Critical points of a nonlinear functional related to the one-dimensional Ginzburg-Landau model of a superconducting-normal-superconducting junction (Q2475159)

Consider the functional \[ F(a)=2\int_{-\gamma}^{\gamma} (a'(x)-h)^2\, dx- \Big\{\int_{-\gamma}^{-d}+\int_d^\gamma\Big\} [\max\{1-(a(x))^2,0\}]^2\,dx, \] which arises in modeling an S-N-S (Josephson) junction. The authors give a detailed analysis of the critical points, in dependence on the parameters \(d,\gamma,h\). An intricate structure is revealed, with exactly one, two or three solutions for different domains in the parameter space. Moreover, the authors determine which of the critical points are minimizers of the functional.