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We proceed with the study of the Nehari manifold method for functionals in $C^1(X \setminus \{0\})$, where $X$ is a Banach space. We deal now with functionals whose fibering maps have two critical points (a minimiser followed by a maximiser). Under some additional conditions we show that the Nehari manifold method provides us with the ground state level and two sequences of critical values for these functionals. These results are applied to the class of {\it prescribed energy problems} as well as to the concave-convex problem for the {\it affine} $p$-Laplacian operator.

Given a real Banach space $X$, we show that the Nehari manifold method can be applied to functionals which are $C^1$ in $X \setminus \{0\}$. In particular we deal with functionals that can be unbounded near $0$, and prove the existence of a ground state and infinitely many critical points for such functionals. These results are then applied to three classes of problems: the {\it prescribed energy problem} for a family of functionals depending on a parameter, problems involving the {\it affine} $p$-Laplacian operator, and degenerate Kirchhoff type problems.

We look for critical points with prescribed energy for the family of even functionals $\Phi_\mu=I_1-\mu I_2$, where $I_1,I_2$ are $C^1$ functionals on a Banach space $X$, and $\mu \in \mathbb{R}$. For several classes of $\Phi_\mu$ we prove the existence of infinitely many couples $(\mu_{n,c}, u_{n,c})$ such that $$\Phi'_{\mu_{n,c}}(\pm u_{n,c}) = 0 \quad \mbox{and} \quad \Phi_{\mu_{n,c}}( \pm u_{n,c}) = c \quad \forall n \in \mathbb{N}.$$ More generally, we analyze the structure of the solution set of the problem $$\Phi_\mu'(u)=0, \quad \Phi_{\mu}(u)=c$$ with respect to $\mu$ and $c$. In particular, we show that the maps $c \mapsto \mu_{n,c}$ are continuous, which gives rise to a family of {\it energy curves} for this problem. The analysis of these curves provide us with several bifurcation and multiplicity type results, which are then applied to some elliptic problems. Our approach is based on the {\it nonlinear generalized Rayleigh quotient} method developed in \cite{I1}.

We investigate zero energy critical points for a class of functionals $\Phi_\mu$ defined on a uniformly convex Banach space, and depending on a real parameter $\mu$. More precisely, we show the existence of a sequence $(\mu_n)$ such that $\Phi_{\mu_n}$ has a pair of critical points $\pm u_n$ satisfying $\Phi_{\mu_n}(\pm u_n)=0$, for every $n$. In addition, we provide some properties of $\mu_n$ and $u_n$. This result, which is proved via a fibering map approach (based on the {\it nonlinear generalized Rayleigh quotient} method \cite{I1}) combined with the Ljusternik-Schnirelman theory, is then applied to several classes of elliptic pdes.

We analyze the topological structure of the Nehari set for a class of functionals depending on a real parameter $\lambda$, and having two degrees of homogeneity. A special attention is paid to the extremal parameter $\lambda^*$, which is the threshold value for the Nehari set to be given by a {\it natural constraint}. The main difficulty arises when $\lambda>\lambda^*$, as the energy functional may be unbounded from below over the Nehari set. In such situation we prove the existence of local minimizers of the functional constrained to this set. We unify and extend previous existence and multiplicity results for critical points of indefinite, $(p,q)$-Laplacian, and Kirchhoff type problems.

Given a reflexive Banach space $X$, we consider a class of functionals $\Phi \in C^1(X,\Re)$ that do not behave in a uniform way, in the sense that the map $t \mapsto \Phi(tu)$, $t>0$, does not have a uniform geometry with respect to $u\in X$. Assuming instead such a uniform behavior within an open cone $Y \subset X \setminus \{0\}$, we show that $\Phi$ has a ground state relative to $Y$. Some further conditions ensure that this relative ground state is the (absolute) ground state of $\Phi$. Several applications to elliptic equations and systems are given.

We establish uniqueness results for quasilinear elliptic problems through the criterion recently provided in \cite{DFMST}. We apply it to generalized $p$-Laplacian subhomogeneous problems that may admit multiple nontrivial nonnegative solutions. Based on a generalized hidden convexity result, we show that uniqueness holds among strongly positive solutions and nonnegative global minimizers. Problems involving nonhomogeneous operators as the so-called $(p,r)$-Laplacian are also treated.

We consider the problem $$ (P_\lambda)\quad -\Delta_{p}u=\lambda u^{p-1}+a(x)u^{q-1},\quad u\geq0\quad\mbox{ in }\Omega $$ under Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions. Here $\Omega$ is a smooth bounded domain of $\mathbb{R}^{N}$ ($N\geq1$), $\lambda\in\mathbb{R}$, $10$). In particular, this problem has at most one positive solution for $\lambda<0$. Under some condition on $a$, the above uniqueness result fails for some values of $\lambda>0$ as we obtain, besides the ground state solution, a \textit{second} solution positive in $\Omega_{a}^{+}$. We also provide conditions on $\lambda$, $a$ and $q$ such that these solutions become positive in $\Omega$, and analyze the formation of dead cores for a generic solution.

We review the indefinite sublinear elliptic equation $-\Delta u=a(x)u^{q}$ in a smooth bounded domain $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^{N}$, with Dirichlet or Neumann homogeneous boundary conditions. Here $0

We investigate non-existence of nonnegative dead-core solutions for the problem $$|Du|^\gamma F(x, D^2u)+a(x)u^q = 0 \quad \mbox{in} \quad \Omega, \quad u=0 \quad \mbox{ on } \quad \partial\Omega.$$ Here $\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^N$ is a bounded smooth domain, $F$ is a fully nonlinear elliptic operator, $a: \Omega \to \mathbb{R}$ is a sign-changing weight, $\gamma \geq 0$, and $0

Let $1

We go further in the investigation of the Robin problem $(P_{\alpha})$: $-\Delta u=a(x)u^{q}$ in $\Omega$, $u\geq0$ in $\Omega$, $\partial_{\nu}u=\alpha u$ on $\partial \Omega$; on a bounded domain $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^{N}$, with $a$ sign-changing and $00$. Moreover, strengthening the assumptions on $a$ and $q$ we provide a global (i.e. for every $\alpha>0$) exactness result on the number of solutions of $(P_{\alpha})$ . Our approach also applies to the problem $(S_{\alpha})$: $-\Delta u={\alpha}u + a(x)u^{q}$ in $\Omega$, $u\geq0$ in $\Omega$, $\partial_{\nu}u=0$ on $\partial \Omega$.

Let $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^{N}$ ($N\geq1$) be a smooth bounded domain, $a\in C(\bar{\Omega})$ a sign-changing function, and $0\leq q<1$. We investigate the Robin problem \[ \begin{cases} -\Delta u=a(x)u^{q} & \mbox{in $\Omega$},\\ u\geq0 & \mbox{in $\Omega$},\\ \partial_{\nu}u=\alpha u & \mbox{on $\partial \Omega$}, \end{cases} \] where $\alpha\in\lbrack-\infty,\infty)$ and $\nu$ is the unit outward normal to $\partial\Omega$. Due to the lack of strong maximum principle structure, this problem may have \textit{dead core} solutions. However, for a large class of weights $a$ we recover a \textit{positivity} property when $q$ is close to $1$, which considerably simplifies the structure of the solution set. Such property, combined with a bifurcation analysis and a suitable change of variables, enables us to show the following exactness result for these values of $q$: $(P_{\alpha})$ has \textit{exactly} one nontrivial solution for $\alpha\leq0$, \textit{exactly} two nontrivial solutions for $\alpha>0$ small, and \textit{no} such solution for $\alpha>0$ large. Assuming some further conditions on $a$, we show that these solutions lie on a subcontinuum. These results rely partially on (and extend) our previous work \cite{KRQU16}, where the cases $\alpha=-\infty$ (Dirichlet) and $\alpha=0$ (Neumann) have been considered. We also obtain some results for arbitrary $q\in\left[ 0,1\right) $. Our approach combines mainly bifurcation techniques, the sub-supersolutions method, and \textit{a priori} lower and upper bounds.

We establish the existence of loop type subcontinua of nonnegative solutions for a class of concave-convex type elliptic equations with indefinite weights, under Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. Our approach depends on local and global bifurcation analysis from the zero solution in a non-regular setting, since the nonlinearities considered are not differentiable at zero, so that the standard bifurcation theory does not apply. To overcome this difficulty, we combine a regularization scheme with a priori bounds, and Whyburn's topological method. Furthermore, via a continuity argument we prove a positivity property for subcontinua of nonnegative solutions. These results are based on a positivity theorem for the associated concave problem proved in [15], and extend previous results established in the powerlike case., Comment: 28 pages, 5 figures; to appear in Advanced Nonlinear Studies

We investigate the existence of a curve $q\mapsto u_{q}$, with $q\in(0,1)$, of positive solutions for the problem $(P_{a,q})$: $-\Delta u=a(x)u^{q}$ in $\Omega$, $u=0$ on $\partial\Omega$, where $\Omega$ is a bounded and smooth domain of $\mathbb{R}^{N}$ and $a:\Omega\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ is a sign-changing function (in which case the strong maximum principle does not hold). In addition, we analyze the asymptotic behavior of $u_{q}$ as $q\rightarrow0^{+}$ and $q\rightarrow1^{-}$. We also show that in some cases $u_{q}$ is the ground state solution of $(P_{a,q})$. As a byproduct, we obtain existence results for a singular and indefinite Dirichlet problem. Our results are mainly based on bifurcation and sub-supersolutions methods.

Let $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^{N}$ ($N\geq1$) be a bounded and smooth domain and $a:\Omega\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ be a sign-changing weight satisfying $\int_{\Omega}a<0$. We prove the existence of a positive solution $u_{q}$ for the problem $(P_{a,q})$: $-\Delta u=a(x)u^{q}$ in $\Omega$, $\frac{\partial u}{\partial\nu}=0$ on $\partial\Omega$, if $q_{0}0$. In doing so, we improve the existence result previously established in [16]. In addition, we provide the asymptotic behavior of $u_{q}$ as $q\rightarrow1^{-}$. When $\Omega$ is a ball and $a$ is radial, we give some explicit conditions on $q$ and $a$ ensuring the existence of a positive solution of $(P_{a,q})$. We also obtain some properties of the set of $q$'s such that $(P_{a,q})$ admits a solution which is positive on $\overline{\Omega}$. Finally, we present some results on nonnegative solutions having dead cores. Our approach combines bifurcation techniques, a priori bounds and the sub-supersolution method. Several methods and results apply as well to the Dirichlet counterpart of $(P_{a,q})$., Comment: 31 pages, 4 figures

Let $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^{N}$, $N\geq1$, be a smooth bounded domain, and let $m:\Omega\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ be a possibly sign-changing function. We investigate the existence of positive solutions for the semipositone problem $-\Delta u=\lambda m(x)(f(u)-k)$ in $\Omega$, $u=0$ on $\partial\Omega$, where $\lambda,k>0$ and $f$ is either sublinear at infinity with $f(0)=0$, or $f$ has a singularity at $0$. We prove the existence of a positive solution for certain ranges of $\lambda$ provided that the negative part of $m$ is suitably small. Our main tool is the sub-supersolutions method, combined with some rescaling properties., Comment: To appear in Differential and Integral Equations

We proceed with the investigation of the problem $(P_\lambda): $ $-\Delta u = \lambda b(x)|u|^{q-2}u +a(x)|u|^{p-2}u \ \mbox{ in } \Omega, \ \ \frac{\partial u}{\partial \mathbf{n}} = 0 \ \mbox{ on } \partial \Omega$, where $\Omega$ is a bounded smooth domain in $\mathbb{R}^N$ ($N \geq2$), $1

We investigate the problem $$ \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} -\Delta_p u = g(u)|\nabla u|^p + f(x,u) \ & \mbox{in} \ \ \Omega, \ \ \\ u>0 \ &\mbox{in} \ \ \Omega, \ \ u = 0 \ &\mbox{on} \ \ \partial\Omega, \end{array} \right. \leqno{(P)} $$ in a bounded smooth domain $\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^N$. Using a Kazdan-Kramer change of variable we reduce this problem to a quasilinear one without gradient term and therefore approachable by variational methods. In this way we come to some new and interesting problems for quasilinear elliptic equations which are motivated by the need to solve $(P)$. Among other results, we investigate the validity of the Ambrosetti-Rabinowitz condition according to the behavior of $g$ and $f$. Existence and multiplicity results for $(P)$ are established in several situations.

We establish a positivity property for a class of semilinear elliptic problems involving indefinite sublinear nonlinearities. Namely, we show that any nontrivial nonnegative solution is positive for a class of problems the strong maximum principle does not apply to. Our approach is based on a continuity argument combined with variational techniques, the sub and supersolutions method and some a priori bounds. Both Dirichlet and Neumann homogeneous boundary conditions are considered. As a byproduct, we deduce some existence and uniqueness results. Finally, as an application, we derive some positivity results for indefinite concave-convex type problems., Comment: 21 pages

We prove the existence of a loop type component of non-negative solutions for an indefinite elliptic equation with homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. This result complements our previous results obtained in [12], where the existence of another loop type component was established in a different situation. Our proof combines local and global bifurcation theory, rescaling and regularizing arguments, a priori bounds, and Whyburn's topological method. A further investigation of the loop type component established in [12] is also provided., Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures

We investigate the problem $$-\Delta u = \lambda b(x)|u|^{q-2}u +a(x)|u|^{p-2}u \mbox{ in } \Omega, \quad \frac{\partial u}{\partial \mathbf{n}} = 0 \mbox{ on } \partial \Omega, \leqno{(P_\lambda)} $$ where $\Omega$ is a bounded smooth domain in $\mathbb{R}^N$ ($N \geq2$), $1

We investigate positive steady states of an indefinite superlinear reaction-diffusion equation arising from population dynamics, coupled with a nonlinear boundary condition. Both the equation and the boundary condition depend upon a positive parameter $\lambda$, which is inversely proportional to the diffusion rate. We establish several multiplicity results when the diffusion rate is large and analyze the asymptotic profiles and the stability properties of these steady states as the diffusion rate grows to infinity. In particular, our results show that in some cases bifurcation from zero and from infinity occur at $\lambda=0$. Our approach combines variational and bifurcation techniques.

We investigate the existence of ground states for functionals with nonhomogenous principal part. Roughly speaking, we show that the Nehari manifold method requires no homogeinity on the principal part of a functional. This result is motivated by some elliptic problems involving nonhomogeneous operators. As an application, we prove the existence of a ground state and infinitely many solutions for three classes of boundary value problems., Comment: 14 pages

We consider the problem $(P)$, $$ -\Delta u =c(x)u+\mu|\nabla u|^2 +f(x), \quad u \in H^1_0(\Omega) \cap L^{\infty}(\Omega),$$ where $\Omega$ is a bounded domain of $\mathbb{R}^N$, $N \geq 3$, $\mu>0, \, c \in \mathcal{C}(\overline{\Omega}),$ and $ f \in L^q(\Omega)$ for some $ q>\frac{N}{2}$ with $ f\gneqq 0. $ Here $c$ is allowed to change sign. We show that when $c^+ \not \equiv 0$ and $c^+ +\mu f$ is suitably small, this problem has at least two positive solutions. This result contrasts with the case $c \leq 0$, where uniqueness holds. To show this multiplicity result we first transform $(P)$ into a semilinear problem having a variational structure. Then we are led to the search of two critical points for a functional whose superquadratic part is indefinite in sign and has a so called slow growth at infinity. The key point is to show that the Palais-Smale condition holds.