Multiple solutions for a class of semilinear elliptic problems via Nehari-type linking theorem (Q526915)

Given a bounded domain in \(\mathbb{R}^N\) \((N\geq 3)\), with smooth boundary \(\partial \Omega\), the authors establish existence and multiplicity results for the semilinear elliptic problem \[ -\Delta u+a(x)u=|u|^{p-2}u+f(x,u),\quad \text{in }\Omega,\quad u_{\partial \Omega}=0, \] where \(a\in L^{\frac{N}{2}}(\Omega)\), \(f\in C^1(\Omega \times \mathbb{R},\mathbb{R})\), and \(p\in (2,2N/(N-2))\). The main assumptions are suitable growth conditions at \(0\) and at \(\infty\) imposed on the nonlinearity \(f\). Under this assumptions, the corresponding energy function \(I\) may not have a local minimum at \(0\) and, in consequence, classical approaches based, for instance, on minimax methods are not applicable. Therefore, to prove their main result, the authors consider a new approach where they find an appropriate linking structure of the Nehari-manifold associated to \(I\) and use related linking arguments and critical groups theory.