Variational properties of a nonlinear elliptic equation and rigidity (Q1567169)

The question discussed is the following: Under which conditions on the potential \(V\) are all classical solutions of the nonlinear equation \[ \Delta u= -V_u'(u, x_1,\dots, x_n) \] global minimizers for the functional \[ I(u)= \int{1\over 2}|\nabla u|^2- V(u, x_1,\dots, x_n) dx_1\cdots dx_n. \] A global minimizer is a smooth function on a domain of \(\mathbb{R}^n\) minimizing the integral \(I(u)\) over all bounded subdomains with smooth boundaries with respect to smooth functions with the same boundary values. One result gives sufficient conditions in order that any solution of the above equations is globally minimizing. Another result of the paper is that if \(n=2\) and \(V\) is radially symmetric and compactly supported, then there always exist radial nonminimal solutions of the above equation, unless \(V\) vanishes identically.