An index product formula for the study of elliptic resonance problems (Q2266807)

Let (P) \(\dot u+Au=f(u)\) be a semilinear parabolic equation. If \(f(0)=0\) and f is of class \(C^ 1\) in a neighborhood of 0, then there exists a local center manifold M near zero containing all small invariant sets of (P). The purpose of this paper is to prove an index product formula relating the homotopy index h(K) of a small isolated invariant set K relative to (P) to the homotopy index \(h_ M(K)\) of the same set with respect to the equation induced by (P) on the center manifold M. This formula can be applied to elliptic BVP with resonance at zero. In particular, earlier results of \textit{H. Amann} and \textit{E. Zehnder} [Ann. Sc. Norm. Super. Pisa, Cl. Sci., IV. Ser. 7, 539-603 (1980; Zbl 0452.47077)] can be obtained under less restrictive assumptions than those used in that paper. Furthermore, the formula permits applications to cases not discussed in Amann and Zehnder's paper. The applications of the index product formula are given by the author [Nontrivial solutions of elliptic boundary value problems with resonance at zero, Ann. Mat. Pura Appl., IV Ser. 139, 237-278 (1985)].