Global solutions of an obstacle-problem-like equation with two phases (Q1885256)

The regularity of the obstacle-problem-like equation \[ \Delta u= {\lambda_+\over 2} \chi\{u> 0\}- {\lambda_-\over 2} \chi\{u< 0\}\quad\text{in }\Omega, \] where \(\lambda_+> 0\), \(\lambda_-> 0\) and \(\Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^n\), is studied. The equation arises by minimizing the cost functional \[ \int_\Omega (|\nabla u|^2+ \lambda_+\max(u, 0)+ \lambda_-\max(- u,0))\,dx \] over an appropriate space. Possible applications of this functional may come in several problems when the external force is a function of \(u\) itself, in this case the external force is \[ \lambda_+ H(u)- \lambda_-H(- u). \] The authors are interested in the true two-phase part of the free boundary with vanishing gradient. As a first step towards regularity, they give a complete characterization of global two-phase solutions with quadratic growth at \(0\) and infinity: it turns out that each such solution coincides after rotation with the one-dimensional solution \[ u(x)= {\lambda_+\over 4} \max(x_n, 0)^2- {\lambda_-\over 4} \min(x_n, 0)^2. \]