Multiplicity results for a class of semilinear elliptic and parabolic boundary value problems (Q1070436)

The authors study multiplicity results for the periodic parabolic boundary value problem \[ (P)\quad u_{xx}-u_ t+g(u)=S\phi_ 1(x)+h(x,t), \] \(x\in (0,\pi)\), \(t\in R\); \(u(t,0)=u(t,\pi)=0,\quad u(t+T,x)=u(t,x)\) where g is continuous, h is T-periodic in t, \(\phi_ 1(x)=(2/\pi_ t)^{1/2} \sin x\), \(0<T<2\pi /\sqrt{15}\), h and \(\phi_ 1\) are orthogonal on \([0,T]\times [0,\pi].\) It is shown that if there is \(\beta >4\) such that \(0<\lim_{u\to -\infty}g(u)/u<1\) and \(4<\lim_{u\to \infty}g(u)/u<\beta\) then problem (P) has at least four weak solutions. Similar results are obtained by the same method for nonlinear elliptic problems.