Radial solutions for \(\Delta{}u+\lambda{}e^ u=0\) on annuli in higher dimensions (Q1201114)

The authors consider the Dirichlet problem for the Emden-Fowler equation \[ \Delta u+\lambda e^ u=0\text{ in } A_ a\subset\mathbb{R}^ n,\;u=0\text{ on } \partial A_ a. \tag{*} \] Here \(A_ a=\{x:a<| x|<1\}\) is an annulus with \(a\in(0,1)\), \(\lambda>0\) is a constant, \(n\geq 3\). The solution set \(S_ a=\{(\lambda,u)\in\mathbb{R}^ +\times C(\overline{A_ a}):u\) is radial, \((\lambda,u)\) solves \((*)\}\) is investigated. Note that the symmetry result of Gidas, Ni and Nirenberg need not hold for annuli. So beside the elements of \(S_ a\) there may exist nonsymmetric solutions to \((*)\). The authors prove the following result: \(S_ a\) is a one-dimensional manifold in \(\mathbb{R}^ +\times C(\overline{A_ a})\), homeomorphic to \(\mathbb{R}\). It starts from \((0,0)\); it is unbounded and \(\lambda\) approaches 0 again as \(\| u\|_{C(\overline{A_ a})}\to\infty\). In particular \(S_ a\) does not contain any bifurcation point. Moreover for \(3\leq n\leq 9\) it is shown, that arbitrarily many bendings occur if \(a>0\) is sufficiently small. The central idea is to transform \((*)\) into an autonomous system of ordinary differential equations with a one-parameter family of initial conditions. The corresponding orbits are carefully studied in dependence on this parameter, by which, as it turns out, the solution curve \(S_ a\) may be parametrized.