Entire positive \(k\)-convex solutions to \(k\)-Hessian type equations and systems (Q2127501)

The authors consider the \(k\)-Hessian equation \[ S_k(D^2u + \alpha I) = p(|x|) f^k(u) \eqno(1) \] and the \(k\)-Hessian system \[ S_k(D^2u + \alpha I) = p(|x|) f^k(v), \qquad S_k(D^2v + \alpha I) = q(|x|) g^k(u). \eqno(2) \] Here \(I\) is the \(n\times n\) identity matrix, \(p,q,f,g\) are given positive functions, \(\alpha\ge 0\) is a constant, and \(S_k(D^2u+\alpha I)\) denotes the \(k\)-th elementary symmetric function \(\sigma_k(\lambda)\) of the eigenvalues \(\lambda=(\lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_n)\) of \(D^2u+\alpha I\). A function \(u\in C^2(\mathbb{R}^n)\) is said to be \(k\)-convex if \(\lambda\) belongs to the cone \(\Gamma_k= \{\mu\in\mathbb{R}^n: \sigma_j(\mu)>0, \ j=1,\dots,k\}\) at each point of \(\mathbb{R}^n\). The authors prove the existence of entire positive \(k\)-convex radial solutions of (1) and (2) under some continuity, monotonicity and structural conditions on \(f,g,p,q\). They also provide criteria for determining whether these solutions are bounded or unbounded as \(|x|\rightarrow\infty\). The proofs are based on a monotone iteration scheme.