Exact number of solutions of a one-dimensional Dirichlet problem with jumping nonlinearities (Q1374830)

The existence and multiplicity of solutions of \[ u''+ a^2u^+- b^2u^-= h(t)+ r,\quad u(0)= u(\pi)= 0\tag{1} \] is studied under the assumptions that \(h\in L^2(0,\pi)\), \(r\) is a real parameter and \(1<b<a\). Then it is proved that there exists an \(r_0\in\mathbb{R}\) (depending on \(a\), \(b\) and \(h\)) such that (1) has at least one solution if \(r>r_0\). Moreover, if there exists \(p\in\mathbb{N}\) such that \[ {p+1\over a}+ {p\over b}< 1<{p\over a}+ {p+1\over b}\tag{2} \] and \({b\over a}>\sqrt{{p\over p+1}}\), then there exist \(r_0< r_1\) such that (1) has exactly two solutions if \(r>r_1\) and no solution if \(r<r_0\). Further, if (2) is satisfied and \(b<2p\), then there exists an \(r_0\in\mathbb{R}\) such that (1) has at least four solutions if \(| r|> r_0\).