Multiple solutions to a nonlinear curl-curl problem in \({\mathbb{R}}^3\) (Q2303864)

The authors study the curl-curl problem in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) \[\nabla \times (\nabla \times E) = f(x,E).\] In particular, the existence of ground states is proven (that is, a non-trivial least energy solution is shown to exist). Furthermore, the existence of infinitely many distinct bound states is also shown. The nonlinearities in this case are assumed to have supercritical growth at \(0\) and subcritical growth at infinity. The authors use critical point theory on a suitably defined generalized Nehari manifold. Finally, it is shown that this method can also be applied to the Schrödinger equation \(-\Delta u = f(x,u)\).