Multiple positive solutions for a class of semilinear elliptic boundary value problems (Q4265744)

Consider the semilinear elliptic boundary value problem \[ -\Delta u(x)=\lambda f\bigl(u(x) \bigr),\;x\in\Omega,\quad u(x)=0,\;x\in\partial \Omega,\tag{1} \] where \(\lambda>0\) is a parameter and \(\Omega\) is a bounded region in \(\mathbb{R}^n\) with smooth boundary \(\partial\Omega\). We will study the existence, multiplicity and non-existence of positive classical solutions (i.e. solutions in \(C^2(\Omega)\cap C^1(\overline\Omega))\) of Eq. (1). We assume that \(f\) is \(C^1\) and make the following additional assumptions (f1) \(f(0)=0\). (f2) \(f'(0)<0\). (f3) There exists \(\beta>0\) such that \(f(u)<0\) for \(u\in(0, \beta)\) and \(f(u)>0\) for \(u>\beta\). (f4) \(f\) is eventually increasing and \(\lim_{u\to\infty} f(u)/u=0\).