Entire nodal solutions to the pure critical exponent problem arising from concentration (Q2630897)

The paper concerns the existence of symmetric sign-changing solutions to the problem \((P_\infty):\) \(-\Delta u=|u|^{2^*-2}u\) on the space \(D^{1,2}(\mathbb{R}^N)\) for \(N\geq4\) and \(2^*=2N/(N-2)\) being the critical Sobolev exponent. Let \(\Gamma\) be a closed subgroup of \(O(N)\) and \(\phi:\Gamma\rightarrow \{1,-1\}\) be a continuous homomorphism of groups. Next, assume that \(\Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^N\) is a bounded \(\Gamma\)-invariant domain and consider a solution \(u\) to the boundary value problem \((P_p):\) \(-\Delta u=|u|^{p-2}u\), \(u=0\) on \(\partial \Omega\) satisfying \(u(\gamma x)=\phi(\gamma)u(x)\) for all \(\gamma\in\Gamma,x\in\Omega\). Note that, if \(\phi\) is is surjective, then any such non-zero solution is sign-changing. The main result gives a description of the asymptotic behaviour as \(p\rightarrow 2^*\) of sequences of solutions of the problems \((P_p)\). More precisely, it is proved that any sequence of minimizers on the corresponding Nehari manifolds either converges to a nontrivial solution (a minimizer) of the problem \((P_{2^*})\), or they blow up with asymptotic profiles described by a solution \(w\) of the problem \((P_\infty)\). The solution \(w\) itself satisfies \(w(\gamma x)=\phi(\gamma)w(x)\) for all \(\gamma\in K,x\in\mathbb{R}^N\) where \(K\) is a closed subgroup of finite index in \(\Gamma\). Several consequences are deduced. First, let \(\mathbb{R}^N\) be identified with \(\mathbb{C}\times\mathbb{C}\times\mathbb{R}^{N-4}\). It is shown that there exists a non-radial sign-changing solution \(\omega(z_1,z_2,x)\) of problem \((P_\infty)\) satisfying \(\omega(z_1,z_2,x)=\omega(e^{i\theta}z_1,e^{i\theta}z_2,x)\), for all \(\theta\in[0,2\pi]\) and \(\omega(z_1,z_2,x)=-\omega(-\bar{z}_2,\bar{z}_1,x)\). As another application, it is presented a new type of concentration for sequences of solutions to the problems \((P_p)\) as \(p\rightarrow 2^*\). These solutions blow up at a single point, but their asymptotic profile is neither a standard bubble nor a superposition of bubbles. In addition, new sign-changing solutions to the Bahri-Coron problem \((P_{2^*})\) in annular domains are obtained.