Critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian

We establish the existence of at least three solutions for elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian. The existence of at least one nontrivial solution is also proved. The approaches are based on the variational methods and critical-point theory. Встановлено існування принаймні трьох розв'яз...

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Опубліковано в: :Український математичний журнал
Дата:2014
Автори: Heidarkhani, S., Ge, B.
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Мова:Англійська
Опубліковано: Інститут математики НАН України 2014
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Цитувати:Critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian / S. Heidarkhani, B. Ge // Український математичний журнал. — 2014. — Т. 66, № 12. — С. 1676–1693. — Бібліогр.: 31 назв. — англ.

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Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
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author Heidarkhani, S.
Ge, B.
author_facet Heidarkhani, S.
Ge, B.
citation_txt Critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian / S. Heidarkhani, B. Ge // Український математичний журнал. — 2014. — Т. 66, № 12. — С. 1676–1693. — Бібліогр.: 31 назв. — англ.
collection DSpace DC
container_title Український математичний журнал
description We establish the existence of at least three solutions for elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian. The existence of at least one nontrivial solution is also proved. The approaches are based on the variational methods and critical-point theory. Встановлено існування принаймні трьох розв'язків еліптичних задач з p(x)-лапласіаном. Існування щонайменше одного нетривіального розв'язку також продемонстровано. Застосовані підходи ґрунтуються на варіаційних методах та теорії критичних точок.
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fulltext UDC 517.9 S. Heidarkhani* (Razi Univ., Kermanshah; School Math., Inst. Res. Fundam. Sci. (IPM), Tehran, Iran), B. Ge (Harbin Eng. Univ., China) CRITICAL POINTS APPROACHES TO ELLIPTIC PROBLEMS DRIVEN BY A p(x)-LAPLACIAN ПIДХОДИ ДО ЕЛIПТИЧНИХ ЗАДАЧ З p(x)-ЛАПЛАСIАНОМ ОСНОВАНI НА ТЕОРIЇ КРИТИЧНИХ ТОЧОК We establish the existence of at least three solutions for elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian. The existence of at least one nontrivial solution is also proved. The approaches are based on variational methods and critical point theory. Встановлено iснування принаймнi трьох розв’язкiв елiптичних задач з p(x)-лапласiаном. Iснування щонайменше одного нетривiального розв’язку також продемонстровано. Застосованi пiдходи ґрунтуються на варiацiйних методах та теорiї критичних точок. 1. Introduction. This paper treats the following elliptic problem: −∆p(x)u = λf(x, u) in Ω, u = 0 on ∂Ω, (1) where ∆p(x)u = div(|∇u|p(x)−2∇u) is the p(x)-Laplacian operator, Ω ⊂ RN , N ≥ 1, is a nonempty bounded open set with a smooth boundary ∂Ω, p ∈ C(Ω) satisfies the condition N < p− := := infx∈Ω p(x) ≤ p(x) ≤ supx∈Ω p(x) < +∞, λ > 0, f : Ω × R → R is an L1-Carathéodory function. Recently, the study of differential equations and variational problems with variable exponent has been a new and interesting topic. It arises from nonlinear elasticity theory, electrorheological fluids, etc. (see [29, 31]). It also has wide applications in different research fields, such as image processing model (see, e.g., [16, 24]), stationary thermo-rheological viscous flows (see [1]) and the mathematical description of the processes filtration of an idea barotropic gas through a porous medium (see [2]). Let us point out that when p(x) = p = constant, there is a large literature which deals with problems involving the p-Laplacian with Dirichlet boundary conditions both in the scalar case and elliptic systems in bounded or unbounded domains, which we do not need to cite here since the reader may easily find such papers. Many authors investigated the existence and multiplicity of solutions for problems involving p(x)-Laplacian. In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the study of variational problems and elliptic equations with variable exponent. We refer to [19, 21, 27] for the theory of Lp(x) and W 1,p(x)(Ω). The case of p(x)-Laplacian with Dirichlet conditions on the scalar case has been studied by Fan and Zhang [20]. In fact, in [20], Fan and Zhang first introduced some basic properties of the generalized Lebesgue – Sobolev spaces W 1,p(x) 0 (Ω) which can be regarded as a special class of generalized Orlicz – Sobolev spaces, and second they presented several important properties of p(x)-Laplace operator, and finally under some appropriate conditions on the nonlinear term, they established some existence results of weak solutions of the problem (1). * Research of S. Heidarkhani was in part supported by a grant from IPM (No. 91470046). c© S. HEIDARKHANI, B. GE, 2014 1676 ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 CRITICAL POINTS APPROACHES TO ELLIPTIC PROBLEMS DRIVEN BY A p(x)-LAPLACIAN 1677 Bonanno and Chinnì in [7], employing a three critical point theorem for nondifferentiable functionals due to Bonanno and Marano [12] (Theorem 3.6), established the existence of at least three weak solutions for the problem −∆p(x)u = λ(f(x, u) + µg(x, u)) in Ω, u = 0 on ∂Ω, where Ω ⊂ RN , N ≥ 1, is a nonempty bounded open set with a smooth boundary ∂Ω, p ∈ C(Ω), λ and µ are two positive parameters and f, g : Ω× R→ R are two measurable with respect to each variable separately functions and possibly discontinuous with respect to u. Bonanno and Chinnì also in [8] based on a convenient form of the recent three critical points theorem obtained by G. Bonanno and S. A. Marano [12] investigated multiplicity of solutions for the problem (1). In the present paper, motivated by [7, 8], first employing two related three critical points theorems for differentiable functionals due to Bonanno and Candito [6], we ensure the existence of at least three weak solutions for the problem (1) (see Theorems 4 and 5) and then, using a very recent a local minimum theorem for differentiable functionals due to Bonanno [5], under different assumptions which have been assumed in Theorems 4 and 5 we establish the existence of at least one nontrivial weak solution for the problem (1) (see Theorem 7). Theorems 4 and 5 extend the results of [8]. For a thorough account on the subject, we refer the reader to the papers [9, 10, 13, 14, 22, 23, 26]. 2. Preliminaries and basic notations. In this section, we introduce some definitions and results which will be used in the next section. Firstly, we introduce some theories of Lebesgue – Sobolev spaces with variable exponent. The details can be found in [17, 19, 21]. Set L∞+ (Ω) = { p ∈ L∞(Ω) : ess inf x∈Ω p(x) > 1 } . For p ∈ L∞+ (Ω), denote p− = p−(Ω) = ess inf x∈Ω p(x) and p+ = p+(Ω) = ess sup x∈Ω p(x) for any p(x) ∈ L∞+ (Ω), we define the variable exponent Lebesgue space Lp(x)(Ω) = u : u is a measurable real-valued function such that ∫ Ω |u(x)|p(x)dx <∞  . We define a norm, the so-called Luxemburg norm, on this space by the formula ‖u‖Lp(x)(Ω) = inf λ > 0 : ∫ Ω ∣∣∣∣u(x) λ ∣∣∣∣p(x) dx ≤ 1  . The space (Lp(x)(Ω), ‖.‖p(x)) is a Banach space. Define the variable exponent Sobolev space W 1,p(x)(Ω) by W 1,p(x)(Ω) = { u ∈ Lp(x)(Ω) : |∇u| ∈ Lp(x)(Ω) } ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 1678 S. HEIDARKHANI, B. GE equipped with the norm ‖u‖W 1,p(x)(Ω) = ‖u‖Lp(x)(Ω) + ‖∇u‖Lp(x)(Ω). Denote by W 1,p(x) 0 (Ω) the closure of C∞0 (Ω) in W 1,p(x)(Ω). On W 1,p(x) 0 (Ω) we consider the norm ‖u‖ : = ‖∇u‖Lp(x)(Ω). Here we display some facts which will be used later. Proposition 1 (see [20]). (i) The spaces Lp(x)(Ω), W 1,p(x)(Ω) and W 1,p(x) 0 (Ω) are separable and reflexive Banach spaces. (ii) There is a constant c > 0 such that ‖u‖Lp(x)(Ω) ≤ c‖∇u‖Lp(x)(Ω) for all u ∈W 1,p(x) 0 (Ω). Proposition 2 (see [7]). Set ρp(u) = ∫ Ω |u(x)|p(x)dx. For u ∈W 1,p(x) 0 (Ω), we have (i) ‖u‖ < 1(= 1;> 1)⇐⇒ ρp(|∇u|) < 1(= 1;> 1). (ii) If ‖u‖ > 1, then 1 p+ ‖u‖p− ≤ ∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇u(x)|p(x)dx ≤ 1 p− ‖u‖p+ . (iii) If ‖u‖ < 1, then 1 p+ ‖u‖p+ ≤ ∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇u(x)|p(x)dx ≤ 1 p− ‖u‖p− . As pointed in [20, 27], W 1,p(x)(Ω) is continuously embedded in W 1,p−(Ω) and, since p− > N, W 1,p−(Ω) is compactly embedded in C0(Ω). Thus W 1,p(x)(Ω) is compactly embedded in C0(Ω). So, in particular, there exists a positive constant c0 such that ‖u‖C0(Ω) ≤ c0‖u‖ (2) for each u ∈W 1,p(x) 0 (Ω). Let X denotes the Sobolev space W 1,p(x) 0 (Ω). Let G(u) = ∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇u(x)|p(x)dx for all u ∈ X. We denote L = G′ : X → X∗, then L(u)(v) = ∫ Ω |∇u(x)|p(x)−2∇u(x)∇v(x) dx for all u, v ∈ X. Proposition 3 (see [20]). (i) L : X → X∗ is a continuous, bounded and strictly monotone operator. (ii) L is a mapping of type (S+), i.e., if un ⇀ u in X and lim supn→∞(L(un), un − u) ≤ 0, then un → u in X. (iii) L : X → X∗ is a homeomorphism. We say that u is a weak solution to the problem (1) if u ∈ X and∫ Ω |∇u(x)|p(x)−2∇u(x)∇v(x)dx− λ ∫ Ω f(x, u(x))v(x)dx = 0 for every v ∈ X. Put δ(x) = sup { δ > 0 : S(x, δ) ⊂ Ω } ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 CRITICAL POINTS APPROACHES TO ELLIPTIC PROBLEMS DRIVEN BY A p(x)-LAPLACIAN 1679 where S(x, δ) denotes the ball with center at x and radius of δ, for all x ∈ Ω, one can prove that there exists x0 ∈ Ω such that S(x0, D) ⊂ Ω, where D = supx∈Ω δ(x). Set m := πN/2 N 2 Γ ( N 2 ) where Γ is the Euler function, and for each r > 0, set γr := max { (p+r)1/p− , (p+r)1/p+ } . Put F (x, t) = t∫ 0 f(x, ξ) dξ for all (x, t) ∈ Ω×R. 3. Existence of three solutions. In the following section we establish the existence of at least three weak solutions for the problem (1). Our main tools are two three critical points theorems. In the first one the coercivity of the functional Φ − λΨ is required, in the second one a suitable sign hypothesis is assumed. The first result has been obtained in [4], the second one in [3]. Here we recall them as given in [6]. Theorem 1 ([6], Theorem 3.2). Let X be a reflexive real Banach space, Φ : X −→ R be a coercive and continuously Gâteaux differentiable functional whose derivative admits a continuous inverse on X∗, Ψ : X −→ R be a continuously Gâteaux differentiable functional whose derivative is compact, such that inf X Φ = Φ(0) = Ψ(0) = 0. Assume that there is a positive constant r and v ∈ X, with 2r < Φ(v), such that (a1) supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r[) Ψ(u) r < 2 3 Ψ(v) Φ(v) ; (a2) for all λ ∈ ] 3 2 Φ(v) Ψ(v) , r supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r[) Ψ(u) [ , the functional Φ− λΨ is coercive. Then, for each λ ∈ ] 3 2 Φ(v) Ψ(v) , r supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r[) Ψ(u) [ the functional Φ − λΨ has at least three distinct critical points. Theorem 2 ([6], Theorem 3.3). Let X be a reflexive real Banach space, Φ : X −→ R be a convex, coercive and continuously Gâteaux differentiable functional whose derivative admits a con- tinuous inverse on X∗, Ψ : X −→ R be a continuously Gâteaux differentiable functional whose derivative is compact, such that 1) infX Φ = Φ(0) = Ψ(0) = 0; 2) for each λ > 0 and for every u1, u2 which are local minimum for the functional Φ− λΨ and such that Ψ(u1) ≥ 0 and Ψ(u2) ≥ 0, one has inf s∈[0,1] Ψ(su1 + (1− s)u2) ≥ 0. Assume that there are two positive constants r1, r2 and v ∈ X, with 2r1 < Φ(v) < r2 2 , such that ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 1680 S. HEIDARKHANI, B. GE (b1) supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r1[) Ψ(u) r1 < 2 3 Ψ(v) Φ(v) ; (b2) supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r2[) Ψ(u) r2 < 1 3 Ψ(v) Φ(v) . Then, for each λ ∈ ] 3 2 Φ(v) Ψ(v) , min { r1 supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r1[) Ψ(u) , r2/2 supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r2[) Ψ(u) }[ , the func- tional Φ− λΨ has at least three distinct critical points which lie in Φ−1(]−∞, r2[). A special case of our main results is the following theorem. Theorem 3. Let Ω ⊆ R2 be a nonempty bounded open set with a smooth boundary ∂Ω. Let f : R → R be a continuous function and put F (t) = ∫ t 0 f(ξ) dξ for all t ∈ R such that F (h) > 0 for some h > 0 and F (ξ) ≥ 0 in [0, h]. Fix p(x) = p > 2 and assume that lim inf ξ→0 F (ξ) |ξ|p = lim sup |ξ|→+∞ F (ξ) |ξ|p = 0. Then, there is λ∗ > 0 such that for each λ > λ∗ the problem −∆pu = λf(u) in Ω, u = 0 on ∂Ω admits at least three weak solutions. Remark 1. Similar results to Theorem 3 have been obtained in [11] (Theorem 0) in which a class of Dirichlet quasilinear elliptic systems driven by a (p, q)-Laplacian operator has been considered, and also in [25] (Theorem 1) in which a quasilinear second-order differential equation has been studied. We formulate the existence results as follows: Theorem 4. Let f : Ω×R→ R be an L1-Carathéodory function such that ess infx∈Ω F (x, ξ) ≥ ≥ 0 for all ξ ∈ R. Assume that there exist two positive constants r and h such that (A1) 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N > 2r; (A2) ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx r < 2 ess infx∈Ω F (x, h) 3 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} (2N − 1) ; (A3) lim sup|t|→+∞ F (x, t) |t|p−/p+ < ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx r . Then, for each λ ∈ 3 2 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} (2N − 1) ess infx∈Ω F (x, h) , r∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx  the problem (1) admits at least three weak solutions. ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 CRITICAL POINTS APPROACHES TO ELLIPTIC PROBLEMS DRIVEN BY A p(x)-LAPLACIAN 1681 Proof. In order to apply Theorem 1 to our problem, we introduce the functionals Φ, Ψ : X → R for each u ∈ X, as follows: Φ(u) = ∫ Ω 1 p(x) ∣∣∇u(x) ∣∣p(x) dx and Ψ(u) = ∫ Ω F (x, u(x))dx. It is well known that Φ and Ψ are well defined and continuously differentiable functionals whose derivatives at the point u ∈ X are the functionals Φ′(u),Ψ′(u) ∈ X∗, given by Φ′(u)(v) = ∫ Ω ∣∣∇u(x) ∣∣p(x)−2∇u(x)∇v(x)dx and Ψ′(u)(v) = ∫ Ω f(x, u(x))v(x)dx for every v ∈ X, respectively, as well as Ψ is sequentially weakly upper semicontinuous. Moreover, Φ is sequentially weakly lower semicontinuous and Φ′ admits a continuous inverse on X∗. Furthermore, Ψ′ : X → X∗ is a compact operator. Set w(x) =  0 if x ∈ Ω \ S(x0, D), h if x ∈ S ( x0, D 2 ) , 2h D ( D − √∑N i=1 (xi − x0i) 2 ) if x ∈ S(x0, D) \ S ( x0, D 2 ) . (3) It is easy to see that w ∈ X and, in particular, one has 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N ≤ Φ(w) ≤ ≤ 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N (4) and Ψ(w) ≥ ∫ S(x0, D/2) F (x,w(x))dx ≥ ess inf x∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N . (5) From (A1), taking (4) into account, we get Φ(w) > 2r. Thanks to the embedding X ↪→ C0(Ω), we have Φ−1(]−∞, r[) = {u ∈ X; Φ(u) < r} = ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 1682 S. HEIDARKHANI, B. GE = u ∈ X; ∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇u(x)|p(x)dx < r  ⊆ ⊆ { u ∈ X; |u(x)| ≤ c0γr for all x ∈ Ω } , and it follows that sup u∈Φ−1(]−∞,r[) Ψ(u) = sup u∈Φ−1(]−∞,r[) ∫ Ω F (x, u(x))dx ≤ ≤ ∫ Ω sup |t|≤c0γr F (x, t) dx. Therefore, owing to the assumption (A2), (4) and (5), we get supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r[) Ψ(u) r = supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r[) ∫ Ω F (x, u(x))dx r ≤ ≤ ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx r < < 2 3 ess infx∈Ω F (x, h) 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} (2N − 1) ≤ 2 3 Ψ(w) Φ(w) . Furthermore, from (A3) there exist two constants η, ϑ ∈ R with η < ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx r such that |Ω|c0F (x, t) ≤ η |t| p− p+ + ϑ for all x ∈ Ω and for all t ∈ Rn. Fix u ∈ X. Then F (x, u(x)) ≤ 1 |Ω|c0 ( η |u(x)|p− p+ + ϑ ) for all x ∈ Ω. (6) Now, in order to prove the coercivity of the functional Φ − λΨ, first we assume that η > 0. So, if ‖u‖ ≥ 1, for any fixed λ ∈ 3 2 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} (2N − 1) ess infx∈Ω F (x, h) , r∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx  , ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 CRITICAL POINTS APPROACHES TO ELLIPTIC PROBLEMS DRIVEN BY A p(x)-LAPLACIAN 1683 bearing (2) in mind, from Proposition 2 and (6) we obtain Φ(u)− λΨ(u) = ∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇u(x)|p(x)dx− λ ∫ Ω F (x, u(x))dx ≥ ≥ 1 p+ ‖u‖p− − λη |Ω|c0 ∫ Ω |u(x)|p−dx p+ − λϑ c0 ≥ 1 p+ ‖u‖p− − λη |Ω|c0 |Ω|c0‖u‖p − p+ − λϑ c0 ≥ ≥ 1− η r∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx  1 p+ ‖u‖p− − λϑ c0 , and thus lim ‖u‖→+∞ ( Φ(u)− λΨ(u) ) = +∞. On the other hand, if η ≤ 0. Clearly, we get lim‖u‖→+∞(Φ(u)− λΨ(u)) = +∞. Both cases lead to the coercivity of functional Φ− λΨ. So, the assumptions (a1) and (a2) in Theorem 1 are satisfied. Hence, by using Theorem 1, taking into account that the weak solutions of the problem (1) are exactly the solutions of the equation Φ′(u)− λΨ′(u) = 0, we have the conclusion. Theorem 4 is proved. Theorem 5. Let f : Ω×R→ R be an L1-Carathéodory function such that ess infx∈Ω F (x, ξ) ≥ ≥ 0 for all ξ ∈ R and satisfies the condition f(x, t) ≥ 0 for all (x, t) ∈ Ω × (R+ ∪ {0}). Assume that there exist three positive constants r1, r2 and h with 2r1 < 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N and 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N < r2 2 such that (B1) ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx r1 < 2 ess infx∈Ω F (x, h) 3 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} (2N − 1) ; (B2) ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx r2 < ess infx∈Ω F (x, h) 3 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} (2N − 1) . ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 1684 S. HEIDARKHANI, B. GE Then, for each λ ∈ 3 2 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} (2N − 1) ess infx∈Ω F (x, h) , min  r1∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx , r2 2∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx   the problem (1) admits at least three nonnegative weak solutions v1, v2, v3 such that∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇vj(x)|p(x)dx ≤ r2 for each x ∈ Ω, j = 1, 2, 3. Proof. Let Φ and Ψ be as in the proof of Theorem 4. Let us employ Theorem 2 to our functionals. Obviously, Φ and Ψ satisfy the condition 1 of Theorem 2. Now, we verify that the functional Φ−λΨ satisfies the assumption 2 of Theorem 2. Let u? and u?? be two local minima for Φ− λΨ. Then u? and u?? are critical points for Φ − λΨ, and so, they are weak solutions for the problem (1). Since f(x, t) ≥ 0 for all (x, t) ∈ Ω × (R+ ∪ {0}), from the Weak Maximum Principle (see for instance [15]) we deduce u?(x) ≥ 0 and u??(x) ≥ 0 for every x ∈ Ω. So, it follows that su?+ (1− s)u?? ≥ 0 for all s ∈ [0, 1], and that f(su? + (1 − s)u??, t) ≥ 0, and consequently, Ψ(su? + (1 − s)u??) ≥ 0 for all s ∈ [0, 1]. Moreover, from the conditions 2r1 < 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N and 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N < r2 2 , we observe 2r1 < Φ(w) < r2 2 . Next, thanks to the embedding X ↪→ C0(Ω), we have Φ−1(]−∞, r1[) = {u ∈ X; Φ(u) < r1} = = u ∈ X; ∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇u(x)|p(x)dx < r1  ⊆ ⊆ { u ∈ X; |u(x)| ≤ c0γr1 for all x ∈ Ω } , and it follows that ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 CRITICAL POINTS APPROACHES TO ELLIPTIC PROBLEMS DRIVEN BY A p(x)-LAPLACIAN 1685 sup u∈Φ−1(]−∞,r1[) Ψ(u) = sup u∈Φ−1(]−∞,r1[) ∫ Ω F (x, u(x))dx ≤ ∫ Ω sup |t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx. Therefore, owing to the assumption (B1), we get supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r1[) Ψ(u) r1 = supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r1[) ∫ Ω F (x, u(x))dx r1 ≤ ≤ ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr1 F (x, t)dx r1 < < 2 3 ess infx∈Ω F (x, h) 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} (2N − 1) ≤ 2 3 Ψ(w) Φ(w) . As above, using the assumption (B2), we obtain supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r2[) Ψ(u) r2 = supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r2[) ∫ Ω F (x, u(x))dx r2 ≤ ≤ ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr2 F (x, t)dx r2 < < 1 3 ess infx∈Ω F (x, h) 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} (2N − 1) ≤ 1 3 Ψ(w) Φ(w) . So, the assumptions (b1) and (b2) in Theorem 2 are satisfied. Hence, by using Theorem 2, taking into account that the weak solutions of the problem (1) are exactly the solutions of the equation Φ′(u)− λΨ′(u) = 0, the problem (1) admits at least three distinct weak solutions in X. Theorem 5 is proved. We end this section by proving Theorem 3. Proof of Theorem 3. Fix λ > λ∗ := 9 2 1 p ( 2h D )p F (h) . Taking into account that lim infξ→0 F (ξ) |ξ|p = 0 there is {rn}n∈N ⊆ ]0,+∞[ such that limn→+∞ rn = = 0 and lim n→+∞ |Ω|max|t|≤c0(prn)1/p F (t) rn = 0. Hence, there is r > 0 such that ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 1686 S. HEIDARKHANI, B. GE |Ω|max|t|≤c0(pr)1/p F (t) r < min  2p 9 F (h)( 2h D )p ; 1 λ  and 2r < 3D2π 4p ( 2h D )p . From Theorem 4 the conclusion follows. 4. Existence of a nontrivial solution. First we here recall for the reader’s convenience [28] (Theorem 2.5) as given in [5] (Theorem 5.1) (see also [5] (Proposition 2.1) for related results) which is our main tool to prove the main result. For a given nonempty set X, and two functionals Φ,Ψ : X → R, we define the following functions: ϑ(r1, r2) = inf v∈Φ−1(]r1,r2[) supu∈Φ−1(]r1,r2[) Ψ(u)−Ψ(v) r2 − Φ(v) and ρ(r1, r2) = sup v∈Φ−1(]r1,r2[) Ψ(v)− supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r1[) Ψ(u) Φ(v)− r1 for all r1, r2 ∈ R, r1 < r2. Theorem 6 ([5], Theorem 5.1). Let X be a reflexive real Banach space, Φ : X → R be a se- quentially weakly lower semicontinuous, coercive and continuously Gâteaux differentiable functional whose Gâteaux derivative admits a continuous inverse on X∗ and Ψ : X → R be a continuously Gâteaux differentiable functional whose Gâteaux derivative is compact. Put Iλ = Φ−λΨ and assume that there are r1, r2 ∈ R, r1 < r2, such that ϑ(r1, r2) < ρ(r1, r2). Then, for each λ ∈ ] 1 ρ(r1, r2) , 1 ϑ(r1, r2) [ there is u0,λ ∈ Φ−1(]r1, r2[) such that Iλ(u0,λ) ≤ Iλ(u) ∀u ∈ Φ−1(]r1, r2[) and I ′λ(u0,λ) = 0. We formulate the main result of this section as follows: Theorem 7. Let f : Ω×R→ R be an L1-Carathéodory function such that ess infx∈Ω F (x, ξ) ≥ ≥ 0 for all ξ ∈ R. Assume that there exist a nonnegative constant r1 and two positive constants r2 and h with r1 < 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N and 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N < r2 such that (C1) ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr2 F (x, t)dx− ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N r2 − 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} < ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 CRITICAL POINTS APPROACHES TO ELLIPTIC PROBLEMS DRIVEN BY A p(x)-LAPLACIAN 1687 < ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr1 F (x, t)dx− ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N r1 − 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} . (7) Then, for each λ ∈  r1 − 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr1 F (x, t)dx− ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N , r2 − 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr2 F (x, t)dx− ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N  the problem (1) admits at least one nontrivial weak solution u0 ∈ X such that r1 < ∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇u0(x)|p(x)dx < r2. Proof. In order to apply Theorem 6 to our problem, let the functionals Φ,Ψ : X → R be as in the proof of Theorem 4. As seen in the proof of Theorem 4, Φ and Ψ satisfy the regularity assumptions of Theorem 6. Choose w as given in (3). Taking (4) into account, from the conditions r1 < 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N and 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N < r2 we get r1 < Φ(w) < r2. Thanks to the embedding X ↪→ C0(Ω), we have Φ−1(]−∞, r2[) = {u ∈ X; Φ(u) < r2} = = u ∈ X; ∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇u(x)|p(x)dx < r2  ⊆ ⊆ { u ∈ X; |u(x)| ≤ c0γr2 for all x ∈ Ω } , ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 1688 S. HEIDARKHANI, B. GE and it follows that sup u∈Φ−1(]−∞,r2[) Ψ(u) = sup u∈Φ−1(]−∞,r2[) ∫ Ω F (x, u(x))dx ≤ ∫ Ω sup |t|≤c0γr2 F (x, t)dx. Therefore, one has ϑ(r1, r2) ≤ supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r2[) Ψ(u)−Ψ(w) r2 − Φ(w) ≤ ≤ ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr2 F (x, t)dx−Ψ(w) r2 − Φ(w) ≤ ≤ ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr2 F (x, t)dx− ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N r2 − 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} . On the other hand, arguing as before, one has ρ(r1, r2) ≥ Ψ(w)− supu∈Φ−1(]−∞,r1[) Ψ(u) Φ(w)− r1 ≥ ≥ Ψ(w)− ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr1 F (x, t)dx Φ(w)− r1 ≥ ≥ ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr1 F (x, t)dx− ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N r1 − 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} . Hence, from Assumption (C1), one has ϑ(r1, r2) < ρ(r1, r2). Therefore, applying Theorem 6, for each λ ∈  r1 − 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr1 F (x, t)dx− ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N , r2 − 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr2 F (x, t)dx− ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N  , ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 CRITICAL POINTS APPROACHES TO ELLIPTIC PROBLEMS DRIVEN BY A p(x)-LAPLACIAN 1689 the functional Φ − λΨ has admits at least one critical point u0 ∈ X such that r1 < Φ(u0) < r2, that is r1 < ∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇u0(x)|p(x)dx < r2. Hence, taking into account that the weak solutions of the problem (1) are exactly the solutions of the equation Φ′(u)− λΨ′(u) = 0, we achieve the stated assertion. Theorem 7 is proved. Now we point out the following consequence of Theorem 7. Theorem 8. Suppose that 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} ≤ 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} . Let f : Ω×R→ R be an L1-Carathéodory function such that ess infx∈Ω F (x, ξ) ≥ 0 for all ξ ∈ R. Assume that there exist two positive constants r and h with 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N < r such that (C2) ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx r < ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} . Then, for each λ ∈  1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N , r∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx  the problem (1) admits at least one nontrivial weak solution u0 ∈ X such that r1 < ∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇u0(x)|p(x)dx < r2. Proof. The conclusion follows from Theorem 7 by taking r1 = 0 and r2 = r. Indeed, owing to our assumptions, one has∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx− ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N r − 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} < ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 1690 S. HEIDARKHANI, B. GE < ( 1− 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} r )∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx r − 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} = = ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx r < ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} ≤ ≤ ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} . In particular, one has∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx− ess infx∈Ω F (x, h)m ( D 2 )N r − 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} < ∫ Ω sup|t|≤c0γr F (x, t)dx r . Hence, Theorem 7 concludes the result. Theorem 8 is proved. Let f : R→ R be a continuous function, and put F (t) = ∫ t 0 f(ξ) dξ for all t ∈ R. We have the following result as a direct consequence of Theorem 7. Theorem 9. Let f : R → R be a nonnegative continuous function. Assume that there exist a nonnegative constant r1 and two positive constants r2 and h with r1 < 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N and 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} mDN 2N − 1 2N < r2 such that (C3) |Ω|F (c0γr2)− F (h)m ( D 2 )N r2 − 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} < |Ω|F (c0γr1)− F (h)m ( D 2 )N r1 − 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} . ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 CRITICAL POINTS APPROACHES TO ELLIPTIC PROBLEMS DRIVEN BY A p(x)-LAPLACIAN 1691 Then, for each λ ∈  r1 − 1 p+ min {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} |Ω|F (c0γr1)− F (h)m ( D 2 )N , r2 − 1 p− max {( 2h D )p− , ( 2h D )p+} |Ω|F (c0γr2)− F (h)m ( D 2 )N  the problem −∆p(x)u = λf(u) in Ω, u = 0 on ∂Ω admits at least one nontrivial weak solution u0 ∈ X such that r1 < ∫ Ω 1 p(x) |∇u0(x)|p(x)dx < r2. We end this paper by giving the following special case of our main result of this section. Theorem 10. Let p(x) = p > N. Let h : Ω→ R be a positive and essentially bounded function and g : R→ R be a nonnegative function such that lim t→0+ g(t) tp−1 = +∞. Then, for each λ ∈ 0,  1∫ Ω h(x)dx  supr>0 r∫ c0(pr)1/p 0 g(ξ) dξ , the problem −∆pu = λh(x)g(u) in Ω, u = 0 on ∂Ω admits at least one nontrivial weak solution in X. Proof. For fixed λ ∈ 0,  1∫ Ω h(x)dx  supr>0 r∫ c0(pr)1/p 0 g(ξ) dξ , there exists positive constant r such that λ <  1∫ Ω h(x)dx  r∫ c0(pr)1/p 0 g(ξ)dξ . Moreover, the condition limt→0+ g(t) tp−1 = +∞ implies limt→0+ ∫ t 0 g(ξ)dξ tp = +∞. Therefore, we can choose positive constant h satisfying 1 p ( 2h D )p mDN 2N − 1 2N < r such that ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12 1692 S. HEIDARKHANI, B. GE ( 1 λ ) 2p pDp ess infx∈Ω h(x)m ( D 2 )N < ∫ h 0 g(ξ)dξ hp . Hence, Theorem 8 ensures the conclusion. Remark 2. 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Nonlinear functional analysis and its applications. – Berlin etc.: Springer, 1985. – Vol. II. Received 04.10.12, after revision — 26.06.14 ISSN 1027-3190. Укр. мат. журн., 2014, т. 66, № 12
id nasplib_isofts_kiev_ua-123456789-166319
institution Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
issn 1027-3190
language English
last_indexed 2025-12-07T17:16:18Z
publishDate 2014
publisher Інститут математики НАН України
record_format dspace
spelling Heidarkhani, S.
Ge, B.
2020-02-18T17:51:25Z
2020-02-18T17:51:25Z
2014
Critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian / S. Heidarkhani, B. Ge // Український математичний журнал. — 2014. — Т. 66, № 12. — С. 1676–1693. — Бібліогр.: 31 назв. — англ.
1027-3190
https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/166319
517.9
We establish the existence of at least three solutions for elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian. The existence of at least one nontrivial solution is also proved. The approaches are based on the variational methods and critical-point theory.
Встановлено існування принаймні трьох розв'язків еліптичних задач з p(x)-лапласіаном. Існування щонайменше одного нетривіального розв'язку також продемонстровано. Застосовані підходи ґрунтуються на варіаційних методах та теорії критичних точок.
Research of S. Heidarkhani was in part supported by a grant from IPM (No. 91470046)
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Інститут математики НАН України
Український математичний журнал
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Critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian
Підходи до еліптичних задач з p(x)-лапласіаном основане на теорії критичних точок
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spellingShingle Critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian
Heidarkhani, S.
Ge, B.
Статті
title Critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian
title_alt Підходи до еліптичних задач з p(x)-лапласіаном основане на теорії критичних точок
title_full Critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian
title_fullStr Critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian
title_full_unstemmed Critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian
title_short Critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-Laplacian
title_sort critical points approaches to elliptic problems driven by a p(x)-laplacian
topic Статті
topic_facet Статті
url https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/166319
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AT geb criticalpointsapproachestoellipticproblemsdrivenbyapxlaplacian
AT heidarkhanis pídhodidoelíptičnihzadačzpxlaplasíanomosnovanenateorííkritičnihtočok
AT geb pídhodidoelíptičnihzadačzpxlaplasíanomosnovanenateorííkritičnihtočok