Three solutions for a two-point boundary value problem with the prescribed mean curvature equation. (Q499061)

The authors investigate the boundary value problem \[ -\left(\frac {u'} {\sqrt{1 + |u'|^2}}\right)' = \lambda \theta(t)f(u) \quad \text{in } (0,1), \qquad u(0)= u(1)= 0, \] where \(\theta : [0,1]\to \mathbb R\) is continuous, \(f : \mathbb R\to \mathbb R\) is continous and \(\lambda > 0\) is a parameter. Assuming sublinear behavior of \(f\) at zero, the explicit value of \(\lambda^* >0\) is computed, such that for each \(\lambda \in (0,\lambda^*)\) there exist at least three nontrivial classical solutions (one positive, one negative and one between them). The proofs are based on variational approach; the investigation is inspired by [\textit{G. Bonnano} et al., NoDEA, Nonlinear Differ. Equ. Appl. 22, No. 3, 411--426 (2015; Zbl 1410.34073)] and [\textit{F. Obersnel} and \textit{P. Omari}, Contemp. Math. 540, 165--185 (2011; Zbl 1236.35052)]. The positive and negative solutions are guaranteed by local minimum theorem due to \textit{G. Bonanno} [Adv. Nonlinear Anal. 1, No. 3, 205--220 (2012; Zbl 1277.35170)]. The third solution is of mountain pass type and it is obtained by truncation techniques, the Pucci-Serrin maximum principle and the second deformation lemma.