Convex solutions of boundary value problems (Q2368680)

The existence of convex solutions of the boundary value problem \[ ((u'(t))^n)' = nt^{n-1} f(-u(t)),\quad u'(0)=0,\quad u(1)= 0, \] is studied. This problem arises in the study of the existence of convex radial solutions for the Dirichlet problem of the Monge-Ampère equation. Setting \(v=-u,\) the problem is equivalent to find a positive solution of \(((-v')^n)'= nt^{n-1}f(v)\), \(v'(0)=v(1)=0\). Thus, using a well known fixed-point theorem in cones, the following result is obtained: Assume that \(f:[0,+\infty) \to [0,+\infty)\) is continuous, and let \[ f_0 := \lim_{u\to 0} \frac{f(u)}{u^n},\qquad f_\infty := \lim_{u\to \infty} \frac{f(u)}{u^n}. \] Then the problem admits at least a nontrivial convex solution provided that one of the following assumptions holds: 1) \(f_0=0\) and \(f_\infty=\infty\). 2) \(f_0=\infty\) and \(f_\infty=0\).