Positive solutions of small norm to a quasilinear elliptic inclusion problem (Q1575793)

The authors consider \textit{positive} solutions to the initial value problem \[ \begin{cases} u'(r)\in\psi(|v(r)|),\\ -(av)'(r)\in b(r)f(u(r)),\hfill 0<r<R\leq\infty,\\ u(0)=u_0>0,\qquad v(0)=0,\\ u\quad\text{nonincreasing\quad and\quad \(v\leq 0\) on }[0, R), \end{cases} \] which arises in the study of radially symmetric solutions to the canonical inclusion \[ -\text{div}(g(|Du|)Du)\in f(u)\quad\text{in}\Omega, \] where \(\Omega\) is either a ball of \(\mathbb{R}^n\), or \(\mathbb{R}^n\) itself, where \(\phi(s)=sg(s)\), \(s>0\), \(\phi(0+)=0\), is assumed strictly increasing, \(a(r)=b(r)=r^{n-1}\), \(r=|x|\), and \(\psi=\phi^{-1}\); and also in the radial form of \(k\)-Hessian type equations. The authors establish interesting sufficient criteria under natural assumptions on the functions given in the problem and natural restrictions on the growth of \(f\) which arise from the use of an underlying variational identity in terms of the Hamiltonian function associated to the problem. The paper contains also concrete examples covered by the main results, as well as interesting remarks and conclusions, also in the smooth single-valued subcase covered by the inclusion case treated.