An upper and lower solution approach for a generalized Thomas-Fermi theory of neutral atoms (Q1877382)

Consider the two-point boundary value problem \[ y''= q(t) f(t,y),\quad 0< t< a,\quad y(0)= a_0,\quad ky'(a)= y(a),\quad k\geq a,\tag{\(*\)} \] where \(a> 0\) is fixed, \(q\in C(0,a)\cap L^1[0,a]\) with \(q> 0\) on \((0,a)\) and \(f: [0,a]\times \mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}\) is continuous. The authors prove the existence of a solution to \((*)\) provided there exists a pair of ordered lower and upper solutions and apply this result to a boundary value problem for the Thomas-Fermi equation \(y''= t^{-1/2}y^{3/2}\).