Existence and multiplicity results for some nonlinear problems with singular \(\phi\)-Laplacian (Q2464481)

The authors are interested in existence and multiplicity results for nonlinear boundary value problems of the form: \[ (\phi(u'))'=f(t,u,u'), \qquad \qquad l(u,u')=0, \] where \(l(u,u')=0\) denotes the Dirichlet, periodic or Neumann boundary conditions on \([0,T]\), \(\phi : ]-a,a[ \to \mathbb{R}\) is an increasing homeomorphism, \(\phi(0)=0\). These problems are reduced to the search for fixed points of certain operators, which is achieved through Leray-Schauder degree theory. A novel and remarkable feature linked to the nature of the function \(\phi\), is that the image of those operator is contained in the cylinder of functions such that \(\max_{[0,T]} | v'| <a \). This property greatly simplifies the search of a priori bounds required by a Leray-Schauder approach, and allows existence results under milder conditions than in the corresponding problems with classical \(\phi: \mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}\) or bounded \(\phi: \mathbb{R}\to ]-a,a[\) considered in earlier papers. An interesting consequence is that the Dirichlet problem is always solvable. For Neumann and periodic boundary conditions the authors derive existence results for nonlinearities which satisfy some sign conditions, upper and lower solutions theorems, Ambrosetti-Prodi type results. They also prove Lazer-Solimini type results for singular nonlinearities and periodic boundary conditions.