Eigenvalues for double phase variational integrals (Q343497)

A nonlinear eigenvalue problem concerning double phase integrals is studied in this paper. The results which are obtained are similar to the well-known ones for the \(p(x)\)-Laplacian (and the standard \(p\)-Laplacian). More precisely, the authors prove the existence of a first (positive) eigenvalue and eigenfunction for the functional \(I(u)=\int_\Omega H(x,|\nabla u|)\,dx\), where \(H(x,t)= t^p+ a(x) t^q\), with \(1< p<q< N\), \(a(x)\geq 0\), \(\Omega\) is a Lipschitz domain in \(\mathbb{R}^N\) and moreover \(q/p< 1+ 1/N\). The problem is studied in the framework of Musielak-Orlicz spaces. Existence of an infinite sequence of eigenvalues is also proved by using a minimax method. Other properties (continuity and stability of eigenvalues with respect to \(p\) and other parameters) are obtained as well. The simplicity of the first eigenvalue is not considered. All these results are consistent with the known ones for the \(p\)-Laplacian. This problem involves a non-standard growth condition for the functional and applications to strongly anisotropic materials.