Superlinear convolution equations in \(\mathbb R^{N}\) (Q2489506)

The main goal of the paper is to investigate the solvability of the convolution equations \(u+\kappa*g(\cdot,u)=v\), with \(g:\mathbb{R}^N\times\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}\) and \(\kappa\) a given convolution kernel, by using the degree theory for Fredholm mappings of index zero. The degree theory for Fredholm mappings holds for proper maps and a significant part of the paper is devoted to show that in a suitable functional setting, the left-hand side of the equation satisfies the needed properness requirement. The properties of Orlicz-Sobolev spaces and a limiting process for a family of equations are relevant in this context. A~sequence of problems involving regularized convolution kernels and a limiting process allow to establish the main existence theorem for convolution equations with the required assumptions. Applications to classes of PDEs are discussed and modifications of the arguments to handle Volterra type equations are presented.