Non-existence of one-signed solutions for variational equations with locally amplifying potentials (Q1360184)

It is considered the general variational equation \[ (g(t)G_p(u,u'))'- g(t)G_u(u,u')+ g(t)f(t,u)=0, \] where \(G\in{\mathcal C}^1(\mathbb{R}^2)\), \(G(u,\cdot)\) being strictly convex. The main tool is the variational identity of \textit{P. Pucci} and \textit{J. Serrin} [Ind. Univ. Math. J. 35, 681-703 (1986; Zbl 0625.35027)]. Throughout the paper there are obtained asymptotic estimates for solutions as \(t\to\infty\). These results are applied to obtain nonexistence theorems for solutions tending to zero as \(t\to\infty\). Finally, it is studied the initial value problem \[ (g(t)G'(u'))'+ g(t)f(u)=0,\quad u(0)=\alpha>0,\quad u'(0)=0 \] showing that \(u(t)>0\), \(t>0\) provided \(0<\alpha<\mu\) and \(u(t)\to\xi\neq\mu\) as \(t\to\infty\) or it is oscillatory.