In this paper, we analyse the semilinear fourth-order problem ( − Δ)2u = g(u) in exterior domains of ℝN. Assuming the function g is nondecreasing and continuous in [0, + ∞) and positive in (0, + ∞), we show that positive classical supersolutions u of the problem which additionally verify − Δu > 0 exist if and only if N ≥ 5 and

$$\int_0^\delta \displaystyle{{g(s)}\over{s^{(({2(N-2)})/({N-4}))}}} {\rm d}s \lt + \infty$$

We examine the elliptic system given by

$$\left\{ {\matrix{ {-\Delta u = \lambda f(v)} \hfill & {{\rm in }\,\,\Omega ,} \hfill \cr {-\Delta v = \gamma f(u)} \hfill & {{\rm in }\,\,\Omega ,} \hfill \cr {u = v = 0} \hfill & {{\rm on }\,\,\partial \Omega ,} \hfill \cr } } \right.$$

$$0 < \tau _-: = \mathop {\lim \inf }\limits_{t\to \infty } \displaystyle{{f(t){f}^{\prime \prime}(t)} \over {{f}^{\prime}{(t)}^2}} \les \tau _ + : = \mathop {\lim \sup }\limits_{t\to \infty } \displaystyle{{f(t){f}^{\prime \prime}(t)} \over {{f}^{\prime}{(t)}^2}} \les 2,$$

$$[P_{f}(\alpha,\tau_{-},\tau_{+}):=(2-\tau_{-})^{2} \alpha^{2}- 4(2-\tau_{+})\alpha+4(1-\tau_{+}).]$$

We consider bifurcation of solutions from a given trivial branch for a class of strongly indefinite elliptic systems via the spectral flow. Our main results establish bifurcation invariants that can be obtained from the coefficients of the systems without using explicit solutions of their linearizations at the given branch. Our constructions are based on a comparison principle for the spectral flow and a generalization of a bifurcation theorem due to Szulkin.

pde2path is a free and easy to use Matlab continuation/bifurcation package for elliptic systems of PDEs with arbitrary many components, on general two dimensional domains, and with rather general boundary conditions. The package is based on the FEM of the Matlab pdetoolbox, and is explained by a number of examples, including Bratu’s problem, the Schnakenberg model, Rayleigh-Bénard convection, and von Karman plate equations. These serve as templates to study new problems, for which the user has to provide, via Matlab function files, a description of the geometry, the boundary conditions, the coefficients of the PDE, and a rough initial guess of a solution. The basic algorithm is a one parameter arclength-continuation with optional bifurcation detection and branch-switching. Stability calculations, error control and mesh-handling, and some elementary time-integration for the associated parabolic problem are also supported. The continuation, branch-switching, plotting etc are performed via Matlab command-line function calls guided by the AUTO style. The software can be downloaded from www.staff.uni-oldenburg.de/hannes.uecker/pde2path, where also an online documentation of the software is provided such that in this paper we focus more on the mathematics and the example systems.

We consider the quasilinear elliptic variational system

\begin{alignat*} {2} -\Delta_pu\amp=\lambda F_u(x,u,v)+\mu H_u(x,u,v) \quad\amp \amp\text{in }\varOmega, \\ -\Delta_qv\amp=\lambda F_v(x,u,v)+\mu H_v(x,u,v) \amp \amp \text{in }\varOmega, \\ u\amp=v=0 \amp \amp \text{on }\partial\varOmega, \end{alignat*}

where $\varOmega$ is a strip-like domain and $\lambda$ and $\mu$ are positive parameters. Using a recent two-local-minima theorem and the principle of symmetric criticality, existence and multiplicity are proved under suitable conditions on $F$.

In this paper we study the existence and multiplicity of positive radial solutions for a class of semilinear elliptic systems in bounded annular domains with non-homogeneous boundary conditions by the use of a fixed-point theorem of cone expansion/compression type.

In this paper we study the multiplicity of solutions of the quasilinear elliptic system

\begin{equation} \left. \begin{aligned} -\Delta_pu\amp=\lambda F_u(x,u,v)\amp\amp\text{in }\varOmega, \\ -\Delta_qv\amp=\lambda F_v(x,u,v)\amp\amp\text{in }\varOmega, \\ u=v\amp=0\amp\amp\text{on }\partial\varOmega, \end{aligned} \right\} \end{equation} \tag{S$_\lambda$}

where $\varOmega$ is a strip-like domain and $\lambda>0$ is a parameter. Under some growth conditions on $F$, we guarantee the existence of an open interval $\varLambda\subset(0,\infty)$ such that for every $\lambda\in\varLambda$, the system (S$_\lambda$) has at least two distinct, non-trivial solutions. The proof is based on an abstract critical-point result of Ricceri and on the principle of symmetric criticality.

We prove a new energy or Caccioppoli type estimate for minimisers of the model functional ∫Ω|Du|2 + (det Du)2, where Ω ⊂ 2 and u: Ω → 2. We apply this to establish C∞ regularity for minimisers except on a closed set of measure zero. We also prove a maximum principle and use this to establish everywhere continuity of minimisers.

We prove that each (vector-valued) function in Sobolev space on a compact set K, which in the interior K0 of K satisfies a system of differential equations, can be approximated by solutions in a neighbourhood of K plus sums of potentials of measures supported on the boundary of K. We discuss the particular case where, for all compact sets K, one can dispense with potentials in such approximations