On the semilinear Dirichlet problem for a class of nonlocal operators generating Dirichlet forms (Q4953586)

The authors consider a nonlinear Dirichlet problem for a nonlocal pseudodifferential operator \(p(x,D)\): \(p(x,D) u = f(x,u)\) in \(\Omega\), \(u = 0\) in \(\Omega^c\), where \(\Omega \subset {\mathbb R}^n\) is an open set. Here \(p(x,D)\) is a pseudodifferential operator with symbol \(p(x,\xi)\), which in general is not smooth, but a continuous negative definite function w.r.t. \(\xi\). These operators naturally appear as generators of Markovian semigroups. Under appropriate conditions on the symbol \(p(x,D)\) is also the generator of a symmetric Dirichlet form. Under a certain growth condition on the nonlinearity \(f\) the authors prove existence and uniqueness results for weak solutions of the Dirichlet problem by the classical approach using local minimizers of an associated energy functional. However, since pseudodifferential operators with non-smooth symbol are involved, the technique has to be modified by methods adapted to this case. These tools were already obtained in the previous work of the first author. The authors continue by taking into account that the operator \(p(x,D)\) generates a Dirichlet form and therefore satisfies certain truncation properties. This allows them to prove boundedness and positivity results for the solution of the Dirichlet problem, which are new in this nonlocal context. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0934.00032].