On the multiplicity of nodal solutions to a singularly perturbed Neumann problem (Q2390731)

The paper is concerned with the existence of sign-changing solutions (also known as nodal solutions) in the following singularly perturbed boundary value problem \[ -\varepsilon^2 \Delta u + u = |u|^{p-1}u\quad\text{in}\quad\Omega, \qquad\frac{\partial u}{\partial\nu}=0\quad\text{on}\quad\partial\Omega, \tag{*} \] where \(\Omega\) is a bounded domain in \(\mathbb{R}^N\), \(p\in(1,\infty)\) if \(N=2\), \(p\in(1,(N+2)/(N-2))\) if \(N\geq 3\), \(\nu\) is the unit outer normal to \(\partial\Omega\), and \(\varepsilon\) is a small parameter. Using a combination of Lyapunov-Schmidt reduction method with variational techniques, the authors prove two statements. First, if the mean curvature \(H\) is not a constant on \(\partial\Omega\), then for sufficiently small \(\varepsilon\) problem (*) has at least one nodal solution which has one negative peak close to the position of \(\max_{\partial\Omega} H\) and one positive peak close to the position of \(\min_{\partial\Omega} H\). Second, if \(\Omega\) is a unit ball in \(\mathbb{R}^N\) and \(N\geq 3\), then for every \(k\geq 1\) and \(\varepsilon\) small enough problem (*) has at least one nodal solution with two positive peaks close to the poles \((0,\dots,0,\pm 1)\) of ball and \(k\) negative peaks which are equidistantly distributed along the circle \(x_1^2+x_2^2=1\).