On a singular nonlinear elliptic equation (Q4344882)

The author studies the existence of positive solutions \(u\in C^2(B_R)\cap C^1(\overline B_R)\) of the following singular Dirichlet problem: \[ u^\alpha(\Delta u+u)- u/\alpha= 0,\quad x\in B_R,\quad u(x)=0,\quad x\in \partial B_R. \] Here \(B_R= \{x\in\mathbb{R}^n:|x|< R\}\), \(1<\alpha<2\). The motivation for studying this problem is its relation to a certain singular nonlinear parabolic problem which models many physical situations. The author gives necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of positive solutions of this Dirichlet problem.