A compression type mountain pass theorem in conical shells (Q2473964)

Let \(X\subset H\equiv H'\subset X'\) be the chain of two Hilbert spaces \(X\) and \(H\) with norms \(| \cdot | \) and \(\| \cdot \| \). Let \(0\neq K\subset X\) be a nonempty closed convex set such that \(\lambda u\in K\) \(\forall u\in K\) and \(\lambda\geq0\). The author studies critical points of a functional \(E\in C^1(X,\mathbb R) \) such that \((I-JE')(K)\subset K\), where \(J:X'\to X\) is the canonical isomorphism. Let \[ K_{R_0R_1}=\{u\in K: \| u\| \geq R_0,\;| u| \leq R_1\} \] where \(0<R_0<cR_1\) and \(c\) is the embedding constant of \(X\subset H\). Assume that the following linking condition holds: there are \(u_0\), \(u_1\), \(r>0\) with \(| u_0| <r<| u_1| \) and \[ \max \{E(u_0),\,E(u_1)\}<\inf_{u\in K_{R_0R_1},\;| u| =r}E(u). \] If moreover \(I-JE'\) is compact in \(X\), \[ \| (I-JE')(u)\| \geq\| u\|,\;\| u\| =R_0 \] and \[ | (I-JE')(u)| \leq| u|,\;| u| =R_1, \] then it is shown that \(E\) has a critical point in \(K_{R_0R_1}\) and its critical value is the usual ``mountain pass'' level constructed with paths in \(K_{R_0R_1}\) connecting \(u_0\) and \(u_1\). The existence of a minimum of \(E\) is also addressed. The proofs use the construction of a semiflow in the convex \(K\) and the deformation technique. As an application, the boundary value problem \[ u''+f(u)=0, \qquad u(0)=u(1)=0\tag{1} \] is considered with a continuous function \(f:\mathbb R_+\to\mathbb R_+\). Under technical conditions on the ratio \(f(u)/u\), it is proved that (1) has at least two positive solutions. The author gives a concrete example where the conditions are satisfied. It seems that the method could be used also for some nonautonomous equations.