Multiplicity of multi-bump type nodal solutions for a class of elliptic problems in \(\mathbb{R}^N\) (Q981935)

The author studies semi-linear equations of the type \[ -\Delta u + (\lambda V(x)+1) u = f(u), \quad\text{in } \mathbb R^N, \leqno{\text{P}_\lambda} \] where \(N\geq 1\), \(\lambda > 0\), \(f\) is continuous with subcritical growth, and \(V\) is a non-negative continuous function. About \(V\) it is assumed that the set \(\Omega:= \operatorname{int} V^{-1}(\{0\})\) satisfies: (H\(_1\)) \(\Omega\) is non-empty, bounded, \(\partial \Omega\) is smooth and \( V^{-1}(\{0\})=\overline{\Omega}\). (H\(_2\)) \(\Omega\) has \(k\) connected components denoted by \(\Omega_j\), \(j=1,\dots,k\). It is proven that for \(\lambda\) sufficiently large, and for any subset \(\Gamma\) of \(\{1, 2, \dots, k\}\) there exist solutions of the equation (P)\(_\lambda\) which are close (in \(H^1\) sense) to certain nodal solutions with zero boundary conditions of limiting equations \[ -\Delta u + u = f(u) \] in each of the \(\Omega_j\) with \(j\in \Gamma\), and close to zero outside \(\bigcup_{j\in \Gamma} \Omega_j\).