Multiple solutions with precise sign for nonlinear parametric Robin problems (Q2438109)

The paper deals with a parametric nonlinear Robin problem driven by the \(p\)-Laplacian operator \[ \begin{cases} \displaystyle -\Delta_p u(z)=\lambda |u(z)|^{p-2} u(z)-f(z,u(z)) & \text{in}\;\Omega,\\ {{\partial u}\over{\partial n_p}}(z)+\beta(z)|u(z)|^{p-2} u(z)=0 & \text{on}\;\partial\Omega, \end{cases} \] where \({{\partial u}\over{\partial n_p}}=\|Du\|^{p-2}(Du,n)_{{\mathbb R}^N}\) with \(n(z)\) being the outward normal to the boundary of the bounded and \(C^2\)-smooth domain \(\Omega\subset {\mathbb R}^N,\) \(\lambda>0\) is a parameter and \(f(z,u)\) is a Carathéodory function. The authors show that if \(\lambda\) is greater than the second eigenvalue of the Robin \(p\)-Laplacian, then the problem has at least three nontrivial solutions, two of constant sign and the third nodal. In the semilinear case \(p=2,\) a second nodal solution is generated. The approach makes use of variational methods, truncation and perturbation techniques, as well as the Morse theory.