Electronic Journal of Qualitative Theory of Differential Equations

2005, No. 19, 1-12; http://www.math.u-szeged.hu/ejqtde/

REMARKS ON INHOMOGENEOUS ELLIPTIC

PROBLEMS ARISING IN ASTROPHYSICS
MARCO CALAHORRANO & HERMANN MENA
Abstract. We deal with the variational study of some type of
nonlinear inhomogeneous elliptic problems arising in models of solar flares on the halfplane Rn+ .

1. Introduction
In this paper we study a boundary value problem of type

u + c(x)u = m(y)f (u)
Rn+
(1.1)
n1
u(z, 0) = h(z)
z R
where x = (z, y) Rn1 R+ Rn+ with R+ = {y R : y > 0} and
n 2, f :] , +[ R is a function satisfying:
(f-1) There exists s0 > 0 such that f (s) > 0 for all s ]0, s0 [.
(f-2) f (s) = 0 for s 0 o s s0 .
n+2
(f-3) f (s) as , a is a positive constant and 1 < < n2
if n > 2
or > 1 if n = 2.
(f-4) There exists l > 0 such that |f (s1 ) f (s2 )| l|s1 s2 |, for all
s1 , s2 R.
h is a non-negative
bounded smooth function, h 6= 0, min h < s0 , c 0,
T

c L () C() and mes{x : c(x) = 0} = 0.

The problem (1.1) is a generalization of an astrophysical gravity model
of solar flares in the half plane R2+ , given in [1], namely:

u = ey f (u)
R2+
(1.2)
u(x, 0) = h(x)
x R
besides the above mentioned conditions for f , h and > 0. See [1], [8]
and [6] for a detailed description and related problems.
By this, we study the problem (1.1) with m : R+ R+ a C 1 function
such that
Z
+

ym(y)dy < +

more general than ey .

1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. 35J65, 85A30.
Key words and phrases. Solar flares, variational methods, inhomogeneous semilinear elliptic problems.

EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 1

We shall follow the ideas of F. Dobarro and E. Lami Dozo in [8].

The authors prove the existence of solutions of (1.1) in the special case
c(x) = 0. In fact, the result presented here follows from the one obtained by the authors.
First of all we note that problem (1.1) is equivalent to

+ c(x) = m(y)f ( + )
Rn+
(1.3)
n1
(z, 0) = 0
z R
where = u and is solution of the problem

+ c(x) = 0
Rn+
(1.4)
(z, 0) = h(z)
z Rn1
We will study (1.3) instead of (1.1).
The problem (1.1), or equivalently (1.3), is interesting not only on
whole Rn+ , but also in an arbitrary big but finite domain in Rn+ , for example for semidisks DR = {(x, y) Rn1 R+ : |x|2 +y 2 < R2 , y > 0},
with R big enough.
Motivated by this observation in section 2, we will study the following
approximate problem

+ c(x) = m(y)f ( + )
DR
(1.5)
=0
DR
whose solutions are related to those of (1.3).
Using variational techniques we will prove the existence of an interval R+ such that for all there exists at least three positive
solutions of (1.5), with R large enough.
Finally in section 3 we prove the existence of solutions of (1.3) as
limit of a special family of solutions of (1.5) obtained in theorem 5 and
its uniqueness to small enough.
2. Problem in DR
Letting be either DR or Rn+ , we denote by Lpm () the usual weighted
L space on for a suitable weight m and 1 p < , and by Vm1,2 (),
Vc1,2 () the completion of C0 () in the norm
Z
Z
2
2
kukV 1,2 () =
u (z, y)m(y)dzdy +
|u|2 dzdy
p

EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 2

and
kuk2V 1,2 ()
c

u (x)c(x)dx +

|u|2 dx

Let m : R+ R+ be such that

Z +
ym(y)dy < +
(2.1)
0<M
0

it is easy to prove for all functions u C0 () the following inequality

holds, see [8].
Z
Z
2
(2.2)
u (x, y)m(y)dxdy M
|u|2 dxdy

then Vm1,2 (DR ) H01 (DR ) Vc1,2 (DR ) and Vm1,2 (Rn+ ) D 1,2 (Rn+ ) where
H01 (DR ) is the usual Sobolev space with the norm k(.)kL2 (DR ) and
D 1,2 (Rn+ ) is the completion of C0 (Rn+ ) for the norm k(.)kL2 ( n+ ) .
0
On the other hand if R R, then
(2.3)

Vc1,2 (DR ) Vc1,2 (DR0 ) Vc1,2 (Rn+ ) Vm1,2 (Rn+ )

There exists many results about immersion of weighted Sobolev

spaces into weighted Lebesgue spaces. Here we will take into account
one suitable result for our problem.
Let m : R+ R+ be a bounded C 1 function such that there exists
k > 0 such that
0

(2.4)

|(log m) | k

then the identity map is an immersion from Vm1,2 () into Lp p () for

m2

1<p<
1<p

2n
n2

if n 3
if n=2

More precisely, there exists a constant K = K(k, sup m) such that

(2.5)

kukLp

p
m2

()

Cs KkukVm1,2 ()

where Cs is the usual Sobolev immersion constant. The immersion is

compact if = DR .
Now we will begin to study (1.3) by variational methods. For this
purpose, for all 0 and for all non negative function such that
k kL+1
< + we associate the functional , : Vc1,2 (Rn+ ) R
m
Z
Z
1
2
2
{|u| + c(x)u }
mF (u + )
(2.6)
, (u) =
n
2 n+
+
EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 3

Rt

where F (t) =
and (2.4).

f (s)ds, m C 1 (R+ ) and m

b m +1 satisfying (2.1)

, is a C 1 functional, so if u Vc1,2 (Rn+ ) is a critical point of ,

then u is a weak, and by regularity a classical solution of (1.3).
Remark 1. i. If we consider ,,R : Vc1,2 (DR ) R,
Z
Z
1
2
2
,,R (u) =
{|u| + c(x)u }
mF (u + )
2 DR
DR
its critical points are weak, and by regularity, strong solutions of (1.5).
0
Furthermore if R R +, then for all u Vc1,2 (DR )
,,R0 (u) ,,R (u) ,0,R (u)
more precisely
,,R (u) = ,,R (u)
0

mF ( ) ,,R (u)
DR0 DR

Here DR0 with R = + means Rn+ .

ii. Since f is bounded, ,,R is coercive, bounded from below and
verifies Palais-Smale condition for all non negative.
Lemma 2. For each R > 0 denote R : Rn Rn the map


z
,y
R (z, y)
R
and R the scaling R oR . Then
1
1
i. r > 0, R (Vc1,2 (Dr )) Vc1,2 (R
Dr ) and if R 1, Vc1,2 (R
Dr )
1,2
Vc (DRr ).
ii. If C0 (Rn+ ), is non identically 0, then
(2.7)

kR kL2 (

n)
+

R +

as

iii. Let f be defined before and m such that verifies (2.1). Then there
exists 0 < < such that if > , C0 (Rn+ ), 0, non
identically 0 and
R
1
2
2
n {|| + kckL }
2
+
R
(2.8)
Q()
<
n m(y)F ()
+

Vc1,2 (DR0 ),

then there exists rn > 0 : R

R , R: R Rrn rn and
for all non negative function .
0
0
a. ,,R0 (R ) < 0, R , R: R Rrn rn .
b. ,,Rrn (R ) as R +
EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 4

Proof.- This proof follows almost directly from lemma 6 in [8]. However, by completeness we present all the proof.
i. It is immediate from the definition of R .
ii. We observe


1
1
2
2
|R | (z, y) = 2 ||R + 1 2 |y |2R (z,y)
R
R
thus, changing variables
(2.9)

kR k2L2 (

so, since
iii. Set
(2.10)

n
+

n)
+

=R

n1

1
R2

1
|| + 1 2
n
R
+
2

Z

|y |
n
+

|y |2 > 0, (2.9) implies (2.7).

inf {Q() : C0 (Rn+ ), 0, 6= 0}

by (f-3) and since F is bounded

b
F (s)
sup 2 < +
2
s>0 s

(2.11)

so, by (2.2) and since c(x) 0

Z
Z
bM
m(y)F ()
n
2
+

||2 + kckL 2
n
+

hence

1
<
bM
Let > Q() be, since C0 (Rn+ ), there exists rn > 0 such that supp
1
DRrn , for all R 1. Then by i. and (2.3) R Vc1,2 (R
Dr n )
0
1,2
1,2
Vc (DRrn ) Vc (DR0 ) for all R Rrn rn .
For simplicity from now on we call Rrn Rn , where R 1.
Then, by remark 1
0<

(2.12)

,,R0 (R ) ,,Rn (R ) ,0,Rn (R )

On the other hand, if we define the function : R+ R

Z

Z
1
1
1
2
2
(R) n1 kR kL2 ( n+ ) =
|| + 1 2
|y |2
n
R
R2 n+
R
+
Z
 R | |2
n
z
R+
+1
|y |2
=
2
2
n
R
|
|
n
y
+
+

is non increasing. So applying (R) (1) to (2.9)

Z
Z
Z
2
n1
2
|R | R
||2
|R | =
DR n

n
+

n
+

EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 5

furthermore

and

c(x)R2

DRn

m(y)F (R ) =
DR n

so
,0,Rn R

n1

 Z
1
2

n
+

,0,Rn

n1

kckL

m(y)F (R ) = R

n1

n
+

|| + kckL
n
+

then
(2.13)

c(x)R2

Rn1

|| + kckL

n
+

2
n
+

m(y)F ()
n
+

m(y)F ()
n
+

1
Q()

thus, from (2.12) and (2.13) we obtain immediately a and b.


Remark 3. i. Let m : R+ R+ be a bounded C 1 function and let
2
m
b m +1 . It is easy to prove that m verifies (2.4) if and only if m
b
0
does it. Furthermore, given a positive constant k, |(log m) | k if and
0
2
only if |(log m)
b | +1
k.
ii. If there exists a non negative value m1 0 such that {m > 1}
[0, m1 ] and
Z +
c
0<M
y m(y)dy
b
< +
0

then

0<M

ym(y)dy < +
0

Indeed, since m
b > 1 if and only if m > 1 and 0 <
M=

ym(y)dy +

m>1

ym(y)dy

m1

2
+1

m1
sup m
2

<1

c < +
+M

c)
Lemma 4. There exists a positive constant C = C(a, , k, sup m, M
such that for all < (k kL+1
n ) and for all u : kuk 1,2
Vc ( n ) =
m ( +)
+

k kL+1
m (

n ) , , (u) > 0 where (k kL+1 (

m
+

Moreover (k k

n
L+1
m ( +)

) + as k k

1
n ) ) Ck k +1
L
(
+
m

n ).
+

0
EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 6

n
L+1
m ( +)

Proof.- Let u Vc1,2 (Rn+ ) be, using (f-3) and Minkowsky inequality
with respect to measure m(y)dxdy and (2.2), (2.5) we obtain
Z
Z
Z
Z u+
a
0
mF (u + ) =
m
m(u + )+1
f (t)dt
n
n
+ 1 n+
0
+
+
a
(kukL+1
+ k kL+1
)+1

m
+1
+1
m 2
a
c) 12 kukL2 ( n ) + k k +1 )+1

(Cs K(1 + M
Lm
+
+1
a
c) 12 kuk 1,2 n + k k +1 )+1

(Cs K(1 + M
Lm
Vc ( + )
+1
then
(2.14)
a
1
c) 21 kuk 1,2 n +k k +1 )+1
(Cs K(1+ M
, (u) kuk2V 1,2 ( n )
Lm
Vc ( + )
c
+
2
+1
then, if we define
+1
c) 12 + 1)1
C
(Cs K(k, sup m)(1 + M
2a
then , (u) > 0 for all < Ck k1
n , and since > 1. The
L+1
m ( +)
lemma is proved.

Theorem 5. Let us assume (f-1-2-3-4), let m:R+ R+ be a C 1
2
function such that m and m
b m +1 verify (2.1) and (2.4), and let
: Rn+ R+ be a C 1 function, non identically 0. So there exists
c) and such that if
positive constants C = C(a, , k, sup m, M
1
  1
c
(2.15)
k kL+1
n <
m ( +)

then
: < < Ck k1
L+1 (
m

n)
+

there exists a positive R0 = R0 () such that for all R R0 , (1.5) has

at least three strictly positive solutions.
c) and be the positive constant
Proof.- Let C = C(a, , k, sup m, M
defined in lemmas 4 and 2 respectively . Since verifies (2.15), by
lemma 4 and remark 1, for all ], [ and for all R 1
(2.16)

,,R (u) > 0

u Vc1,2 (DR ) : kukVc1,2 (DR ) = k kL+1

n
m (R+ )

On the other hand, fixed ], [, C0 (Rn+ ), and letting rn > 0, the

radius of any semidisk Drn such that supp Drn , by lemma 2 there
EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 7

exists R1 1 such that for all R R1 rn , we have R1 Vc1,2 (DR ),

furthermore
(2.17) k kL+1
m (

n)
+

< kR1 kL2 (DR ) = kR1 kL2 (

n)
+

< kR1 kVc1,2 (

n)
+

and
(2.18)

,,R (R1 ) < < 0

where R defined as
1 2
a
c) 12 t + k k +1 )+1

min
t
(Cs K(1 + M
Lm
0tk kL+1 ( n ) 2
+1
m
+

Let R R1 , we divide the proof in three steps.

1. Local minimum.- Let
R inf ,,R (u)
B

where B = {u Vc1,2 (DR ) : kukVc1,2 (DR ) < k kL+1

n }.
m ( +)
Since ,,R (0) < 0, R < 0. Furthermore R < 0, by (2.14) and
remark 1 . Therefore inf B ,,R > R .
Now we will prove that R is achieved in B . Using a modification in
the proof of proposition 5 and corollaries 6 and 7 in [3], we can obtain
a sequence (un )n in B such that
,,R (un ) R
0

,,R (un ) 0
since ,,R verifies Palais-Smale condition, there exists a subsequence
(unk )k such that unk u1,R in Vc1,2 (DR ) and u1,R 6= 0 because 0 it is
not a critical point of ,,R .
2. Absolute minimum.- Let
uR

inf

Vc1,2 (DR )

,,R

Then uR < , by (2.17). Now using similar arguments to local minimum, but without any modification, we have that uR is achieved in
Vc1,2 (DR ) at a function u2,R .
3.Mountain pass.- Let
cR inf sup ,,R (u)
R u

where R is the set of paths

R = { : C([0, 1], Vc1,2 (DR )), (0) = 0, (1) = R1 }
Since ,,R (0) < 0, by (2.15), (2.16) and (2.17), cR > 0.
Then by the mountain pass theorem, see [4], cR is achieved in Vc1,2 (DR )
at a function u3,R .
EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 8

On the other hand it is clear that u1,R , u2,R and u3,R are different,
indeed
,,R (u2,R ) = uR < R = ,,R (u1,R ) < 0 < cR = ,,R (u3,R )

Remark 6. When is small enough it is easy to prove uniqueness for
(1.5), so u1,R = u2,R , and the local minimum in B od ,,R is the
absolute in Vc1,2 (DR ).
n
3. Problem in R+

, does not verifies Palais-Samale condition, furthermore by lemma

2 and remark 1 , is not coercive and not bounded from below.
However for small enough:
Proposition 7. Let f be as above, let b be given by (2.11) and suppose
m verifies (2.1). Then
1
i. For all < bM
, , is coercive and bounded from below.
1
ii. For all < lM , (1.3) has at most one solution in Vc1,2 (Rn+ ).
< holds in both cases.
Proof.- i. By (2.11), (2.2) and Cauchy-Schwartz for the measure
mdxdy
Z
b
1
2
m(u + )2
kukV 1,2 ( n )
, (u)
c
+
n
2
2
+
1
1
b
kuk2V 1,2 ( n ) (M 2 kukL2 ( n+ ) + k kL2m ( n+ ) )2
c
+
2
2
1
1

(1 bM )kuk2V 1,2 ( n ) (bM 2 k kL2m ( n+ ) )kukVc1,2 (

c
+
2 

b

k k2L2m ( n+ )
2

n)
+

so, i. is proved.

ii. Uniqueness is proved as in [1] using the inequality (2.2) and (f-4).
Indeed: if u1 and u2 are two solutions of (1.3) then
Z
Z
Z
2
2
2
(u1 u2 ) m M
|(u1 u2 )| +c(x)(u1 u2 ) M l
(u1 u2 )2 m
n
+

n
+

n
+


Now we will prove a sufficient condition to approximate solutions of
(1.3) with solutions of (1.5) with R large enough.
EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 9

Lemma 8. Let f and be as above and R+ . Suppose (Rn )n

is a sequence R+ such that Rn + and (un )n is a sequence of
positive solutions of (1.5) with Rn instead of R, such that for all n,
un Vc1,2 (DRn ) and (un )n is bounded in Vc1,2 (Rn+ ), i.e. there exists
0
0
> 0 such that for all n, kun kVc1,2 (DRn ) < . Then, there exists a
subsequence (called again (un )n )) and a function u Vc1,2 (Rn+ ) such
that un u weakly in Vc1,2 (Rn+ ) and u is a classical solution (1.3).
Proof.- By the Calderon-Zygmund1 inequality for all n, un H01 (DRn )
0
0
2,p
H (DRn ) and fixed R > 0, for any DR0
(3.1)

kun kH 2,p (0 ) C(kun kLp (DR0 ) + km(y)f (un + )kLp (DR0 ) )

0

for all n such that Rn > R . The constant C depends on DR0 , n, p and
0
. Since m is decreasing and strictly positive, and (un )n is bounded
in Vc1,2 (Rn+ ), by (2.2), (2.5), (3.1) and the hypothesis of f and m, we
obtain
0

kun kH 2,p (0 ) C(m(R ) 2 Cs K(1 + M ) 2 + sup m sup f |DR0 | p )

for p such that
1<p<
1<p

2n
n2

if n 3
if n=2

and for all n such that Rn > R .

0
For this and the Sobolev embedding theorem for , there exists a
0
1,
subsequence (un )
n such that
 if n=2,3 un u in C ( ) and if n 4
and 1 < p < min

n 2n
,
2 n2

is fixed, un u in Lq ( ), 1 q <

np
.
n2p

Since is an arbitrary and relatively compact such that DRn

1,
and Rn +, we obtain that the above convergences are in Cloc
(Rn+ )
q
and Lloc (Rn+ ) respectively. In particular
(3.2)

un u

L1loc (Rn+ )

en

On the other hand, since (un )n is bounded in Vc1,2 (Rn+ ), by (2.3), (2.5)
and reflexivity
(3.3)
(3.4)

un u
un u

weakly
weakly

where
1<p<
1<p
1see

in
in
2n
n2

Vc1,2 (Rn+ )
Lp p (Rn+ )
m2

if n 3
if n=2

theorems 9.9 y 9.11 in [9]

EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 10

So, if we prove that for all v C0 (Rn+ )

Z
Z
mf (un + )v
mf (u + )v
n
+

n
+

n
our lemma will follow. Based on this and for a fixed v C0 (R+
) we
consider the function
f (u + ) 2p
m 2
w=v
u+
0

It is easy to prove that w Lp p (Rn+ ), where p1 + p10 = 1. Now

m2


Z
Z
f (u + )
mf (un + )v =
m f (un + ) (un + )
v+
n
n
u+
+
+
Z
p
+
(3.5)
m 2 (un + )w
n
+

R
by (3.4), the last term of right hand side of (3.5) tends to n mf (u +
+
)v. On the other hand, by (f-4)
Z

 
Z

f (u + ) 

m f (un + )(un + )
v  2l
(3.6) 
m|uun ||v|
n
u+
supp(v)
+

So, by (3.2) the last term of the right hand side of (3.5) tends to 0.


Theorem 9. Let f, m, and as in lemma 8 and let k kL+1
m (

n)
+

Then for all , 0 < < the local minima u1,R of ,,R , approximate
the local minima of , on the ball B of center 0 and radius in
Vc1,2 (Rn+ ).
As a consequence inf B , , is a minimum and by proposition 7
it is the unique critical point of , , if small enough(i.e. 0 < <
1
).
lM
Proof.- We only need to prove that R as R . With
this aim we consider (uR )R in C0 (Rn+ ) such Rthat uR Vc1,2 (DR ) and
,,R (uR ) as R . By remark 1 n DR mF ( )dx 0 as
+
R , because < +.
Since
Z
R = ,,R (u1,R ) ,,R (uR ) = , (uR )
mF ( )
n D
R
+

then R as R .

EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 11

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(Received October 23, 2003)

Marco Calahorrano
tica, Apartado
Escuela Polit
ecnica Nacional, Departamento de Matema
17-01-2759, Quito, Ecuador
E-mail address: calahor@server.epn.edu.ec
URL: www.math.epn.edu.ec/miembros/calahorrano.htm
Hermann Mena
tica, Apartado
ecnica Nacional, Departamento de Matema
Escuela Polit
17-01-2759, Quito, Ecuador
E-mail address: hmena@server.epn.edu.ec
URL: www.math.epn.edu.ec/~ hmena

EJQTDE, 2005 No. 19, p. 12