Multiple positive solutions for semilinear elliptic equations in ℝ involving critical exponents (Q4259701)

From the introduction. Our concern is on existence of multiple solutions for the problem \[ \begin{cases} -\Delta u+ a(x)u= h(x) u^q+ u^{2^*- 1}\quad\text{in }\mathbb{R}^N,\\ u\geq 0,\quad u\not\equiv 0,\quad \int a(x) u^2<\infty,\end{cases}\tag{1} \] where \(a:\mathbb{R}^N\to \mathbb{R}\) is a nonnegative \(L^\infty_{\text{loc}}\) function, \(h: \mathbb{R}^N\to \mathbb{R}\) is measurable, \(2^*= {2N\over N-2}\), \(N\geq 3\), and \(0<q<1\). By a solution of (1) we mean a function \(u\in{\mathcal D}^{1,2}\equiv{\mathcal D}^{1,2}(\mathbb{R}^N)\) satisfying (1) in the weak sense. We recall that \({\mathcal D}^{1,2}\) is the closure of \({\mathcal C}^\infty_0\) with respect to the norm given by \[ \|\phi\|^2_1= \int|\nabla \phi|^2. \] This kind of problem has been the object of study by many authors and one of its main features is the lack of compactness arising in connection with the use of variational methods.