Uniqueness of radially symmetric positive solutions for \(- \Delta u+u=u^p\) in an annulus (Q942180)

The authors prove the existence of a unique positive solution for the problem \[ u''+\frac{\nu}{r}u'+u^p-V(r)u=0 \quad \text{in } (a,b), \] \[ u(r)>0, \quad r\in (a,b), \quad u(a)=u(b)=0, \] where \(\nu\geq0\), \(p\in (1,\infty)\), \(0<a<b\leq \infty\) and \(V\) is a suitable real smooth function ( if \(\;b=\infty\), the boundary condition means \(\lim_{| x| \rightarrow \infty}u(x)=0 \)). Consequently, the uniqueness of radially symmetric positive solution for the semi-linear elliptic problem \[ -\triangle u+u=u^p \quad \text{in } \Omega, \qquad u>0 \quad \text{in }\Omega, \qquad u=0 \quad \text{on } \partial \Omega, \] where \(\Omega\) is the annulus \(\{x\in {\mathbb{R}}^N: a<| x| <b \}\), with \(N\geq 2\) has been showed. This latter result seems to be new for \(N=2\) and, for \(N\geq3\), gives an alternative proof of the conclusion obtained by \textit{M. Tang} [J. Differ. Equations 189, No.~1, 148--160 (2003; Zbl 1158.35366)].