Multiple solutions of some boundary value problems with parameters (Q622376)

The paper deals with the problem \[ -u''+au'+bu=f(t,u), \;t\in[0,1],\quad u(0)=u(1)=0.\tag{1} \] Here, \(f:{[0,1]}\times{\mathbb R}\to{\mathbb R}\) is \(C^1\) and \(f(t,0)\equiv0\). The authors consider several assumptions where the values of \(f'_u(t,0)\) or \(\lim_{|x|\to\infty}\frac{f(t,x)}{x}\) or \(\lim_{|u|\to\infty}f'_u(t,u)\) are confronted with the eigenvalues of the linear problem underlying (1). Accordingly, they obtain the multiplicity of solutions (one nontrivial solution, two nontrivial solutions, three nontrivial solutions). The existence of infinitely many solutions when \(f\) is odd in \(u\) is mentioned. The problem is put in a self-adjoint form, and solutions are interpreted as critical points of a functional defined in a weighted \(L^2(0,1)\) space. The multiplicity is obtained via Morse inequalities.