On a power-type coupled system of Monge-Ampère equations (Q519333)

Considering the system (P) of Monge-Ampère equations \[ \text{det}\,D^2 u_1 = (-u_2)^{\alpha} \; \text{in} \quad B, \qquad\text{det}\,D^2u_2 = (-u_1)^{\beta} \quad\text{in} \quad B \] \[ u_1< 0,\quad u_2< 0\quad\text{in}\quad B,\qquad u_1 = u_2 = 0 \quad \text{on} \quad\partial B, \] where \(B\) is the unit ball in \( \mathbb{R}^N\), \(N \geq 2\), \(\alpha>0\), \(\beta >0\), the authors prove new existence and nonexistence results of (radial convex) solutions of that system extending essentially Wang's conditions, who assumed for the existence that \(\alpha,\beta<N \) or \(\alpha,\beta>N\). Now also \(\alpha,\beta>0\) and \(\alpha\beta\not=N^2\) is possible for existence, and \(\alpha, \beta>0\) and \(\alpha \beta = N^2\) for nonexistence. Moreover, let (P') be the eigenvalue problem which is obtained from (P) replacing \(B\) by a bounded, smooth and stricgtly convex domain in \(\mathbb R^N\), \((-u_1)^\beta\) by \(\mu(-u_1)^\beta\) and \((-u_2)^\alpha\) by \(\lambda(-u_2)^\alpha\). Then, for \(\alpha,\beta>0\) and \(\alpha\beta\not=N^2\), the authors get a necessary and sufficient condition on the parameters for the existence of a convex solution. The proofs use beautiful functional analysis as, e.g., a result on the fixed point index in a cone in a Banach space (of continuous functions) together with completely continuous operators. Since the solutions are wanted to be smooth, higher regularity than continuity must be shown. It is also interesting that the principal eigenvalue of the Monge-Ampère operator can be used for a special version of the problem; and also that the partial order induced by a cone leads to an application of a version of the Krein-Rutman theorem, and that the subdifferential of \(u\) can be used to get a comparison principle for two convex functions (working with the Monge-Ampère measure).