On overdetermined eigenvalue problems for the polyharmonic operator (Q1269584)

Let \(\Omega\subset\mathbb R^n\) \((n\geq 2)\) be a bounded domain with sufficiently smooth boundary \(\partial\Omega\), \(\lambda>0\), \(\mu\in\mathbb R\), \(\partial/\partial\nu\) the outward normal derivative and \(m\) a positive integer. The following overdetermined boundary value problem \[ (-1)^m\Delta^mu=\lambda u+\mu,\quad\text{in }\Omega;\tag{1} \] \[ u=\frac{\partial u} {\partial\nu}=\cdots={\partial^{m-1}u\over\partial\nu^{m-1}}=0,\qquad {\partial^mu\over\partial\nu^m}= \text{const}, \quad\text{ on }\partial\Omega \] is considered [for \(m=1,\lambda=0\), see \textit{J. Serrin}, Arch. Rat. Mech. Anal. 43, 304-318 (1971; Zbl 0222.31007)]. A generalization of the integral reformulation of this problem [see \textit{N. B. Willms, M. Chamberland} and \textit{G. M. L. Gladwell}, Z. Angew. Math. Phys. 46, 623-629 (1995; Zbl 0842.35066)] to the case \(m>1\) is obtained. For \(\mu=0\) and \(\partial\Omega\in C^{3m,\alpha}\) (\(\alpha\in(0,1]\)) it is proved that the following statements are equivalent: (i) There exists a non-trivial solution to (1) in \(C^{2m,\alpha}(\overline\Omega)\); (ii) \(\int_{\partial\Omega} \partial^{m-1}w/\partial\nu^{m-1} ds=0\) for all \(w\in C^{2m,\alpha} (\overline\Omega)\) satisfying the homogeneous equation (1) and the conditions \(w=\cdots={\partial^{m-2}u\over\partial\nu^{m-2}}=0\) on \(\partial\Omega\). The Schiffer conjecture is considered too: if for some \(\lambda>0\), \(\mu\not=0\) there exists \(u\in C^2(\overline\Omega)\) such that \(\Delta^2u=\lambda^2u+\lambda u\), in \(\Omega\); \(u=0, \partial u/\partial\nu=c', \Delta u=c'', \partial\Delta u/\partial\nu= \lambda c'\), on \(\partial\Omega\), must \(\Omega\) be a ball? In some cases characterizations of open balls by means of integral identities [see \textit{H.-C. Grunau} and \textit{G. Sweers}, Math. Nachr. 179, 89-102 (1996; Zbl 0863.35016)] are obtained.