Morse index and symmetry-breaking for positive solutions of one-dimensional Hénon type equations (Q2434370)

This paper investigates the two point boundary value problem \[ u''+ h(x)f(u)=0 \text{ for } x\in (-1,1), u(-1)=u(1)=0, \] which is more general than the one-dimensional Henon equation. The author emphasizes the effect of \(h(x)\) on the number of solutions in case that the function \(f(s)\) is simple and superlinear, that is \(f(s)/s\) is increasing: number of positive solutions, uniqueness of positive solutions and nonuniqueness of positive solutions are considered. In addition, Morse index of a positive even solution is calculated. For the special case when \(f(u)=u^p\), \(p>1\), a positive even solution with Morse index greater than or equal to 2 and two positive non even solutions which are the least energy solutions with Morse index equals to 1 are obtained respectively. The positive even solution is unique and nondegenerate and its Morse index equals 2 when \(h(x)\) satisfies certain condition.