Some comparison and uniqueness theorems for nonlinear elliptic boundary value problems and nonlinear parabolic initial-boundary value problems (Q4354586)

Comparison theorems are proved for positive solutions of quasilinear elliptic boundary value problems of type \[ Lu= f(x,u,\nabla u)\quad\text{in }\Omega,\quad u|_S= g(x),\quad \nu\nabla u|_T= h(x,u)\tag{1} \] in a bounded domain \(\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n\) whose boundary is the union of disjoint subsets \(S\), \(T\), where \(L\) denotes a linear elliptic operator of second order, \(f:\Omega\times\mathbb{R}_+\times \mathbb{R}^n\to\mathbb{R}\), \(g: S\to\mathbb{R}_+\), \(h: T\times\mathbb{R}_+\to\mathbb{R}\), and \(\nu: T\to\mathbb{R}^n\) is a nontrivial regular outward boundary vector function. Notation: \(Mu= Lu- f(x,u,\nabla u)\); \(Bu=\nu\nabla u- h(x,u)\). For a suitable test function \(\phi\in C^1(\mathbb{R}_+,\mathbb{R}_+)\), one main comparison theorem gives sufficient conditions for the inequalities \(Mu/\phi(u)\geq Mv/\phi(v)\) in \(\Omega\), \(u\geq v\) on \(S\), and \(Bu/\phi(u)\geq Bv/\phi(v)\) on \(T\) to imply that \(u\geq v\) throughout \(\Omega\). As an application, a uniqueness theorem for (1) is obtained in the case \(S=\partial\Omega\) and \[ f(x,u,t)= p(x)u^a(1+|t|^2)^b- q(x)u^c(1+|t|^2)^d \] for functions \(p,q:\Omega\to\mathbb{R}_+\) and suitable constants \(a\), \(b\), \(c\), \(d\); the test function employed is \(\phi(s)= s^\lambda\), \(s>0\), where \(\lambda\) is restricted according to \(a\), \(b\), \(c\), \(d\). Parallel comparison theorems are proved for associated parabolic initial-boundary value problems in \(\Omega\times\mathbb{R}_+\). A comparison theorem for (1) is also obtained in an unbounded domain \(\Omega\).