On Dirichlet two-point boundary value problems for the Ermakov-Painlevé IV equation (Q2346485)

The authors deal with a nonlinear two-point boundary value problem motivated by a model in soliton theory. The problem is the existence of positive solutions to \[ u''=\left(\frac{3}{4}u^4+2xu^2+x^2-\alpha\right)u+\frac{\beta}{2u^3}, \quad u(0)=u_0,\;\,u(1)=u_1\eqno(*) \] where \(u_0,\,u_1\) are given positive numbers and \(\alpha,\,\beta \) given real constants. The main results are the following: {\parindent=6mm \begin{itemize} \item[1)] If \(\beta<0\) the problem is always solvable, the solution is unique if \(\alpha\) does not exceed the first eigenvalue of \[ u''=(x^2-\lambda)u, \quad u(0)=0,\;\,u(1)=0. \] \item [2)] If \(\beta>0\), and given \(u_0>0\), either the problem is unsolvable or there exists a number \(c>0\) so that the problem is solvable if and only if \(u_1\geq c\). \end{itemize}} A class of generalized solutions (lacuna solutions) is introduced: a lacuna solution of (*) is a continuous function in \([0,1]\) so that there exists a finite set \(B\subset(0,1)\) such that \(u(0)=u_0\), \(u(1)=u_1\), \(u\equiv 0\) on \(B\) and \(u>0\) and satisfies the differential equation in (*) on \((0,1)\setminus B\). It is shown in the paper that there are no lacuna solutions if \(\beta>0\). On the other hand, if \(\beta<0\) and \(0<x_1<\cdots<x_n<1\) are given, then there exists a lacuna solution of (*) vanishing at \(x_i\), \(i=1,\cdots, n\). The proofs use continuation methods, shooting, lower and upper solutions and time maps.