Neumann problems of semilinear elliptic equations involving critical Sobolev exponents (Q1178014)

This paper deals with the existence of solutions of the problem \[ \Delta u+u^ p+f(x,u)=0\quad\text{ in } \Omega, \qquad u>0 \quad\text{ in } \Omega, \qquad D_ \gamma u+\alpha(x)u=0 \quad\text{ on } \partial\Omega,\tag{*} \] where \(\Omega\) is a \(C^ 1\) bounded domain in \(\mathbb{R}^ n\), \(n\geq 3\), \(\gamma\) is the outer unit normal to \(\partial\Omega\), \(p=(n+2)/(n-2)\) is the critical Sobolev exponent, \(f\) is a lower order perturbation of \(u^ p\) with \(f(x,0)=0\), and \(\alpha\) is a nonnegative function on \(\partial\Omega\). The Dirichlet counterpart of (*) was studied by \textit{H. Brezis} and \textit{L. Nirenberg} [Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 36, 437-477 (1983; Zbl 0541.35029)]. They showed that the existence of solutions depends strongly on the behaviour of \(f\). Here the author shows that for the Neumann boundary condition the situation is somewhat better, in the sense that (*) has a solution for a large class of \(f\). For the case \(\alpha\equiv 0\) conditions on \(f\) are found which guarantee the existence of a solution of (*) for arbitrary \(C^ 1\) bounded \(\Omega\), while for general \(\alpha\geq 0\) an additional assumption on \(\Omega\) is required. The author also proves some results for equations with variable coefficients, and gives a number of interesting examples. Neumann problems for equations involving critical Sobolev exponents have been studied recently by a number of authors e.g., \textit{M. Comte} and \textit{M. C. Knaap} [Differ. Integral Equ. 4, No. 6, 1133-1146 (1991)].