Uniqueness of solutions for a nonlocal elliptic eigenvalue problem

Abstract

We examine equations of the form {eqnarray*} \{{array}{lcl} \hfill \HA u &=& λg(x) f(u) \qquad \text{in}\ Ω\hfill u&=& 0 \qquad \qquad \qquad \text{on}\ \pOm, {array}. {eqnarray*} where $ λ>0$ is a parameter and $ Ω$ is a smooth bounded domain in $ \IR^N$, $ N \ge 2$. Here $ g$ is a positive function and $ f$ is an increasing, convex function with $ f(0)=1$ and either $ f$ blows up at 1 or $ f$ is superlinear at infinity. We show that the extremal solution $u^*$ associated with the extremal parameter $ λ^*$ is the unique solution. We also show that when $f$ is suitably supercritical and $ Ω$ satisfies certain geometrical conditions then there is a unique solution for small positive $ λ$.

13 pages. Submitted Sept. 22, 2011 and to appear in Math. Res. Lett. Volume 19, Number 3 (2012)