On the second minimax level of the scalar field equation and symmetry breaking (Q2255368)

The authors study the eigenvalue problem \(-\Delta u+ V(x)u= \mu | u|^{p-2} u\) in \(\mathbb R^N\) with \(N\geq 2\), \(V\subset L^\infty(\mathbb R^N)\) and \(\lim_{| x| -\infty} V(x)= V^\infty> 0\) for the scalar field equation. They study the second minimax level \(\mu\) when \(W(x)= V^\infty- V(x)\geq ce^{-a| x|}\) for some constants \(a>0\) and \(c>0\) and prove the existence of an eigenfunction. Some results for the higher minimax levels are also obtained concerning both radial and non-radial eigenfunctions.