Fading absorption in non-linear elliptic equations (Q2447528)

The equation studied in this paper is \(-\Delta u+h(x)|u|^{q-1}u=0\) on \({\mathbb R}^N_+={\mathbb R}^{N-1}\times{\mathbb R}_+\), where \(q>1\), and \(h\in C(\overline{{\mathbb R}^N_+})\). If \(h>0\) on \({\mathbb R^N_+}\), then singularities of solutions cannot propagate to the interior. There is a so-called ``large solution'' for which the limit of \(f(x_j)\) for any bounded sequence \((x_j)\) approaching the boundary is \(\infty\). As a model case for \(h\) vanishing on some set with accumulation point in the boundary, the authors allow \(h\) to vanish on \(F:=\{(0,x_n)\in{\mathbb R}^N: x_N>0\}\). This leaves open the possibility of a singularity in the origin propagating along \(F\), which means the existence of a sequence \((u_n)\) of solutions converging in \({\mathbb R}^N\backslash F\) but tending to \(\infty\) at some points of \(F\). Supposing \(h(x',x_N)\leq h_0(|x'|)\) for some function \(h_0\), the idea is that the faster \(h_0(s)\) tends to zero as \(s\searrow0\), the more likely a boundary singularity can propagate to the interior. There is a more or less sharp result which makes this reasoning precise, estimating \(h\) with functions of the form \(h_0(s)=\exp(-{\omega(s)\over s})\). If \(\omega\) satisfies some Dini condition, then the propagation cannot occur, while it does happen if the Dini condition is violated.