Elliptic equations with absorption in a half-space (Q2396987)

This paper deals with the existence or nonexistence of solutions of the semilinear elliptic equation \(\Delta u=f(u)\) in \({\mathbb R}^N_+\). It is assumed that \(f:{\mathbb R}\rightarrow [0,\infty)\) is continuous, nondecresing, and satisfies the Keller-Osserman condition. The main result of this paper establishes an interesting necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of solutions. The proof combines elementary arguments on differential equations with a diagonal argument and elliptic estimates.