Some results on the \(p(u)\)-Laplacian problem (Q2324852)

The authors study the \(p\)-Laplacian problem with the exponent of nonlinearity \(p\) depending on the solution \(u\). Both cases, that is, when \(p(u)\) is a local quantity, and when \(p(u)\) is nonlocal, are considered. More specifically, for the local problem let \(\Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^d\), with \(d\ge 2\), and \(p:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow[1,\infty)\) and consider \[ -\text{div}(|\nabla u|^{p(u)-2}\nabla u)=f \ \text{ in } \Omega, \qquad u=0 \ \text{ on } \partial\Omega. \] The nonlocal version considered is \[ -\text{div}(|\nabla u|^{p(b(u))-2}\nabla u)=f \ \text{ in } \Omega, \qquad u=0 \ \text{ on } \partial\Omega, \] where \(p:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow [1,\infty)\), \(b:W^{1,\alpha}_0(\Omega)\rightarrow\mathbb{R}\), and \(1<\alpha<\infty\). The first main goal of the paper is, for the associated boundary value local problem, existence of weak solutions. The key ingredient in this part of the paper is a singular perturbation technique. The second main goal is existence of weak solutions to the nonlocal version of the associated boundary value problem. The authors use the Minty trick together with the technique of \textit{V. V. Zhikov} [Funct. Anal. Appl. 43, No. 2, 96--112 (2009); translation from Funkts. Anal. Prilozh. 43, No. 2, 19--38 (2009; Zbl 1271.35033)]. Finally, the authors also consider uniqueness for both cases. In particular, the authors show uniqueness for a one dimensional local problem, and also show that uniqueness is easily lost in the nonlocal problem.