Second-order Sturm--Liouville problems with asymmetric, superlinear nonlinearities. (Q1400269)

The author considers the nonlinear Sturm-Liouville problem \[ -(p(x)u'(x))'+q(x)u(x)=f(x,u(x),u'(x)), \text{ in }(0,\pi), \] \[ c_{00}u(0)+c_{01}u'(0)=0, \quad c_{10}u(\pi)+c_{11}u'(\pi)=0, \] where \(p\in C^1[0,\pi]\), \(q\in C[0,\pi]\), with \(p(x)>0\) for all \(x\in[0,\pi]\), and \(c_{i0}^2+c_{i1}^2>0\), \(i=0,1\). Further, it is supposed that \(f:[0,\pi]\times \mathbb{R}^2\to\mathbb{R}\) is continuous, superlinear as \(u\to\infty\), and linearly bounded as \(u\to-\infty\). The main results are presented in form of two theorems (the second one with a stronger condition on \(f\)) in which conditions are given guaranteeing the existence of solutions to the above problem having special nodal properties. The results generalize those due to \textit{A. Capietto} and \textit{W. Dambrosio} [Nonlinear Anal., Theory Methods Appl. 38A, No. 7, 869--896 (1999; Zbl 0952.34012)] in several aspects. Quite detailed comparison between those results is given, as well as a comparison with some results from \textit{D. Arcoya} and \textit{S. Villegas} [Math. Z. 219, No.4, 499--513 (1995; Zbl 0834.35048)] and from \textit{H. Berestycki} [J. Differ. Equations 26, 375--390 (1977; Zbl 0331.34020)].