(u'(\pi)=t\sigma_ 2\), \(t>0\), where \(f:[0,\pi]\times R\to R\) is a continuous jumping nonlinearity and \(f(x,u)/u\to\alpha(\beta)\) as \(u\to- \infty(\infty)\) with \(\alpha,\beta\geq 0\). It is proved that if \((\alpha,\beta)\) does not belong to the Fučik spectrum of \(\text{BVP}_ 1\), then \(\text{BVP}_ 1\) has at least one solution. Additionally, if \(\alpha\), \(\beta\), \(\sigma_ 1\), \(\sigma_ 2\) satisfy certain inequalities, then there is a \(T_ 0>0\) such that \(\text{BVP}_ t\) has at least three solutions if \(t>T_ 0\). This is done by first analyzing \(\text{BVP}_ 1\) at infinity through the use of certain rather simple shooting functions and then regarding it as a nonlinear perturbation of the piecewise linear problem with \(f=\alpha u^ -+\beta u^ +\). The Leray-Schauder continuation arguments are then used. Even when \((\alpha,\beta)\) belongs to the Fučik spectrum, under some additional conditions on \(\alpha\), \(\beta\), \(\sigma_ 1\) and \(\sigma_ 2\), \(\text{BVP}_ 1\) can still have a solution.