A minimization problem involving a critical Sobolev exponent and its related Euler-Lagrange equation (Q1814194)

Let \(\Omega\subset R^ n\), \(n\geq 3\), be a strictly star-shaped domain. The authors study the minimization problem \(I_ \alpha=\inf\{I(u): u\in H_ 0^ 1(\Omega), \| u\| _{2^*}^{2^*}=\alpha\}\), where \(2^*=2n/(n-2)\) and \[ I(u)=\int_ \Omega (a_{ij}(x,u)D_ iuD_ ju+h(x)u^ 2). \] Because of the dependence of \(a_{ij}\) on \(u\), the concentration compactness principle of P. L. Lions cannot be used directly. Nevertheless, under suitable hypotheses on \(a_{ij}\) and \(h\), they are able to prove that if there exists a \(\lambda >0\) such that \(I_ \lambda< \lambda^{2/2^*}I^ \infty\), where \(I^ \infty\) is a constant depending on \(a_{ij}\) and \(\Omega\), then \(\alpha_ 0\in (0,\lambda]\) exists such that \(I_{\alpha_ 0}\) is attained. Then, using the hole-filling method and a reverse Hölder inequality, they show that the minimizer is bounded. As a consequence, the problem \[ -D_ i(a_{ij}(x,u)D_ ju)+{1 \over 2}a_{ij_ u}(x,u)D_ iuD_ ju+h(x)u=\mu| u| ^{2^*-2}u, \] in \(\Omega\), \(u=0\) on \(\partial\Omega\), admits a nontrivial nonnegative solution.