Nontrivial solution of third-order nonlinear eigenvalue problems (Q2496006)

This paper deals with a third-order eigenvalue problem of the form \[ u'''=\lambda f(t,u,u'), \quad 0<t<1, \qquad u(0)=u'(\eta)=u''(0)=0, \] where \(\lambda>0\) is a parameter, \(1/2 \leq \eta <1\) is a constant and \(f : [0,1] \times {\mathbb R} \times {\mathbb R} \to {\mathbb R}\) is continuous. Under the assumption that \(f=f(t,x,y)\) has a linear growth in \(x,y\), the existence of \(\lambda^{\ast}\) is proved, s.t. for all \(\lambda \in (0,\lambda^{\ast})\), the problem given has a nontrivial solution. The proof is performed in the framework of Leray-Schauder continuation principle. Under a Lipschitz condition, uniqueness is obtained as well.