Positive solutions for nonlinear periodic problems with concave terms (Q542869)

The paper deals with the following parametric periodic problem driven by the scalar \(p\)-Laplacian \[ -(|u'(t)|^{p-2}u'(t))'=\lambda|u(t)|^{q-2}u(t)+f(t,u(t)),\quad u(0)=u(b),\, u'(0)=u'(b), \] where \(1<q<p<\infty\), \(\lambda>0\), \(u>0\) and \(f(t,x)\) is a Carathéodory perturbation whose potential exhibits a \(p\)-superlinear growth near \(+\infty\). Here, \(\lambda|x|^{q-2}x\) is a parametric term which is \((p-1)\)-sublinear. Without using the Ambrosetti-Rabinowitz condition, the authors establish the nonexistence, existence and multiplicity of positive solutions for the above problem as the parameter \(\lambda\) varies. They prove a bifurcation-type result, establishing the existence of a critical parameter value \(\lambda^*>0\) such that, for all \(\lambda\in (0,\lambda^*)\), the problem has at least two positive solutions; for \(\lambda=\lambda^*\), it has at least one positive solution; and for all \(\lambda>\lambda^*\), it has no positive solution. A variational approach, based on critical point theory, and suitable truncation techniques is used here.