Multiplicity of ground states for the scalar curvature equation (Q2297632)

This interesting paper concerns the existence and multiplicity of radial ground states of the scalar curvature equation \[ \Delta u+K(|x|)u^{\frac{n+2}{n-2}}=0,\quad x\in\mathbb{R}^n, \tag{1} \] where \(n\geq 3\), and the function \(K(r)\) is bounded between two positive constants \(\underline{K}\) and \(\overline{K}\). In the past several decades, the effects of the behavior of \(K(r)\) on the existence or non-existence of ground states have been studied by many authors. For instance, \textit{W. Ding} and \textit{W. Ni} [Duke Math. J. 52, 485--506 (1985; Zbl 0592.35048)] found that, for decreasing non-constant \(K(r)\), (1) admits infinitely many ground states with slow decay, and for increasing non-constant \(K(r)\) (1) has no ground states. \textit{R. A. Johnson} et al. [Indiana Univ. Math. J. 43, No. 3, 1045--1077 (1994; Zbl 0818.35025)] showed that multiplicity of ground states can be produced if the derivative \(K'(r)\) changes sign many times. \textit{C.-C. Chen} and \textit{C.-S. Lin} [Commun. Partial Differ. Equations 24, No. 5--6, 785--799 (1999; Zbl 0953.58023)] found that if \(K(r)\) has a minimum and is sufficiently close to a constant, then (1) has many ground states with fast decay. \textit{J. Wei} and \textit{S. Yan} [J. Funct. Anal. 258, No. 9, 3048--3081 (2010; Zbl 1209.53028)] found infinitely many non-radial ground states when \(K(r)\) has a positive maximum. In the present paper, the authors improve the results of Chen and Lin [loc. cit.] by considering a non-perturbative situation, and prove existence of multiple ground states assuming that the ratio \(\overline{K}/\underline{K}\) is smaller than some computable values. To obtain these accurate results, the authors perform a very careful phase plane analysis, and combine the geometric structure of the flows with an asymptotic result of Chen and Lin [loc. cit].