On the multiplicity of radial solutions to superlinear Dirichlet problems in bounded domains. (Q1419817)

The existence and multiplicity of radial solutions to the Dirichlet problem \[ \Delta u+q(| x| )g(u)=w(| x| ,u) \] for \(| x| <1\), \(x\in \mathbb R^N\) and \(u(x)=0\) if \(| x| =1\), where \(N\geq3\) is considered. Here \(g:\mathbb R\to \mathbb R\) is locally Lipschitz, \(q:[0,1]\to \mathbb R\) is of class \(C^1\) and \(w:[0,1]\times \mathbb R\to \mathbb R\) is continuous and bounded. Let us illustrate the results obtained on a particular case when \(g(u)=u| u| ^{p-1}\), \(p>1\). Theorem A. For \(\beta>0\) and \(h>0\) such that \(q(r)\sim \beta r^h\) as \(r\to 0^+\), and \(1<p<(N+2+2h)/(N-2)\), there exists a natural integer \(n^*\) such that for every integer \(n\geq n^*\) there exist two radial solutions \(u_n\) and \(v_n\) such that \(v_n(0)<0<u_n(0)\). Moreover, \(u_n\) and \(v_n\) have exactly \(n\) zeros in \((0,1)\). Theorem B. Under previous conditions, let us suppose that \(q(0)>0\) and let \(1<p<(N+2)/(N-2)\). Then there exists a natural integer \(n^*\) such that for every integer \(n\geq n^*\) there exist two radial solutions \(u_n\) and \(v_n\) such that \(v_n(0)<0<u_n(0)\). Moreover, \(u_n\) and \(v_n\) have exactly \(n\) zeros in \((0,1)\). The general results do not require any homogeneity assumption on \(g\). In the proofs classical methods of ordinary differential equations are applied and some phase-plane analysis and a shooting approach are developed.