New type of solutions for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation in \(\mathbb{R}^N\) (Q2168030)

Solutions \(u \in H^1(\mathbb{R}^N)\) of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation \[ -\Delta u + V(|y|)u = u^p, u>0\tag{1} \] are constructed when \(1<p<\frac{N+2}{N-2}\), \(N \ge 3\), and the radial potential \(V\) is positive, bounded and \[ V(|y|) =V_0 + \frac{a}{|y|^m} + O\left(\frac{1}{|y|^{m+\sigma}}\right) \text{ as }\: |y| \to \infty \] for some constants \(V_0, a,\sigma>0 \) and \(m> \max\{\frac{4}{p-1},2\}\). More precisely, let \(U\) be the radial solution of (1) when \(V =0\) and so that \(U(y) \to 0\) as \(|y|\to 0\). Define \(W_{r,h}(y)= \sum_{j=1}^{2k}U(y-x_j)\) where the \(2k\) points \(x_j\) are symmetrically chosen on the sphere \(y_1^2+y_2^2+y_3^2=r^2\) intersected with the two 2D planes \(y_3=\pm rh\), \(y_j=0, 4\le j \le N\). The parameters \(r,h>0\) are chosen in a small range dependent on \(k\). The main result is: For all \(k\) large enough there is a solution \(u_k\) of (1) of the form \(u_k = W_{r_k,h_k}+\omega_k\) where \(\omega_k\in H^1(\mathbb{R}^N)\) has certain symmetry properties and \[ \int_{\mathbb{R}^N}|\nabla \omega_k|^2+V|\omega_k|^2 \to 0 \text{ as } k \to \infty. \] This result is related to that of \textit{J. Wei} and \textit{S. Yan} [Calc. Var. Partial Differ. Equ. 37, No. 3--4, 423--439 (2010; Zbl 1189.35106)]. The latter result is roughly equivalent to taking \(h=0\) above.