Free boundary problems for Emden-Fowler equations (Q802830)

The authors are concerned with free boundary problems for Emden-Fowler equations \(u''+g(x)u'+f(u)=0,\quad x>0.\) More precisely, they prove, under suitable assumptions on f and g, the existence and uniqueness of a finite point \(P>0\) such that there exists a solution of the equation satisfying the conditions \(u'(0)=0\), \(u(x)>0\) if \(0<x<P\), \(u(P)=u'(P)=0\). The admissible functions f and g include types which intervene in some simple model of Tokamak equilibria with magnetic islands. g can be either regular or have a regular singularity for \(x=0\). Hence, they can deal also with radial solutions of \(\Delta u+f(u)\) in \(R^ n\). The proof is based on the use of the shooting method.