On Multiple Solutions to a Family of Nonlinear Elliptic Systems in Divergence Form Coupled with an Incompressibility Constraint

TL;DR

This paper proves the existence of multiple solutions for a class of nonlinear elliptic systems with divergence form and gradient constraints, relevant in mechanics and geometry, highlighting the role of a discriminant in solution structure.

Contribution

It introduces new methods to establish multiple solutions for constrained nonlinear elliptic systems, emphasizing the influence of a discriminant on solution multiplicity.

Findings

Multiple solutions exist under certain conditions.

The discriminant (\u00a4,) determines solution multiplicity.

Connections with Lie groups and geometric operators are established.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to prove the existence of multiple solutions for a family of nonlinear elliptic systems in divergence form coupled with a pointwise gradient constraint: \begin{align*} \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} \dive\{\A(|x|,|u|^2,|\nabla u|^2) \nabla u\} + \B(|x|,|u|^2,|\nabla u|^2) u = \dive \{ \mcP(x) [{\rm cof}\,\nabla u] \} \quad &\text{ in} \ \Omega , \\ \text{det}\, \nabla u = 1 \ &\text{ in} \ \Omega , \\ u =\varphi \ &\text{ on} \ \partial \Omega, \end{array} \right. \end{align*} where $\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n$ ($n \ge 2$) is a bounded domain, $u=(u_1, \dots, u_n)$ is a vector-map and $\varphi$ is a prescribed boundary condition. Moreover $\mathscr{P}$ is a hydrostatic pressure associated with the constraint $\det \nabla u \equiv 1$ and $\A = \A(|x|,|u|^2,|\nabla u|^2)$, $\B = \B(|x|,|u|^2,|\nabla u|^2)$ are sufficiently regular scalar-valued functions satisfying suitable growths at infinity. The system arises in diverse areas, e.g., in continuum mechanics and nonlinear elasticity, as well as geometric function theory to name a few and a clear understanding of the form and structure of the solutions set is of great significance. The geometric type of solutions constructed here draws upon intimate links with the Lie group ${\bf SO}(n)$, its Lie exponential and the multi-dimensional curl operator acting on certain vector fields. Most notably a discriminant type quantity $\Delta=\Delta(\A,\B)$, prompting from the PDE, will be shown to have a decisive role on the structure and multiplicity of these solutions.