Introduction
We consider either the following problem
{ − Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = ∣ u ∣ r − 2 u in R n , u ≢ 0 in R n , \begin{align}
\left\{\begin{array}{rl}
-\Delta u - \gamma \, (-\Delta)^s u = |u|^{r-2}u & \textrm{ in } \mathbb{R}^n,\\
u\not\equiv0 & \textrm{ in } \mathbb{R}^n,
\end{array}\right. \tag*{(1.1)}
\end{align} { − Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = ∣ u ∣ r − 2 u u ≡ 0 in R n , in R n , (1.1)
or its version settled in Ω ⊂ R n \Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n Ω ⊂ R n (with n ≥ 3 n \geq 3 n ≥ 3 ) being an open and bounded set with Lipschitz boundary ∂ Ω \partial \Omega ∂ Ω ,
{ − Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = ∣ u ∣ r − 2 u in Ω , u ≢ 0 in Ω , u = 0 in R n ∖ Ω . \begin{align}
\left\{\begin{array}{rl}
-\Delta u - \gamma \, (-\Delta)^s u = |u|^{r-2}u & \textrm{ in } \Omega,\\
u\not\equiv0 & \textrm{ in } \Omega,\\
u= 0 & \textrm{ in } \mathbb{R}^{n} \setminus \Omega.
\end{array}\right. \tag*{(1.2)}
\end{align} ⎩ ⎨ ⎧ − Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = ∣ u ∣ r − 2 u u ≡ 0 u = 0 in Ω , in Ω , in R n ∖ Ω. (1.2)
Throughout the paper, we strengthen the regularity assumptions on ∂ Ω \partial\Omega ∂ Ω whenever needed. The operator ( − Δ ) s (-\Delta)^s ( − Δ ) s is the fractional Laplacian, defined, for s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) s\in(0,1) s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) and u u u smooth enough, by
( − Δ ) s u ( x ) : = ∫ R n 2 u ( x ) − u ( x + y ) − u ( x − y ) ∣ y ∣ n + 2 s d y . (-\Delta)^s u(x):=
\int_{\mathbb R^n}
\frac{2u(x)-u(x+y)-u(x-y)}{|y|^{n+2s}}\,dy. ( − Δ ) s u ( x ) := ∫ R n ∣ y ∣ n + 2 s 2 u ( x ) − u ( x + y ) − u ( x − y ) d y .
In the whole-space problem, γ > 0 \gamma>0 γ > 0 is arbitrary and no upper restriction on the power exponent will be imposed. In the bounded-domain variational problem, instead, we assume
0 < γ < C e m b ( s ) and 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ : = 2 n n − 2 , 0<\gamma<C_{\rm emb}(s)\qquad\text{and}\qquad 1<r\le 2^*:=\frac{2n}{n-2}, 0 < γ < C emb ( s ) and 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ := n − 2 2 n ,
where C e m b ( s ) C_{\rm emb}(s) C emb ( s ) is the optimal constant in the inequality
C e m b ( s ) [ u ] s 2 ≤ ∥ ∇ u ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 , u ∈ H 0 1 ( Ω ) , C_{\rm emb}(s)[u]_s^2\le \|\nabla u\|_{L^2(\Omega)}^2,
\qquad u\in H_0^1(\Omega), C emb ( s ) [ u ] s 2 ≤ ∥∇ u ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 , u ∈ H 0 1 ( Ω ) ,
see, precisely, (2.9) . Concerning the constant C e m b ( s ) C_{\rm emb}(s) C emb ( s ) , we anticipate here the terminology that will be used throughout the paper. As shown in Section 2, C e m b ( s ) C_{\rm emb}(s) C emb ( s ) is the smallest value of λ \lambda λ for which the generalized eigenvalue problem
{ − Δ Φ = λ ( − Δ ) s Φ in Ω , Φ = 0 in R n ∖ Ω \begin{cases}
-\Delta\Phi=\lambda(-\Delta)^s\Phi & \text{in }\Omega,\\
\Phi=0 & \text{in }\mathbb R^n\setminus\Omega
\end{cases} { − ΔΦ = λ ( − Δ ) s Φ Φ = 0 in Ω , in R n ∖ Ω
admits a nonzero weak solution (in the variational sense specified in § 2 ). Such values of λ \lambda λ are called generalized eigenvalues, and the corresponding nonzero weak solutions are called generalized eigenfunctions. For each fixed generalized eigenvalue, the vector space of all weak solutions, including zero, is its associated eigenspace. In particular, we say that C e m b ( s ) C_{\rm emb}(s) C emb ( s ) is simple if its associated eigenspace is one-dimensional.
This terminology always refers to the above generalized problem; Dirichlet eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of − Δ -\Delta − Δ will instead refer to the classical Dirichlet Laplacian.
As it is clear, both (1.2) and (1.1) can be interpreted as Lane-Emden-type equations for the operator
L γ , s : = − Δ − γ ( − Δ ) s , γ > 0. \begin{equation}
\mathcal L_{\gamma,s}:=-\Delta-\gamma(-\Delta)^s, \qquad \gamma >0. \tag*{(1.3)}
\end{equation} L γ , s := − Δ − γ ( − Δ ) s , γ > 0. (1.3)
Before entering into the details of the results we will prove, let us mention that L γ , s \mathcal L_{\gamma,s} L γ , s fits in the more general framework of linear superposition of (possibly) fractional operators given by
L μ : = ∫ [ 0 , 1 ] ( − Δ ) s d μ ( s ) , \begin{equation*}
L_{\mu} := \int_{[0,1]}(-\Delta)^s \, d\mu(s),
\end{equation*} L μ := ∫ [ 0 , 1 ] ( − Δ ) s d μ ( s ) ,
where μ = μ + − μ − \mu = \mu^+ - \mu^- μ = μ + − μ − is a signed measure. This class of operators has been recently studied in several directions, see e.g. [68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 74 , 85 , 48 ] . We also mention [82 , 80 , 61 ] where the authors refer to L γ , s \mathcal L_{\gamma,s} L γ , s as indefinite or nonpositive operator. This recent line of research dealing with the sum of two operators in which the lower-order one possesses the wrong sign (w.r.t. the validity of a maximum principle) is somehow complementary to the more classical study of operators of mixed integer and fractional order (see e.g. [63 , 60 ] in relation with the maximum principle) which is also experiencing an intense revival (see e.g., among the many,[62 , 57 , 86 , 49 , 45 , 46 , 65 , 77 , 78 , 52 ] ). All this interest can be easily understood in view of the possible applications to biology and other real–life situations, see e.g. [75 , 67 ] .
- Motivations. The classical Lane-Emden equation reads
− Δ u = u p , \begin{equation}
-\Delta u = u^p, \tag*{(1.4)}
\end{equation} − Δ u = u p , (1.4)
and it has been the subject of several lines of research. One of the interesting phenomena related to this PDE is the existence of a critical exponent in the following sense: the numbers
\begin{equation*}
\inf \left\{p\in \mathbb{R}: \text{$\exists$ a positive solution to \eqref{eq:LANE-EMDEN} in $\mathbb{R}^n$}\right\},
\end{equation*}
and, considering a bounded, smooth and star-shaped set Ω \Omega Ω ,
\begin{equation*}
\sup \left\{p\in \mathbb{R}: \text{$\exists$ a positive solution $u$ to \eqref{eq:LANE-EMDEN} in $\Omega$ with $u = 0$ on $\partial\Omega$}\right\},
\end{equation*}
do coincide with 2 ∗ − 1 2^{\ast}-1 2 ∗ − 1 , see [79 , 59 ] . We briefly mention that a totally analogous phenomenon appears in the fractional counterpart of (1.4) , namely replacing − Δ -\Delta − Δ with ( − Δ ) s (-\Delta)^s ( − Δ ) s , the only difference being that the precise value of the critical exponent is 2 s ∗ − 1 = n + 2 s n − 2 s 2^{\ast}_s -1 = \tfrac{n+2s}{n-2s} 2 s ∗ − 1 = n − 2 s n + 2 s .
A natural question related to the study of the operator of mixed order given by
L : = − Δ + ( − Δ ) s , s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) , \mathcal{L}:= -\Delta + (-\Delta)^s, \qquad s \in (0,1), L := − Δ + ( − Δ ) s , s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) ,
has been whether a similar notion of critical exponent does exist for L \mathcal{L} L . A first answer to this question has been provided in [47 ] , where the authors showed that even if it exists, it cannot coincide with the one of − Δ -\Delta − Δ . One can probably trace the origin of this wrong belief to the paper [50 ] . The starting point therein is the following simple observation: let Ω ⊆ R n \Omega \subseteq \mathbb{R}^{n} Ω ⊆ R n be an open set and s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) s \in (0,1) s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) , then there exists a constant S n , s ( Ω ) > 0 \mathcal{S}_{n,s}(\Omega)>0 S n , s ( Ω ) > 0 such that
S n , s ( Ω ) ∥ u ∥ L 2 ∗ ( R n ) 2 ≤ ∥ ∇ u ∥ L 2 ( R n ) 2 + [ u ] s 2 , \begin{equation}
\mathcal{S}_{n,s}(\Omega) \|u\|^{2}_{L^{2^{\ast}}(\mathbb{R}^{n})} \leq \|\nabla u\|^{2}_{L^{2}(\mathbb{R}^{n})} + [u]^2_{s}, \tag*{(1.5)}
\end{equation} S n , s ( Ω ) ∥ u ∥ L 2 ∗ ( R n ) 2 ≤ ∥∇ u ∥ L 2 ( R n ) 2 + [ u ] s 2 , (1.5)
for every u ∈ C 0 ∞ ( Ω ) u \in C^{\infty}_{0}(\Omega) u ∈ C 0 ∞ ( Ω ) . This is clearly a consequence of the classical Sobolev inequality.
In principle, the constant S n , s ( Ω ) \mathcal{S}_{n,s}(\Omega) S n , s ( Ω ) could depend on n n n , s s s and Ω \Omega Ω , but this is actually not the case (see [50 Theorem 1.1] ), indeed
S n , s ( Ω ) = S n \begin{equation*}
\mathcal{S}_{n,s}(\Omega) = S_{n}
\end{equation*} S n , s ( Ω ) = S n
where S n S_n S n is the best constant for the classical Sobolev inequality, achieved by the Aubin-Talenti functions.
Moreover, the energy functional
E ( u ) : = 1 2 ∫ R n ∣ ∇ u ∣ 2 d x + 1 2 [ u ] s 2 \begin{equation}
E(u) := \dfrac{1}{2} \int_{\mathbb{R}^n}|\nabla u|^2 \, dx + \dfrac{1}{2}[u]^{2}_s \tag*{(1.6)}
\end{equation} E ( u ) := 2 1 ∫ R n ∣∇ u ∣ 2 d x + 2 1 [ u ] s 2 (1.6)
exhibits a lack of scaling invariance, namely
E ( u t ) = 1 2 ∫ R n ∣ ∇ u ∣ 2 d x + t 2 s − 2 2 [ u ] s 2 , \begin{equation}
E(u_{t}) = \dfrac{1}{2} \int_{\mathbb{R}^n}|\nabla u|^2 \, dx + \dfrac{t^{2s-2}}{2}[u]^{2}_s, \tag*{(1.7)}
\end{equation} E ( u t ) = 2 1 ∫ R n ∣∇ u ∣ 2 d x + 2 t 2 s − 2 [ u ] s 2 , (1.7)
where u t ( x ) : = t ( n − 2 ) / 2 u ( t x ) u_t(x):=t^{(n-2)/2}u(tx) u t ( x ) := t ( n − 2 ) /2 u ( t x ) , with u u u viewed as a function on R n \mathbb R^n R n , is the rescaling which preserves the Dirichlet seminorm ∥ ∇ u ∥ L 2 ( R n ) \|\nabla u\|_{L^2(\mathbb R^n)} ∥∇ u ∥ L 2 ( R n ) . This second simple remark allows to show that the best constant in the local-nonlocal Sobolev inequality (1.5) is never achieved, see [50 Theorem 1.2] .
Since the first variation of the energy functional E E E in (1.6) is given by the local-nonlocal operator L \mathcal{L} L , it became natural to attack the study of the existence of positive solutions to Sobolev critical problems in bounded domains (in the spirit of the celebrated [58 ] ) and with leading operator L \mathcal{L} L : a not exhaustive list of contributions may include [50 , 54 , 55 ] .
Let us now come back to the topic of interest of the present paper. The first result is the following
Theorem 1.1. Let n ≥ 3 n\ge3 n ≥ 3 , s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) s\in(0,1) s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) and γ > 0 \gamma>0 γ > 0 . Any nonnegative weak supersolution u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) u\in H^1(\mathbb{R}^n) u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) of − Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u ≥ 0 in R n
-\Delta u-\gamma(-\Delta)^s u\ge0
\qquad\text{in }\mathbb{R}^n
− Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u ≥ 0 in R n is identically zero. In particular, for every r > 1 r>1 r > 1 , the equation − Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = u r − 1 in R n
-\Delta u-\gamma(-\Delta)^s u=u^{r-1}
\qquad\text{in }\mathbb{R}^n
− Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = u r − 1 in R n admits no nontrivial nonnegative weak solution in H 1 ( R n ) H^1(\mathbb{R}^n) H 1 ( R n ) , whenever the right-hand side is locally integrable.
In this case the wrong sign of the fractional term yields a rather rigid Liouville property. The argument is based on a positive test function on which the operator L γ , s \mathcal L_{\gamma,s} L γ , s has a strictly negative sign at a sufficiently large scale. In particular, no restriction related to the Sobolev critical exponent is involved. Our technique here is clearly reminiscent of the one by Mitidieri and Pohozaev (see e.g. [84 ] and the references therein for an accurate description of the method and the several applications found by the authors) and it has also been recently applied in a local–nonlocal parabolic setting in [53 ] to detect the corresponding Fujita exponent.
As a final comment, let us also compare our Theorem 1.1 with the recent results appeared in [81 ] (for the linear operator − Δ + ( − Δ ) s -\Delta + (-\Delta)^s − Δ + ( − Δ ) s ) and [64 ] (for the sum of possibly fractional p p p -Laplacians): in both cases, the authors proved that the Serrin exponent coincides with the one related to the operator of the lowest order, e.g. n n − 2 s \tfrac{n}{n-2s} n − 2 s n in the case of [81 ] .
The second part of the paper is devoted to the study of (1.2) settled in a bounded set Ω \Omega Ω . We postpone to § 2 , and in particular to (2.6) , the exhaustive discussion on the function space X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) and several equivalent definitions. For the moment, we just point out that one of the equivalent definitions reads
X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) = { u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) : u ∣ Ω ∈ H 0 1 ( Ω ) and u ≡ 0 a.e. in R n ∖ Ω } . \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) = \big\{u\in H^1(\mathbb{R}^n):\,\text{$u|_\Omega\in H_0^1(\Omega)$ and
$u\equiv 0$ a.e.\,in $\mathbb{R}^n\setminus\Omega$}\big\}. X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) = { u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) : u ∣ Ω ∈ H 0 1 ( Ω ) and u ≡ 0 a.e. in R n ∖ Ω } .
A first result in the Sobolev critical case (i.e. for r = 2 ∗ r=2^{\ast} r = 2 ∗ ) has been recently obtained in [51 ] and we believe it is worth briefly recalling it. Let us first define the functional
Q γ ( u ) : = ∫ Ω ∣ ∇ u ∣ 2 d x − γ [ u ] s 2 , u ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , \begin{equation}
Q_{\gamma}(u) := \int_{\Omega}|\nabla u|^{2} \, dx - \gamma \, [u]^{2}_{s}, \quad u \in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega), \tag*{(1.8)}
\end{equation} Q γ ( u ) := ∫ Ω ∣∇ u ∣ 2 d x − γ [ u ] s 2 , u ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , (1.8)
and let us consider the following constrained minimization problem
S ( γ ) : = inf { Q γ ( u ) : u ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , ∥ u ∥ L 2 ∗ ( Ω ) = 1 } . \begin{equation}
S(\gamma) := \inf \big\{ Q_{\gamma}(u) : u \in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega), \|u\|_{L^{2^{\ast}}(\Omega)}=1 \big\}. \tag*{(1.9)}
\end{equation} S ( γ ) := inf { Q γ ( u ) : u ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , ∥ u ∥ L 2 ∗ ( Ω ) = 1 } . (1.9)
The main result obtained in [51 ] reads as follows:
Theorem 1.2 ([51 ] - Theorem 1.1). Let n ≥ 3 n\geq 3 n ≥ 3 and Ω ⊂ R n \Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^{n} Ω ⊂ R n be an open and bounded set with Lipschitz boundary. Then, the following assertions hold:
If n ≥ 5 n\geq 5 n ≥ 5 , the infimum in (1.9) is achieved for every γ ∈ ( 0 , C e m b ( s ) ) \gamma\in (0,C_{\rm emb}(s)) γ ∈ ( 0 , C emb ( s )) .
If n = 3 , 4 n = 3,4 n = 3 , 4 , there exists γ ∗ ∈ [ 0 , C e m b ( s ) ) \gamma^*\in [0,C_{\rm emb}(s)) γ ∗ ∈ [ 0 , C emb ( s )) such that the infimum in (1.9) is achieved for every γ ∈ ( γ ∗ , C e m b ( s ) ) \gamma\in(\gamma^*,C_{\rm emb}(s)) γ ∈ ( γ ∗ , C emb ( s )) .
In both cases, if u 0 ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) u_0\in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) u 0 ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) achieves the infimum in (1.9) , then u ~ = S ( γ ) 1 / ( 2 ∗ − 2 ) u 0
\widetilde{u} = S(\gamma)^{1/(2^*-2)}u_0
u = S ( γ ) 1/ ( 2 ∗ − 2 ) u 0 is a nontrivial weak solution to problem (1.2) with r = 2 ∗ r=2^{\ast} r = 2 ∗ .
As it is clear, the sign of the solution has not been investigated, and it can neither be a simple consequence of a maximum principle nor be based on a trivial test function argument (i.e. testing the equation by u + u^+ u + ). To address this issue, we follow a path recently used in [74 ] to prove, for small fractional orders, the sign-definiteness of generalized eigenfunctions associated with the least eigenvalue; see § 2 for more details. We stress that this approach is kind of transversal and naturally appears in other problems, see e.g. [83 ] , where the authors study a shape optimization problem associated with a functional which exhibits competitive terms like in our case.
As the argument in [74 ] suggests, there is actually no reason to restrict our interest only to the Sobolev critical case r = 2 ∗ r=2^{\ast} r = 2 ∗ . Therefore, for 0 < γ < C e m b ( s ) 0<\gamma<C_{\rm emb}(s) 0 < γ < C emb ( s ) and 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ 1<r\le2^* 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ , we define
S r ( γ ) : = inf { Q γ ( u ) : u ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , ∥ u ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 } . \begin{equation}
S_r(\gamma):=\inf\left\{Q_\gamma(u):u\in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega),\
\left\lVert u\right\rVert_{L^r(\Omega)}=1\right\}. \tag*{(1.11)}
\end{equation} S r ( γ ) := inf { Q γ ( u ) : u ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , ∥ u ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 } . (1.11)
It is pretty easy to see that the infimum in (1.11) is achieved in the Sobolev subcritical case r ∈ ( 1 , 2 ∗ ) r \in (1,2^{\ast}) r ∈ ( 1 , 2 ∗ ) because no lack of compactness occurs (see Proposition 4.1 for the standard details).
Once this is established, we have the following
Theorem 1.3. Let n ≥ 3 n\ge3 n ≥ 3 , let Ω ⊂ R n \Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n Ω ⊂ R n be open and bounded with Lipschitz boundary, let s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) s\in(0,1) s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) and let 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ 1<r\le2^* 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ . For γ \gamma γ in the range where the infimum defining S r ( γ ) S_r(\gamma) S r ( γ ) is achieved, let u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r be any normalized minimizer. If r < 2 ∗ r<2^* r < 2 ∗ this range is the whole interval ( 0 , C e m b ( s ) ) (0,C_{\rm emb}(s)) ( 0 , C emb ( s )) , while for r = 2 ∗ r=2^* r = 2 ∗ the attainment range is the one given by [51 Theorem 1.1] . Then the following assertions hold.
S r ( γ ) ⟶ 0 as γ → C e m b ( s ) − .
S_r(\gamma)\longrightarrow0
\qquad\text{as }\gamma\to C_{\rm emb}(s)^-.
S r ( γ ) ⟶ 0 as γ → C emb ( s ) − .
If γ k → C e m b ( s ) − \gamma_k\to C_{\rm emb}(s)^- γ k → C emb ( s ) − and u γ k , r u_{\gamma_k,r} u γ k , r are normalized minimizers, then, up to a subsequence, there exists u ∞ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) u_\infty\in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) u ∞ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) such that u γ k , r ⟶ u ∞ strongly in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) ,
u_{\gamma_k,r}\longrightarrow u_\infty
\qquad\text{strongly in }\mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega),
u γ k , r ⟶ u ∞ strongly in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , and ∥ u ∞ ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 , ∥ ∇ u ∞ ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 = C e m b ( s ) [ u ∞ ] s 2 .
\left\lVert u_\infty\right\rVert_{L^r(\Omega)}=1,
\qquad
\left\lVert \nabla u_\infty\right\rVert_{L^2(\Omega)}^2
=C_{\rm emb}(s)[u_\infty]_s^2.
∥ u ∞ ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 , ∥ ∇ u ∞ ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 = C emb ( s ) [ u ∞ ] s 2 . In particular, u ∞ u_\infty u ∞ is an L r L^r L r -normalized generalized eigenfunction associated with C e m b ( s ) C_{\rm emb}(s) C emb ( s ) . If C e m b ( s ) C_{\rm emb}(s) C emb ( s ) is simple and Φ s \Phi_s Φ s is any fixed L r L^r L r -normalized generalized eigenfunction associated with it, then u ∞ = Φ s or u ∞ = − Φ s .
u_\infty=\Phi_s\qquad\text{or}\qquad u_\infty=-\Phi_s.
u ∞ = Φ s or u ∞ = − Φ s .
For every R ∈ [ 1 , + ∞ ) R\in[1,+\infty) R ∈ [ 1 , + ∞ ) there exist γ R < C e m b ( s ) \gamma_R<C_{\rm emb}(s) γ R < C emb ( s ) and M R > 0 M_R>0 M R > 0 such that ∥ u γ , r ∥ L R ( Ω ) ≤ M R
\left\lVert u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_{L^R(\Omega)}\le M_R
∥ u γ , r ∥ L R ( Ω ) ≤ M R for every γ ∈ ( γ R , C e m b ( s ) ) \gamma\in(\gamma_R,C_{\rm emb}(s)) γ ∈ ( γ R , C emb ( s )) and every normalized minimizer u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r .
We notice that the first part i) of the above Theorem 1.3 has been already noticed for r = 2 ∗ r=2^{\ast} r = 2 ∗ in [51 ] . Regarding assertion ii), the normalized minimizers converge, along subsequences, to generalized eigenfunctions associated with C e m b ( s ) C_{\rm emb}(s) C emb ( s ) . If this eigenvalue is simple, the limit is determined up to sign, as in (1.12) . Under the additional connectedness and boundary regularity assumptions of Lemma 2.4 , the corresponding L r L^r L r -normalized generalized eigenfunction Φ s \Phi_s Φ s can be chosen positive for sufficiently small s s s . To exploit this property, we need to strengthen the convergence. This is the content of the next result.
Theorem 1.4. Assume in addition that 0 < s < 1 / 2 0<s<1/2 0 < s < 1/2 and that Ω \Omega Ω is of class C 1 , 1 C^{1,1} C 1 , 1 . Then, for every fixed q ∈ [ 2 , + ∞ ) q\in[2,+\infty) q ∈ [ 2 , + ∞ ) , there exist γ q < C e m b ( s ) \gamma_q<C_{\rm emb}(s) γ q < C emb ( s ) and C q > 0 C_q>0 C q > 0 such that ∥ u γ , r ∥ W 2 , q ( Ω ) ≤ C q
\left\lVert u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_{W^{2,q}(\Omega)}\le C_q
∥ u γ , r ∥ W 2 , q ( Ω ) ≤ C q for every γ ∈ ( γ q , C e m b ( s ) ) \gamma\in(\gamma_q,C_{\rm emb}(s)) γ ∈ ( γ q , C emb ( s )) and every normalized minimizer u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r . In particular, if q > n q>n q > n and α = 1 − n / q \alpha=1-n/q α = 1 − n / q , then ∥ u γ , r ∥ C 1 , α ( Ω ‾ ) ≤ C q
\left\lVert u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_{C^{1,\alpha}(\overline\Omega)}\le C_q
∥ u γ , r ∥ C 1 , α ( Ω ) ≤ C q for every γ ∈ ( γ q , C e m b ( s ) ) \gamma\in(\gamma_q,C_{\rm emb}(s)) γ ∈ ( γ q , C emb ( s )) and every normalized minimizer u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r .
Moreover, if γ k → C e m b ( s ) − \gamma_k\to C_{\rm emb}(s)^- γ k → C emb ( s ) − and u γ k , r → u ∞ u_{\gamma_k,r}\to u_\infty u γ k , r → u ∞ in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) as in Theorem 1.3 , then u γ k , r ⟶ u ∞ strongly in W 2 , q ( Ω )
u_{\gamma_k,r}\longrightarrow u_\infty
\qquad\text{strongly in }W^{2,q}(\Omega)
u γ k , r ⟶ u ∞ strongly in W 2 , q ( Ω ) for every fixed q ∈ [ 2 , + ∞ ) q\in[2,+\infty) q ∈ [ 2 , + ∞ ) . In particular, choosing q > n q>n q > n , u γ k , r ⟶ u ∞ strongly in C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) .
u_{\gamma_k,r}\longrightarrow u_\infty
\qquad\text{strongly in }C^1(\overline\Omega).
u γ k , r ⟶ u ∞ strongly in C 1 ( Ω ) . If C e m b ( s ) C_{\rm emb}(s) C emb ( s ) is simple, then u ∞ = ± Φ s u_\infty=\pm\Phi_s u ∞ = ± Φ s as in (1.12) .
We stress that the C 1 , 1 C^{1,1} C 1 , 1 -regularity assumed in Theorem 1.4 is used to apply the global boundary regularity theory from [74 ] . Once the strong C 1 C^1 C 1 convergence is available, we can combine it with the small-s s s spectral information above and the Hopf lemma to obtain the desired sign.
Theorem 1.6. Assume that Ω \Omega Ω is connected and of class C 1 , 1 C^{1,1} C 1 , 1 , and let 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ 1<r\le2^* 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ . There exists s 1 ∈ ( 0 , 1 / 2 ) s_1\in(0,1/2) s 1 ∈ ( 0 , 1/2 ) such that, for every fixed s ∈ ( 0 , s 1 ) s\in(0,s_1) s ∈ ( 0 , s 1 ) , there exists γ ‾ r , s < C e m b ( s )
\overline\gamma_{r,s}<C_{\rm emb}(s)
γ r , s < C emb ( s ) with the following property: if γ ∈ ( γ ‾ r , s , C e m b ( s ) ) \gamma\in(\overline\gamma_{r,s},C_{\rm emb}(s)) γ ∈ ( γ r , s , C emb ( s )) , then every normalized minimizer u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r has a constant sign in Ω \Omega Ω . After multiplication by − 1 -1 − 1 if necessary, u γ , r > 0 in Ω .
u_{\gamma,r}>0\qquad\text{in }\Omega.
u γ , r > 0 in Ω.
The connectedness assumption is needed in order to apply the small-s s s spectral result of Lemma 2.4 . Indeed, on disconnected domains the spectral picture for the generalized eigenvalue problem introduced above may be substantially different. In particular, the result in [74 Theorem 1.4] shows that generalized eigenfunctions associated with C e m b ( s ) C_{\rm emb}(s) C emb ( s ) may be forced to change sign on disconnected domains, thus preventing the argument used here to transfer positivity from Φ s \Phi_s Φ s to the normalized minimizers.
Once Theorem 1.6 is established, from the attainment result in Proposition 4.1 we immediately deduce the following
Corollary 1.7. Assume the hypotheses of Theorem 1.6 , and let 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ 1<r\le2^* 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ , r ≠ 2 r\neq2 r = 2 . For every s > 0 s>0 s > 0 sufficiently small, and for every γ < C e m b ( s ) \gamma<C_{\rm emb}(s) γ < C emb ( s ) sufficiently close to C e m b ( s ) C_{\rm emb}(s) C emb ( s ) , the problem { − Δ v − γ ( − Δ ) s v = ∣ v ∣ r − 2 v in Ω , v = 0 in R n ∖ Ω
\begin{cases}
-\Delta v - \gamma(-\Delta)^s v = |v|^{r-2}v&\text{in }\Omega,\\
v=0&\text{in }\mathbb{R}^n\setminus\Omega
\end{cases}
{ − Δ v − γ ( − Δ ) s v = ∣ v ∣ r − 2 v v = 0 in Ω , in R n ∖ Ω admits a positive weak solution. More precisely, if u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r is a positive normalized minimizer, then v γ : = S r ( γ ) 1 / ( r − 2 ) u γ , r
v_\gamma:=S_{r}(\gamma)^{1/(r-2)}u_{\gamma,r}
v γ := S r ( γ ) 1/ ( r − 2 ) u γ , r is a positive weak solution of (1.13) .
The above Corollary 1.7 holds for every r ∈ ( 1 , 2 ∗ ] , r ≠ 2 r\in(1,2^*],\,r\neq 2 r ∈ ( 1 , 2 ∗ ] , r = 2 and shows that, at least for sufficiently small s s s , the existence of positive solutions to the Lane–Emden equation driven by L γ , s \mathcal L_{\gamma,s} L γ , s is markedly different from the case of the operator
− Δ + ( − Δ ) s . -\Delta+(-\Delta)^s. − Δ + ( − Δ ) s .
However, if one wonders about the existence of a critical exponent for L γ , s \mathcal{L}_{\gamma,s} L γ , s in bounded domains, this question remains unanswered. In this regard, a first instance of a different behaviour also once supercritical Sobolev exponents are considered, comes from the following
Theorem 1.8. Let Ω ⊂ R n \Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n Ω ⊂ R n be an open, bounded, connected and star-shaped set with C 2 C^2 C 2 -smooth boundary ∂ Ω \partial \Omega ∂ Ω . Let us denote by ν \nu ν the outer unit normal to ∂ Ω \partial \Omega ∂ Ω . Let s ∈ ( 0 , 1 / 2 ) s \in (0,1/2) s ∈ ( 0 , 1/2 ) and let p > n + 2 n − 2 p > \tfrac{n+2}{n-2} p > n − 2 n + 2 .
Then, there are no nontrivial solutions u ∈ C 2 ( Ω ‾ ) ∩ C ( R n ) u\in C^2(\overline\Omega)\cap C(\mathbb R^n) u ∈ C 2 ( Ω ) ∩ C ( R n ) to { − Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = ∣ u ∣ p − 1 u in Ω , u = 0 in R n ∖ Ω ,
\begin{cases}
-\Delta u - \gamma\, (-\Delta)^s u =|u|^{p-1}u &\text{in }\Omega,\\
u=0&\text{in }\mathbb{R}^n\setminus\Omega,
\end{cases}
{ − Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = ∣ u ∣ p − 1 u u = 0 in Ω , in R n ∖ Ω , provided that 0 < γ < C e m b ( n − 2 2 − n p + 1 n − 2 s 2 − n p + 1 ) .
0 < \gamma < C_{\rm emb}\, \left(\dfrac{\tfrac{n-2}{2}-\tfrac{n}{p+1}}{\tfrac{n-2s}{2}-\tfrac{n}{p+1}} \right).
0 < γ < C emb ( 2 n − 2 s − p + 1 n 2 n − 2 − p + 1 n ) .
Notice that the upper bound
C e m b ( n − 2 2 − n p + 1 n − 2 s 2 − n p + 1 ) , \begin{equation*}
C_{\rm emb}\, \left(\dfrac{\tfrac{n-2}{2}-\tfrac{n}{p+1}}{\tfrac{n-2s}{2}-\tfrac{n}{p+1}} \right),
\end{equation*} C emb ( 2 n − 2 s − p + 1 n 2 n − 2 − p + 1 n ) ,
can be close to C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb if s s s is close to 1, but this is out of the range for which we proved existence of positive solutions for Sobolev critical and subcritical exponents, or in big dimensions n n n . We refer to § 6 for further comments on Theorem 1.8 , especially regarding the assumptions on s s s and the regularity required in the Pohozaev identity.
- Plan of the paper. The paper is organized as follows. In § 2 we collect the functional setting and the preliminary results, including the spectral information from [74 ] that is crucial for the positivity argument.
In § 3 we prove the whole-space Liouville property stated in Theorem 1.1 by constructing a suitable rescaling of the fractional Sobolev bubble.
§ 4 is devoted to the variational problem in bounded domains: we prove attainment in the subcritical case, convergence of the normalized minimizers to the eigenspace associated with C e m b ( s ) C_{\rm emb}(s) C emb ( s ) as γ → C e m b ( s ) − \gamma\to C_{\rm emb}(s)^- γ → C emb ( s ) − , and uniform finite Lebesgue bounds, thereby proving Theorem 1.3 .
In § 5 we establish the global W 2 , q W^{2,q} W 2 , q estimates and the strong C 1 C^1 C 1 convergence of Theorem 1.4 .
Finally, § 6 contains the positivity argument leading to Theorem 1.6 , and concludes with the Pohozaev-based supercritical nonexistence result of Theorem 1.8 .
- Acknowledgements. The Authors are members of the Gruppo Nazionale per l’Analisi Matematica, la Probabilità e le loro Applicazioni (GNAMPA) of the Istituto Nazionale di Alta Matematica (INdAM). S.B. and E.V. are partially supported by the Indam-GNAMPA project Esistenza, regolarità e studio delle proprietà qualitative per problemi nonlineari.
The Authors thank B. Ruffini for the fruitful discussions on the topics of [83 ] .
- AI disclosure. The authors used GPT-6 to assist with the detection of typographical errors, consistency checks, and the verification of bibliographic references. All mathematical arguments and proofs were developed, written, and verified by the authors, who take full responsibility for the entire content of the manuscript.
- Conflict of interest. The authors state no conflict of interest.
- Data availability statement. There are no data associated with this research.
Preliminary results
Throughout the paper, we tacitly exploit all the notation listed below; we thus refer the Reader to this list for any non-standard notation encountered.
Ω ⊂ R n \Omega\subset\mathbb R^n Ω ⊂ R n is an open and bounded set with Lipschitz boundary ∂ Ω \partial\Omega ∂ Ω . Connectedness, as well as stronger boundary regularity, will be assumed explicitly when needed.
Given any set E E E , ∣ E ∣ |E| ∣ E ∣ denotes its n n n -dimensional Lebesgue measure.
Given any set E E E , E c E^c E c denotes its complement (in R n \mathbb{R}^n R n ), namely E c : = R n ∖ E E^c:=\mathbb{R}^n\setminus E E c := R n ∖ E .
Given x 0 ∈ R n x_0 \in \mathbb{R}^n x 0 ∈ R n and r > 0 r>0 r > 0 , we denote by B r ( x 0 ) B_{r}(x_0) B r ( x 0 ) the Euclidean open ball of center x 0 x_0 x 0 and radius r r r . When x 0 = 0 x_0=0 x 0 = 0 , we will omit it and simply write B r B_r B r .
Given any two vectors v , w ∈ R n v,w \in \mathbb{R}^{n} v , w ∈ R n , we denote by v ⋅ w v\cdot w v ⋅ w the usual Euclidean scalar product.
Given any p ∈ [ 1 , n ) p \in [1,n) p ∈ [ 1 , n ) we denote by p ∗ p^{*} p ∗ the associated Sobolev exponent (with respect to Euclidean space R n \mathbb{R}^n R n ), that is
p ∗ : = n p n − p . p^{*} := \frac{np}{n-p}. p ∗ := n − p n p . Given any r ∈ ( 1 , + ∞ ) r \in (1,+\infty) r ∈ ( 1 , + ∞ ) , we denote by r ′ r' r ′ the conjugate exponent of r r r in the usual Hölder inequality, that is,
r ′ : = r r − 1 . r' := \frac{r}{r-1}. r ′ := r − 1 r . Given a reflexive Banach space V V V with dual space V ′ V' V ′ , we denote by ⟨ ⋅ , ⋅ ⟩ \langle \cdot,\cdot\rangle ⟨ ⋅ , ⋅ ⟩ the duality product.
Given a measurable set E E E , we denote by χ E \chi_{E} χ E its characteristic function.
Given any function v v v , we denote the positive and negative part of v v v by
v + : = max { v , 0 } and v − : = − min { v , 0 } . \begin{equation}
v^{+}:= \max\{v,0\} \quad \textrm{ and } \quad v^{-}:= -\min\{v,0\}. \tag*{(2.1)}
\end{equation} v + := max { v , 0 } and v − := − min { v , 0 } . (2.1)
Functional setting. We now set the adequate functional setting to study problem (1.2) . We refer to e.g. [50 Section 2] for more details.
Let s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) s\in (0,1) s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) and let u : R n → R u:\mathbb{R}^n\to\mathbb{R} u : R n → R be a measurable function. We set
[ u ] s : = ( ∬ R 2 n ∣ u ( x ) − u ( y ) ∣ 2 ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s d x d y ) 1 / 2 , \begin{equation}
[u]_s := \left(\iint_{\mathbb{R}^{2n}}\frac{|u(x)-u(y)|^2}{|x-y|^{n+2s}}\,dx\,dy\right)^{1/2}, \tag*{(2.2)}
\end{equation} [ u ] s := ( ∬ R 2 n ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s ∣ u ( x ) − u ( y ) ∣ 2 d x d y ) 1/2 , (2.2)
and we refer to [ u ] s [u]_s [ u ] s as the Gagliardo seminorm of u u u (of order s s s ). Let us also introduce the bilinear form
E s ( u , v ) : = ∬ R 2 n ( u ( x ) − u ( y ) ) ( v ( x ) − v ( y ) ) ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s d x d y , \begin{equation}
\mathcal E_s(u,v):=\iint_{\mathbb{R}^{2n}}
\frac{(u(x)-u(y))(v(x)-v(y))}{|x-y|^{n+2s}}\,dx\,dy, \tag*{(2.3)}
\end{equation} E s ( u , v ) := ∬ R 2 n ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s ( u ( x ) − u ( y )) ( v ( x ) − v ( y )) d x d y , (2.3)
so that [ u ] s 2 = E s ( u , u ) [u]_s^2= \mathcal E_s(u,u) [ u ] s 2 = E s ( u , u ) .
Let ∅ ≠ Ω ⊆ R n \varnothing\neq \Omega\subseteq\mathbb{R}^n ∅ = Ω ⊆ R n (here n ≥ 3 n\geq 3 n ≥ 3 would suffice) be an open set, not necessarily bounded. We define the function space X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) as
X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) : = C 0 ∞ ( Ω ) ‾ ρ ( ⋅ ) \begin{equation*}
\mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) := \overline{C_0^\infty(\Omega)}^{\,\,\rho(\cdot)}
\end{equation*} X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) := C 0 ∞ ( Ω ) ρ ( ⋅ )
i.e. as the completion of C 0 ∞ ( Ω ) C_0^\infty(\Omega) C 0 ∞ ( Ω ) with respect to the norm
ρ ( u ) : = ( ∥ ∇ u ∥ L 2 ( R n ) 2 + [ u ] s 2 ) 1 / 2 . \begin{equation}
\rho(u) := \left(\|\nabla u\|^2_{L^2(\mathbb{R}^n)}+[u]^2_s\right)^{1/2}. \tag*{(2.4)}
\end{equation} ρ ( u ) := ( ∥∇ u ∥ L 2 ( R n ) 2 + [ u ] s 2 ) 1/2 . (2.4)
We stress that the norm ρ ( ⋅ ) \rho(\cdot) ρ ( ⋅ ) is induced by the scalar product
⟨ u , v ⟩ ρ : = ∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ v d x + ∬ R 2 n ( u ( x ) − u ( y ) ) ( v ( x ) − v ( y ) ) ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s d x d y , \langle u,v\rangle_{\rho} := \int_{\mathbb{R}^n}\nabla u\cdot\nabla v\,dx
+ \iint_{\mathbb{R}^{2n}}\frac{(u(x)-u(y))(v(x)-v(y))}{|x-y|^{n+2s}}\,dx\,dy, ⟨ u , v ⟩ ρ := ∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ v d x + ∬ R 2 n ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s ( u ( x ) − u ( y )) ( v ( x ) − v ( y )) d x d y ,
and therefore X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) is a Hilbert space.
It is known, see e.g. [66 ] , that the Sobolev space H 1 ( R n ) H^{1}(\mathbb{R}^n) H 1 ( R n ) continuously embeds into the fractional Sobolev space H s ( R n ) H^{s}(\mathbb{R}^n) H s ( R n ) for s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) s\in (0,1) s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) , i.e., there exists a positive constant C > 0 C>0 C > 0 (depending on s s s and n n n ) such that
C [ u ] s 2 ≤ ∥ u ∥ H 1 ( R n ) 2 , \begin{equation}
C \, [u]^{2}_{s}\leq \|u\|^2_{H^{1}(\mathbb{R}^n)}, \tag*{(2.5)}
\end{equation} C [ u ] s 2 ≤ ∥ u ∥ H 1 ( R n ) 2 , (2.5)
for every u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) u \in H^{1}(\mathbb{R}^n) u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) .
For our purposes, we will also be interested in the case Ω \Omega Ω bounded. Recalling the continuous embedding given by (2.5) , and combining it with the classical Poincaré inequality, we find that ρ ( ⋅ ) \rho(\cdot) ρ ( ⋅ ) and the full H 1 H^1 H 1 -norm in R n \mathbb{R}^n R n are actually equivalent on the space C 0 ∞ ( Ω ) C^\infty_0(\Omega) C 0 ∞ ( Ω ) , and hence
X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) = C 0 ∞ ( Ω ) ‾ ∥ ⋅ ∥ H 1 ( R n ) = { u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) : u ∣ Ω ∈ H 0 1 ( Ω ) and u ≡ 0 a.e. in R n ∖ Ω } . \begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}
\mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) & = \overline{C_0^\infty(\Omega)}^{\,\,\|\cdot\|_{H^1(\mathbb{R}^n)}} \\
& = \big\{u\in H^1(\mathbb{R}^n):\,\text{$u|_\Omega\in H_0^1(\Omega)$ and
$u\equiv 0$ a.e.\,in $\mathbb{R}^n\setminus\Omega$}\big\}.
\end{aligned} \tag*{(2.6)}
\end{equation} X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) = C 0 ∞ ( Ω ) ∥ ⋅ ∥ H 1 ( R n ) = { u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) : u ∣ Ω ∈ H 0 1 ( Ω ) and u ≡ 0 a.e. in R n ∖ Ω } . (2.6)
We recall the following standard facts.
We now give the precise definition of weak solution to (1.2) .
Definition 2.2. We say that a function u : R n → R u:\mathbb{R}^n\to\mathbb{R} u : R n → R is a weak solution to problem (1.2) if it satisfies the following properties:
u ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) u\in\mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) u ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) and u ≢ 0 u\not\equiv 0 u ≡ 0 in Ω \Omega Ω ;
for every test function v ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) v\in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) v ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , we have
∫ Ω ∇ u ⋅ ∇ v d x − γ ∬ R 2 n ( u ( x ) − u ( y ) ) ( v ( x ) − v ( y ) ) ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s d x d y = ∫ Ω ∣ u ∣ r − 2 u v d x . \begin{align*}
\int_{\Omega}\nabla u\cdot\nabla v\,dx
-\gamma \, \iint_{\mathbb{R}^{2n}}\frac{(u(x)-u(y))(v(x)-v(y))}{|x-y|^{n+2s}}\,dx\,dy = \int_\Omega |u|^{r-2}uv\,dx.
\end{align*} ∫ Ω ∇ u ⋅ ∇ v d x − γ ∬ R 2 n ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s ( u ( x ) − u ( y )) ( v ( x ) − v ( y )) d x d y = ∫ Ω ∣ u ∣ r − 2 uv d x .
A generalized eigenvalue problem. Starting from (2.5) and applying the classical Poincaré inequality, we can easily infer the existence of a positive constant C > 0 C > 0 C > 0 (depending on Ω \Omega Ω as well) such that
C [ u ] s 2 ≤ ∫ Ω ∣ ∇ u ∣ 2 d x = ∥ ∇ u ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 , \begin{equation}
C[{u}]^2_s\leq \int_\Omega|\nabla u|^2\,dx = \|\nabla u\|^2_{L^2(\Omega)}, \tag*{(2.8)}
\end{equation} C [ u ] s 2 ≤ ∫ Ω ∣∇ u ∣ 2 d x = ∥∇ u ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 , (2.8)
for every u ∈ H 0 1 ( Ω ) u\in H_0^1(\Omega) u ∈ H 0 1 ( Ω ) . Hence, we can define
C e m b ( s ) : = inf { ∥ ∇ u ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 : u ∈ H 0 1 ( Ω ) , [ u ] s 2 = 1 } . \begin{equation}
C_{\rm emb}(s) := \inf \big\{ \|\nabla u\|^{2}_{L^2(\Omega)} : u\in H_0^1(\Omega),\,[u]_{s}^2 =1\big\}. \tag*{(2.9)}
\end{equation} C emb ( s ) := inf { ∥∇ u ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 : u ∈ H 0 1 ( Ω ) , [ u ] s 2 = 1 } . (2.9)
As observed in [51 Remark 2.1(iii)] , the infimum in (2.9) is achieved. When no confusion arises, we will simply write C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb therefore avoiding to repeat the dependence on s s s . The Euler equation associated with (2.9) reads
∫ Ω ∇ Φ ⋅ ∇ φ d x = C e m b E s ( Φ , φ ) for every φ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , \begin{equation}
\int_\Omega \nabla\Phi\cdot\nabla\varphi\,dx
=C_{\rm emb}\, \mathcal E_s(\Phi,\varphi)
\qquad\text{for every }\varphi\in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega), \tag*{(2.10)}
\end{equation} ∫ Ω ∇Φ ⋅ ∇ φ d x = C emb E s ( Φ , φ ) for every φ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , (2.10)
for every minimizer Φ \Phi Φ of (2.9) . As usual, (2.10) can be seen as the weak formulation (in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) ) of
− Δ Φ = C e m b ( − Δ ) s Φ in Ω , Φ = 0 in R n ∖ Ω . -\Delta\Phi=C_{\rm emb}(-\Delta)^s\Phi\quad\text{in }\Omega,
\qquad
\Phi=0\quad\text{in }\mathbb{R}^n\setminus\Omega. − ΔΦ = C emb ( − Δ ) s Φ in Ω , Φ = 0 in R n ∖ Ω.
The latter is a particular instance of a problem recently studied in [74 ] and referred to therein as a nonlocal eigenvalue problem. To justify the terminology anticipated in the Introduction, let λ \lambda λ be a generalized eigenvalue and let
Φ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) ∖ { 0 } \Phi\in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega)\setminus\{0\} Φ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) ∖ { 0 }
be an associated generalized eigenfunction.
Testing its weak equation with Φ \Phi Φ gives
λ = ∥ ∇ Φ ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 [ Φ ] s 2 ≥ C e m b . \lambda
=\frac{\|\nabla\Phi\|_{L^2(\Omega)}^2}{[\Phi]_s^2}
\ge C_{\rm emb}. λ = [ Φ ] s 2 ∥∇Φ ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 ≥ C emb .
Since the infimum in (2.9) is attained and its minimizers satisfy (2.10) , C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb is the least generalized eigenvalue. Its associated eigenspace consists precisely of the functions Φ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) \Phi\in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) Φ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) satisfying
∥ ∇ Φ ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 = C e m b [ Φ ] s 2 . \|\nabla\Phi\|_{L^2(\Omega)}^2=C_{\rm emb}[\Phi]_s^2. ∥∇Φ ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 = C emb [ Φ ] s 2 .
In particular, the minimizers of (2.9) are precisely the elements of this eigenspace satisfying [ Φ ] s = 1 [\Phi]_s=1 [ Φ ] s = 1 .
The next lemma collects some results obtained in [74 ] . To be more precise, it is a direct consequence of the perturbative spectral results in [74 Theorems 1.2 and 1.3 and the proof of Theorem 1.3] , together with the global regularity estimate in [74 Theorem 1.8] .
Lemma 2.4. Let Ω \Omega Ω be open, bounded, connected and of class C 1 , 1 C^{1,1} C 1 , 1 . There exists s 0 ∈ ( 0 , 1 / 2 ) s_0\in(0,1/2) s 0 ∈ ( 0 , 1/2 ) such that, for every s ∈ ( 0 , s 0 ) s\in(0,s_0) s ∈ ( 0 , s 0 ) , C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb is a simple generalized eigenvalue of the problem − Δ Φ = λ ( − Δ ) s Φ in Ω , Φ = 0 in R n ∖ Ω ,
-\Delta\Phi=\lambda(-\Delta)^s\Phi\quad\text{in }\Omega,
\qquad
\Phi=0\quad\text{in }\mathbb R^n\setminus\Omega,
− ΔΦ = λ ( − Δ ) s Φ in Ω , Φ = 0 in R n ∖ Ω , and every generalized eigenfunction associated with C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb is either strictly positive or strictly negative in Ω \Omega Ω .
Moreover, for every fixed r ∈ ( 1 , 2 ∗ ] r\in(1,2^*] r ∈ ( 1 , 2 ∗ ] , let φ 1 \varphi_1 φ 1 be the positive first Dirichlet eigenfunction of − Δ -\Delta − Δ , normalized by ∥ φ 1 ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 \|\varphi_1\|_{L^r(\Omega)}=1 ∥ φ 1 ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 , and let Φ s \Phi_s Φ s be the positive generalized eigenfunction associated with C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb , normalized by ∥ Φ s ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 \|\Phi_s\|_{L^r(\Omega)}=1 ∥ Φ s ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 . Then Φ s → φ 1 strongly in C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) as s → 0 + .
\Phi_s\to \varphi_1
\qquad\text{strongly in }C^1(\overline\Omega)
\quad\text{as }s\to0^+.
Φ s → φ 1 strongly in C 1 ( Ω ) as s → 0 + .
A regularity estimate. We end this section proving the following elementary lower-order estimate, valid on the whole space. Despite this, it will be useful both for (1.2) and (1.1) .
Lemma 2.7. There exists a constant C = C ( n , s ) > 0 C=C(n,s)>0 C = C ( n , s ) > 0 such that, for every v ∈ H 1 ( R n ) v\in H^1(\mathbb{R}^n) v ∈ H 1 ( R n ) and every ρ > 0 \rho>0 ρ > 0 , [ v ] s 2 ≤ C ρ 2 − 2 s ∥ ∇ v ∥ 2 2 + C ρ − 2 s ∥ v ∥ 2 2 .
[v]_s^2\le
C\rho^{2-2s}\left\lVert \nabla v\right\rVert_2^2
+C\rho^{-2s}\left\lVert v\right\rVert_2^2.
[ v ] s 2 ≤ C ρ 2 − 2 s ∥ ∇ v ∥ 2 2 + C ρ − 2 s ∥ v ∥ 2 2 . In particular, for every ε > 0 \varepsilon>0 ε > 0 there exists C ε > 0 C_\varepsilon>0 C ε > 0 such that [ v ] s 2 ≤ ε ∥ ∇ v ∥ 2 2 + C ε ∥ v ∥ 2 2 for every v ∈ H 1 ( R n ) .
[v]_s^2\le\varepsilon\left\lVert \nabla v\right\rVert_2^2
+C_\varepsilon\left\lVert v\right\rVert_2^2
\qquad\text{for every }v\in H^1(\mathbb{R}^n).
[ v ] s 2 ≤ ε ∥ ∇ v ∥ 2 2 + C ε ∥ v ∥ 2 2 for every v ∈ H 1 ( R n ) .
Proof. Writing h = y − x h=y-x h = y − x in the definition of the fractional seminorm, we have
[ v ] s 2 = ∫ R n ∥ v ( ⋅ + h ) − v ∥ 2 2 ∣ h ∣ n + 2 s d h . [v]_s^2=
\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}\frac{\left\lVert v(\cdot+h)-v\right\rVert_2^2}{|h|^{n+2s}}\,dh. [ v ] s 2 = ∫ R n ∣ h ∣ n + 2 s ∥ v ( ⋅ + h ) − v ∥ 2 2 d h . For ∣ h ∣ ≤ ρ |h|\le\rho ∣ h ∣ ≤ ρ , the fundamental theorem of calculus gives
∥ v ( ⋅ + h ) − v ∥ 2 ≤ ∣ h ∣ ∥ ∇ v ∥ 2 , \left\lVert v(\cdot+h)-v\right\rVert_2\le |h|\left\lVert \nabla v\right\rVert_2, ∥ v ( ⋅ + h ) − v ∥ 2 ≤ ∣ h ∣ ∥ ∇ v ∥ 2 , whereas, for every h ∈ R n h\in\mathbb{R}^n h ∈ R n ,
∥ v ( ⋅ + h ) − v ∥ 2 ≤ 2 ∥ v ∥ 2 . \left\lVert v(\cdot+h)-v\right\rVert_2\le2\left\lVert v\right\rVert_2. ∥ v ( ⋅ + h ) − v ∥ 2 ≤ 2 ∥ v ∥ 2 . Splitting the integral into ∣ h ∣ ≤ ρ |h|\le\rho ∣ h ∣ ≤ ρ and ∣ h ∣ > ρ |h|>\rho ∣ h ∣ > ρ yields (2.13) . Formula (2.14) follows by choosing ρ \rho ρ sufficiently small. ◻
Proof of Theorem 1.1
In this section we prove Theorem 1.1 . We first fix the notion of weak supersolution used below and then construct a positive function on which L γ , s \mathcal L_{\gamma,s} L γ , s becomes strictly negative after a suitable large-scale rescaling.
Throughout the section, n ≥ 3 n\ge3 n ≥ 3 , s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) s\in(0,1) s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) and γ > 0 \gamma>0 γ > 0 are fixed.
Definition 3.1. We say that u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) u\in H^1(\mathbb{R}^n) u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) is a nonnegative weak supersolution of the equation
L γ , s u = 0 in R n \begin{equation}
\mathcal L_{\gamma,s}u = 0
\qquad\text{in }\mathbb{R}^n \tag*{(3.1)}
\end{equation} L γ , s u = 0 in R n (3.1) if u ≥ 0 u\ge0 u ≥ 0 a.e. in R n \mathbb{R}^n R n and
∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ φ d x − γ E s ( u , φ ) ≥ 0 ∀ φ ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) , φ ≥ 0. \begin{equation*}
\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}\nabla u\cdot\nabla\varphi\,dx
-\gamma \, \mathcal E_s(u,\varphi)\ge0\qquad\forall\,\,\varphi\in C_0^\infty(\mathbb{R}^n),\,\varphi\geq 0.
\end{equation*} ∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ φ d x − γ E s ( u , φ ) ≥ 0 ∀ φ ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) , φ ≥ 0.
We now set
β : = n − 2 s 2 \begin{equation}
\beta:=\frac{n-2s}{2} \tag*{(3.2)}
\end{equation} β := 2 n − 2 s (3.2)
and define
ψ ( x ) : = 1 ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) β = 1 ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) ( n − 2 s ) / 2 . \begin{equation}
\psi(x):=\frac{1}{(1+|x|^2)^\beta}
=\frac{1}{(1+|x|^2)^{(n-2s)/2}}. \tag*{(3.3)}
\end{equation} ψ ( x ) := ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) β 1 = ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) ( n − 2 s ) /2 1 . (3.3)
The latter is a scalar multiple of what is usually called fractional Sobolev bubble. Therefore, with the choice of β \beta β made in (3.2) , we have both a known sign and decay of ( − Δ ) s ψ (-\Delta)^{s}\psi ( − Δ ) s ψ .
Lemma 3.2. There exists a constant a n , s > 0 a_{n,s}>0 a n , s > 0 , depending only on the normalization of the fractional Laplacian, such that ( − Δ ) s ψ ( x ) = a n , s ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) − ( n + 2 s ) / 2 for every x ∈ R n .
(-\Delta)^s\psi(x)
=a_{n,s}(1+|x|^2)^{-(n+2s)/2}
\qquad\text{for every }x\in\mathbb{R}^n.
( − Δ ) s ψ ( x ) = a n , s ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) − ( n + 2 s ) /2 for every x ∈ R n . In particular, ( − Δ ) s ψ > 0 (-\Delta)^s\psi>0 ( − Δ ) s ψ > 0 in R n \mathbb{R}^n R n . Moreover, there exists C 0 = C 0 ( n , s ) > 0 C_0=C_0(n,s)>0 C 0 = C 0 ( n , s ) > 0 such that − Δ ψ ≤ C 0 ( − Δ ) s ψ in R n .
-\Delta\psi\le C_0(-\Delta)^s\psi
\qquad\text{in }\mathbb{R}^n.
− Δ ψ ≤ C 0 ( − Δ ) s ψ in R n .
Proof. The explicit formula (3.4) follows from [76 formulas (6.5)–(6.6)] . We briefly spell out the specialization, also in order to keep track of the sign. In the notation of [76 ] , consider
f β ~ ( x ) : = − ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) − β ~ / 2 , β ~ : = n − 2 s , f_{\widetilde\beta}(x)
:=-(1+|x|^2)^{-\widetilde\beta/2},
\qquad
\widetilde\beta:=n-2s, f β ( x ) := − ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) − β /2 , β := n − 2 s , and take α : = 2 s \alpha:=2s α := 2 s . Formula (6.5) in [76 ] gives
− ( − Δ ) α / 2 f β ~ ( x ) = C ( α , β ~ , n ) 2 F 1 ( a , b ; c ; − ∣ x ∣ 2 ) , -(-\Delta)^{\alpha/2}f_{\widetilde\beta}(x)
=
C(\alpha,\widetilde\beta,n)
{}_2F_1\left(a,b;c;-|x|^2\right), − ( − Δ ) α /2 f β ( x ) = C ( α , β , n ) 2 F 1 ( a , b ; c ; − ∣ x ∣ 2 ) , where C ( α , β ~ , n ) > 0 C(\alpha,\widetilde\beta,n)>0 C ( α , β , n ) > 0 and
a = n + α 2 = n + 2 s 2 , b = α + β ~ 2 = n 2 , c = n 2 . a=\frac{n+\alpha}{2}=\frac{n+2s}{2},
\qquad
b=\frac{\alpha+\widetilde\beta}{2}=\frac n2,
\qquad
c=\frac n2. a = 2 n + α = 2 n + 2 s , b = 2 α + β = 2 n , c = 2 n . Since b = c b=c b = c , the elementary identity
2 F 1 ( a , c ; c ; z ) = ( 1 − z ) − a {}_2F_1(a,c;c;z)=(1-z)^{-a} 2 F 1 ( a , c ; c ; z ) = ( 1 − z ) − a yields
2 F 1 ( n + 2 s 2 , n 2 ; n 2 ; − ∣ x ∣ 2 ) = ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) − ( n + 2 s ) / 2 . {}_2F_1\left(
\frac{n+2s}{2},\frac n2;\frac n2;-|x|^2
\right)
=
(1+|x|^2)^{-(n+2s)/2}. 2 F 1 ( 2 n + 2 s , 2 n ; 2 n ; − ∣ x ∣ 2 ) = ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) − ( n + 2 s ) /2 . Recalling that f β ~ = − ψ f_{\widetilde\beta}=-\psi f β = − ψ , we obtain
( − Δ ) s ψ ( x ) = a n , s ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) − ( n + 2 s ) / 2 , (-\Delta)^s\psi(x)
=
a_{n,s}(1+|x|^2)^{-(n+2s)/2}, ( − Δ ) s ψ ( x ) = a n , s ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) − ( n + 2 s ) /2 , for a suitable constant a n , s > 0 a_{n,s}>0 a n , s > 0 . The value of a n , s a_{n,s} a n , s depends on the normalization chosen for the fractional Laplacian; only its positivity will be relevant below.
We now compute the local part. More generally, if ψ β ( x ) : = ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) − β \psi_\beta(x):=(1+|x|^2)^{-\beta} ψ β ( x ) := ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) − β , then
Δ ψ β ( x ) = 2 β ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) β + 2 [ ( 2 β − n + 2 ) ∣ x ∣ 2 − n ] . \begin{equation*}
\Delta\psi_\beta(x)
=\frac{2\beta}{(1+|x|^2)^{\beta+2}}
\left[(2\beta-n+2)|x|^2-n\right].
\end{equation*} Δ ψ β ( x ) = ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) β + 2 2 β [ ( 2 β − n + 2 ) ∣ x ∣ 2 − n ] . For β = ( n − 2 s ) / 2 \beta=(n-2s)/2 β = ( n − 2 s ) /2 this yields
− Δ ψ ( x ) = ( n − 2 s ) n − 2 ( 1 − s ) ∣ x ∣ 2 ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) ( n + 4 − 2 s ) / 2 . \begin{equation}
-\Delta\psi(x)
=(n-2s)
\frac{n-2(1-s)|x|^2}
{(1+|x|^2)^{(n+4-2s)/2}}. \tag*{(3.6)}
\end{equation} − Δ ψ ( x ) = ( n − 2 s ) ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) ( n + 4 − 2 s ) /2 n − 2 ( 1 − s ) ∣ x ∣ 2 . (3.6) Combining (3.4) and (3.6) , we can rewrite the latter identity as
− Δ ψ ( x ) = n − 2 s a n , s n − 2 ( 1 − s ) ∣ x ∣ 2 ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) 2 ( 1 − s ) ( − Δ ) s ψ ( x ) . \begin{equation*}
-\Delta\psi(x)
=\frac{n-2s}{a_{n,s}}
\frac{n-2(1-s)|x|^2}{(1+|x|^2)^{2(1-s)}}
(-\Delta)^s\psi(x).
\end{equation*} − Δ ψ ( x ) = a n , s n − 2 s ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) 2 ( 1 − s ) n − 2 ( 1 − s ) ∣ x ∣ 2 ( − Δ ) s ψ ( x ) . Since
n − 2 ( 1 − s ) ∣ x ∣ 2 ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) 2 ( 1 − s ) ≤ n for every x ∈ R n , \frac{n-2(1-s)|x|^2}{(1+|x|^2)^{2(1-s)}}\le n
\qquad\text{for every }x\in\mathbb{R}^n, ( 1 + ∣ x ∣ 2 ) 2 ( 1 − s ) n − 2 ( 1 − s ) ∣ x ∣ 2 ≤ n for every x ∈ R n , we obtain (3.5) , for instance with
C 0 : = n ( n − 2 s ) a n , s . \begin{equation*}
C_0:=\frac{n(n-2s)}{a_{n,s}}.
\end{equation*} C 0 := a n , s n ( n − 2 s ) . This ends the proof. ◻
We now consider a suitable rescaling of the function ψ \psi ψ . To this aim, for R > 0 R>0 R > 0 we set
ψ R ( x ) : = ψ ( x R ) . \begin{equation*}
\psi_R(x):=\psi\left(\frac{x}{R}\right).
\end{equation*} ψ R ( x ) := ψ ( R x ) .
As already mentioned, − Δ -\Delta − Δ and ( − Δ ) s (-\Delta)^s ( − Δ ) s scale differently. More precisely,
− Δ ψ R ( x ) = R − 2 ( − Δ ψ ) ( x R ) , ( − Δ ) s ψ R ( x ) = R − 2 s ( − Δ ) s ψ ( x R ) . \begin{equation}
-\Delta\psi_R(x)
=R^{-2}(-\Delta\psi)\left(\frac{x}{R}\right),
\qquad
(-\Delta)^s\psi_R(x)
=R^{-2s}(-\Delta)^s\psi\left(\frac{x}{R}\right). \tag*{(3.7)}
\end{equation} − Δ ψ R ( x ) = R − 2 ( − Δ ψ ) ( R x ) , ( − Δ ) s ψ R ( x ) = R − 2 s ( − Δ ) s ψ ( R x ) . (3.7)
Consequently, Lemma 3.2 gives
L γ , s ψ R ( x ) = R − 2 ( − Δ ψ ) ( x R ) − γ R − 2 s ( − Δ ) s ψ ( x R ) ≤ R − 2 s ( C 0 R 2 s − 2 − γ ) ( − Δ ) s ψ ( x R ) . \begin{align}
\mathcal L_{\gamma,s}\psi_R(x)
&=R^{-2}(-\Delta\psi)\left(\frac{x}{R}\right)
-\gamma R^{-2s}(-\Delta)^s\psi\left(\frac{x}{R}\right)\notag\\
&\le R^{-2s}\left(C_0R^{2s-2}-\gamma\right)
(-\Delta)^s\psi\left(\frac{x}{R}\right). \tag*{(3.8)}
\end{align} L γ , s ψ R ( x ) = R − 2 ( − Δ ψ ) ( R x ) − γ R − 2 s ( − Δ ) s ψ ( R x ) ≤ R − 2 s ( C 0 R 2 s − 2 − γ ) ( − Δ ) s ψ ( R x ) . (3.8)
Since s < 1 s<1 s < 1 , we have R 2 s − 2 → 0 R^{2s-2}\to0 R 2 s − 2 → 0 as R → + ∞ R\to+\infty R → + ∞ . Hence, there exists R 0 = R 0 ( n , s , γ ) > 0 R_0=R_0(n,s,\gamma)>0 R 0 = R 0 ( n , s , γ ) > 0 such that
C 0 R 2 s − 2 ≤ γ 2 for every R ≥ R 0 . \begin{equation}
C_0R^{2s-2}\le\frac\gamma2
\qquad\text{for every }R\ge R_0. \tag*{(3.9)}
\end{equation} C 0 R 2 s − 2 ≤ 2 γ for every R ≥ R 0 . (3.9)
It follows from (3.4) and (3.8) that, for every R ≥ R 0 R\ge R_0 R ≥ R 0 ,
L γ , s ψ R ( x ) ≤ − γ 2 R − 2 s ( − Δ ) s ψ ( x R ) < 0 for every x ∈ R n . \begin{equation}
\mathcal L_{\gamma,s}\psi_R(x)
\le-\frac\gamma2 R^{-2s}
(-\Delta)^s\psi\left(\frac{x}{R}\right)<0
\qquad\text{for every }x\in\mathbb{R}^n. \tag*{(3.10)}
\end{equation} L γ , s ψ R ( x ) ≤ − 2 γ R − 2 s ( − Δ ) s ψ ( R x ) < 0 for every x ∈ R n . (3.10)
The function ψ R \psi_R ψ R cannot always be directly used as a test function. Indeed, taking into account (3.3) we have
ψ R ( x ) ≍ ∣ x ∣ − ( n − 2 s ) as ∣ x ∣ → + ∞ , \begin{equation}
\psi_R(x)\asymp |x|^{-(n-2s)}
\qquad\text{as }|x|\to+\infty, \tag*{(3.11)}
\end{equation} ψ R ( x ) ≍ ∣ x ∣ − ( n − 2 s ) as ∣ x ∣ → + ∞ , (3.11)
and therefore
ψ R ∈ L 2 ( R n ) ⟺ n > 4 s . \begin{equation*}
\psi_R\in L^2(\mathbb{R}^n)
\quad\Longleftrightarrow\quad n>4s.
\end{equation*} ψ R ∈ L 2 ( R n ) ⟺ n > 4 s .
No restriction of this type is needed, however. The relevant observation is that ψ R \psi_R ψ R has finite homogeneous local and nonlocal energies, and can be approximated by compactly supported nonnegative functions in both energies.
Lemma 3.3. For every R > 0 R>0 R > 0 , we have ∥ ∇ ψ R ∥ L 2 ( R n ) , [ ψ R ] s < + ∞ .
\|\nabla \psi_R\|_{L^2(\mathbb{R}^n)},\,[\psi_R]_s<+\infty.
∥∇ ψ R ∥ L 2 ( R n ) , [ ψ R ] s < + ∞. Moreover, there exists a sequence φ k ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) \varphi_k\in C_0^\infty(\mathbb{R}^n) φ k ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) , φ k ≥ 0 \varphi_k\ge0 φ k ≥ 0 , such that ∥ ∇ ( φ k − ψ R ) ∥ 2 → 0 , [ φ k − ψ R ] s → 0 as k → + ∞ .
\left\lVert \nabla(\varphi_k-\psi_R)\right\rVert_2\to 0,
\qquad
[\varphi_k-\psi_R]_s\to 0
\qquad\text{as }k\to+\infty.
∥ ∇ ( φ k − ψ R ) ∥ 2 → 0 , [ φ k − ψ R ] s → 0 as k → + ∞.
Proof. The fact that [ ψ R ] s < + ∞ [\psi_R]_s<+\infty [ ψ R ] s < + ∞ is the standard finite-energy property of the fractional Sobolev bubble in (3.3) . As for the local energy, (3.3) gives, for ∣ x ∣ |x| ∣ x ∣ large,
∣ ∇ ψ R ( x ) ∣ ≤ C R ∣ x ∣ − ( n − 2 s + 1 ) . \begin{equation*}
|\nabla\psi_R(x)|\le C_R|x|^{-(n-2s+1)}.
\end{equation*} ∣∇ ψ R ( x ) ∣ ≤ C R ∣ x ∣ − ( n − 2 s + 1 ) . Thus ∇ ψ R ∈ L 2 ( R n ) \nabla\psi_R\in L^2(\mathbb{R}^n) ∇ ψ R ∈ L 2 ( R n ) , since
2 ( n − 2 s + 1 ) > n ⟺ n + 2 > 4 s , 2(n-2s+1)>n
\quad\Longleftrightarrow\quad n+2>4s, 2 ( n − 2 s + 1 ) > n ⟺ n + 2 > 4 s , and the latter inequality follows from n ≥ 3 n\ge3 n ≥ 3 and s < 1 s<1 s < 1 .
Let now η ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) \eta\in C_0^\infty(\mathbb{R}^n) η ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) be such that
0 ≤ η ≤ 1 , η ≡ 1 in B 1 , η ≡ 0 in R n ∖ B 2 , \begin{equation*}
0\le\eta\le1,
\qquad
\eta\equiv1\ \text{in }B_1,
\qquad
\eta\equiv0\ \text{in }\mathbb{R}^n\setminus B_2,
\end{equation*} 0 ≤ η ≤ 1 , η ≡ 1 in B 1 , η ≡ 0 in R n ∖ B 2 , and define
η k ( x ) : = η ( x k ) , φ k ( x ) : = η k ( x ) ψ R ( x ) . \begin{equation*}
\eta_k(x):=\eta\left(\frac{x}{k}\right),
\qquad
\varphi_k(x):=\eta_k(x)\psi_R(x).
\end{equation*} η k ( x ) := η ( k x ) , φ k ( x ) := η k ( x ) ψ R ( x ) . Clearly, φ k ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) \varphi_k\in C_0^\infty(\mathbb{R}^n) φ k ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) and φ k ≥ 0 \varphi_k\ge0 φ k ≥ 0 .
We first consider the local energy. Since
∇ ( φ k − ψ R ) = ( η k − 1 ) ∇ ψ R + ψ R ∇ η k , \nabla(\varphi_k-\psi_R)
=(\eta_k-1)\nabla\psi_R+\psi_R\nabla\eta_k, ∇ ( φ k − ψ R ) = ( η k − 1 ) ∇ ψ R + ψ R ∇ η k , the first term converges to zero in L 2 ( R n ) L^2(\mathbb{R}^n) L 2 ( R n ) by dominated convergence. For the second term, using ∣ ∇ η k ∣ ≤ C / k |\nabla\eta_k|\le C/k ∣∇ η k ∣ ≤ C / k and (3.11) , we have
∥ ψ R ∇ η k ∥ 2 2 ≤ C k 2 ∫ { k ≤ ∣ x ∣ ≤ 2 k } ψ R ( x ) 2 d x ≤ C R k − n + 4 s − 2 → 0 , \begin{align*}
\left\lVert \psi_R\nabla\eta_k\right\rVert_2^2
&\le\frac{C}{k^2}
\int_{\{k\le|x|\le2k\}}\psi_R(x)^2\,dx\le C_R k^{-n+4s-2}\to 0,
\end{align*} ∥ ψ R ∇ η k ∥ 2 2 ≤ k 2 C ∫ { k ≤ ∣ x ∣ ≤ 2 k } ψ R ( x ) 2 d x ≤ C R k − n + 4 s − 2 → 0 , since − n + 4 s − 2 < 0 -n+4s-2<0 − n + 4 s − 2 < 0 for n ≥ 3 n\ge3 n ≥ 3 and s < 1 s<1 s < 1 . This proves the first convergence in (3.12) .
We next consider the fractional seminorm. Set
g k : = ( 1 − η k ) ψ R = ψ R − φ k . \begin{equation*}
g_k:=(1-\eta_k)\psi_R=\psi_R-\varphi_k.
\end{equation*} g k := ( 1 − η k ) ψ R = ψ R − φ k . For every x , y ∈ R n x,y\in\mathbb{R}^n x , y ∈ R n , we have
g k ( x ) − g k ( y ) = ( 1 − η k ( x ) ) ( ψ R ( x ) − ψ R ( y ) ) + ψ R ( y ) ( η k ( y ) − η k ( x ) ) . g_k(x)-g_k(y)
=(1-\eta_k(x))(\psi_R(x)-\psi_R(y))
+\psi_R(y)(\eta_k(y)-\eta_k(x)). g k ( x ) − g k ( y ) = ( 1 − η k ( x )) ( ψ R ( x ) − ψ R ( y )) + ψ R ( y ) ( η k ( y ) − η k ( x )) . Hence
[ g k ] s 2 ≤ 2 I k + 2 J k , \begin{equation}
[g_k]_s^2\le2I_k+2J_k, \tag*{(3.13)}
\end{equation} [ g k ] s 2 ≤ 2 I k + 2 J k , (3.13) where
I k : = ∬ R 2 n ( 1 − η k ( x ) ) 2 ∣ ψ R ( x ) − ψ R ( y ) ∣ 2 ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s d x d y , J k : = ∫ R n ψ R ( y ) 2 Θ k ( y ) d y , \begin{align*}
I_k&:=\iint_{\mathbb{R}^{2n}}
\frac{(1-\eta_k(x))^2|\psi_R(x)-\psi_R(y)|^2}
{|x-y|^{n+2s}}\,dx\,dy,\\
J_k&:=\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}\psi_R(y)^2\Theta_k(y)\,dy,
\end{align*} I k J k := ∬ R 2 n ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s ( 1 − η k ( x ) ) 2 ∣ ψ R ( x ) − ψ R ( y ) ∣ 2 d x d y , := ∫ R n ψ R ( y ) 2 Θ k ( y ) d y , and
Θ k ( y ) : = ∫ R n ∣ η k ( x ) − η k ( y ) ∣ 2 ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s d x . \begin{equation}
\Theta_k(y):=\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}
\frac{|\eta_k(x)-\eta_k(y)|^2}{|x-y|^{n+2s}}\,dx. \tag*{(3.14)}
\end{equation} Θ k ( y ) := ∫ R n ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s ∣ η k ( x ) − η k ( y ) ∣ 2 d x . (3.14) Since [ ψ R ] s < + ∞ [\psi_R]_s<+\infty [ ψ R ] s < + ∞ , 0 ≤ ( 1 − η k ) 2 ≤ 1 0\le(1-\eta_k)^2\le1 0 ≤ ( 1 − η k ) 2 ≤ 1 , and 1 − η k ( x ) → 0 1-\eta_k(x)\to0 1 − η k ( x ) → 0 for every fixed x x x , the dominated convergence theorem gives
I k → 0. \begin{equation}
I_k\to 0. \tag*{(3.15)}
\end{equation} I k → 0. (3.15) To estimate J k J_k J k , we split the y y y -integration as
J k = ∫ { ∣ y ∣ ≤ 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 Θ k ( y ) d y + ∫ { ∣ y ∣ > 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 Θ k ( y ) d y = J 1 , k + J 2 , k , \begin{split}
J_k
&=\int_{\{|y|\le3k\}}\psi_R(y)^2\Theta_k(y)\,dy
+\int_{\{|y|>3k\}}\psi_R(y)^2\Theta_k(y)\,dy=J_{1,k}+J_{2,k},
\end{split} J k = ∫ { ∣ y ∣ ≤ 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 Θ k ( y ) d y + ∫ { ∣ y ∣ > 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 Θ k ( y ) d y = J 1 , k + J 2 , k , and we study the two terms separately.
- Study of J 1 , k J_{1,k} J 1 , k . We first note that, since 0 ≤ η k ≤ 1 0\leq \eta_k\leq 1 0 ≤ η k ≤ 1 and ∣ ∇ η k ∣ ≤ C / k |\nabla\eta_k|\leq C/k ∣∇ η k ∣ ≤ C / k , we have
∣ η k ( x ) − η k ( y ) ∣ ≤ C min { 1 , ∣ x − y ∣ k } . |\eta_k(x)-\eta_k(y)|
\le C\min\left\{1,\frac{|x-y|}{k}\right\}. ∣ η k ( x ) − η k ( y ) ∣ ≤ C min { 1 , k ∣ x − y ∣ } . Thus, we obtain the uniform estimate
Consequently,
J 1 , k = ∫ { ∣ y ∣ ≤ 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 Θ k ( y ) d y ≤ C k − 2 s ∫ { ∣ y ∣ ≤ 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 d y . \begin{equation}
J_{1,k} = \int_{\{|y|\le3k\}}\psi_R(y)^2\Theta_k(y)\,dy
\le Ck^{-2s}\int_{\{|y|\le3k\}}\psi_R(y)^2\,dy. \tag*{(3.17)}
\end{equation} J 1 , k = ∫ { ∣ y ∣ ≤ 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 Θ k ( y ) d y ≤ C k − 2 s ∫ { ∣ y ∣ ≤ 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 d y . (3.17) By (3.11) ,
∫ { ∣ y ∣ ≤ 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 d y ≤ C R { 1 , n > 4 s , 1 + log k , n = 4 s , 1 + k 4 s − n , n < 4 s . \begin{equation*}
\int_{\{|y|\le3k\}}\psi_R(y)^2\,dy
\le C_R
\begin{cases}
1,&n>4s,\\
1+\log k,&n=4s,\\
1+k^{4s-n},&n<4s.
\end{cases}
\end{equation*} ∫ { ∣ y ∣ ≤ 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 d y ≤ C R ⎩ ⎨ ⎧ 1 , 1 + log k , 1 + k 4 s − n , n > 4 s , n = 4 s , n < 4 s . Since n > 2 s n>2s n > 2 s , we see that J 1 , k → 0 J_{1,k}\to 0 J 1 , k → 0 in all three cases.
- Study of J 2 , k J_{2,k} J 2 , k . First of all we observe that, on the region { ∣ y ∣ > 3 k } \{|y|>3k\} { ∣ y ∣ > 3 k } , we have η k ( y ) = 0 \eta_k(y)=0 η k ( y ) = 0 , while η k ( x ) ≠ 0 \eta_k(x)\ne0 η k ( x ) = 0 only if ∣ x ∣ < 2 k |x|<2k ∣ x ∣ < 2 k ; as a consequence ∣ x − y ∣ ≥ ∣ y ∣ / 3 |x-y|\ge |y|/3 ∣ x − y ∣ ≥ ∣ y ∣/3 whenever the integrand in (3.14) is nonzero, and we obtain the following stronger version of (3.16) :
Θ k ( y ) = ∫ { ∣ x ∣ < 2 k } η k ( x ) 2 ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s d x ≤ C ∣ y ∣ − n − 2 s ∫ { ∣ x ∣ < 2 k } η k ( x ) 2 d x ≤ C k n ∣ y ∣ − n − 2 s for all ∣ y ∣ > 3 k . \begin{equation*}
\begin{split}
\Theta_k(y)& =
\int_{\{|x|<2k\}}\frac{\eta_k(x)^2}{|x-y|^{n+2s}}\,dx
\leq
C|y|^{-n-2s}\int_{\{|x|<2k\}}\eta_k(x)^2\,dx \\
& \leq Ck^n|y|^{-n-2s}
\qquad\text{for all }|y|>3k.
\end{split}
\end{equation*} Θ k ( y ) = ∫ { ∣ x ∣ < 2 k } ∣ x − y ∣ n + 2 s η k ( x ) 2 d x ≤ C ∣ y ∣ − n − 2 s ∫ { ∣ x ∣ < 2 k } η k ( x ) 2 d x ≤ C k n ∣ y ∣ − n − 2 s for all ∣ y ∣ > 3 k . Using (3.11) , we conclude that
J 2 , k = ∫ { ∣ y ∣ > 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 Θ k ( y ) d y ≤ C R k n ∫ 3 k + ∞ r − 2 n + 2 s − 1 d r ≤ C R k − n + 2 s → 0 , \begin{align}
J_{2,k} = \int_{\{|y|>3k\}}\psi_R(y)^2\Theta_k(y)\,dy
&\le C_Rk^n\int_{3k}^{+\infty}r^{-2n+2s-1}\,dr\le C_Rk^{-n+2s}\to 0, \tag*{(3.18)}
\end{align} J 2 , k = ∫ { ∣ y ∣ > 3 k } ψ R ( y ) 2 Θ k ( y ) d y ≤ C R k n ∫ 3 k + ∞ r − 2 n + 2 s − 1 d r ≤ C R k − n + 2 s → 0 , (3.18) again because n > 2 s n>2s n > 2 s . Combining (3.17) –(3.18) , we obtain J k → 0 J_k\to0 J k → 0 .
Together with (3.13) and (3.15) , this gives [ g k ] s → 0 [g_k]_s\to0 [ g k ] s → 0 , which is precisely the second convergence in (3.12) , and the proof is complete. ◻
We are now in a position to prove the Liouville property stated in Theorem 1.1 . We split it, proving first the following
Theorem 3.4. Let n ≥ 3 n\ge3 n ≥ 3 , s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) s\in(0,1) s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) and γ > 0 \gamma>0 γ > 0 . If u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) u\in H^1(\mathbb{R}^n) u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) is a nonnegative weak supersolution of (3.1) , then u ≡ 0.
u\equiv0.
u ≡ 0.
Proof. Assume by contradiction that u ≢ 0 u\not\equiv0 u ≡ 0 . Fix R ≥ R 0 R\ge R_0 R ≥ R 0 , with R 0 R_0 R 0 as in (3.9) , so that (3.10) holds. Let ( φ k ) k (\varphi_k)_k ( φ k ) k be the nonnegative compactly supported sequence constructed in Lemma 3.3 . Since u u u is a weak supersolution, we have
∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ φ k d x − γ E s ( u , φ k ) ≥ 0 for every k ∈ N . \begin{equation}
\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}\nabla u\cdot\nabla\varphi_k\,dx
-\gamma\mathcal E_s(u,\varphi_k)\ge0
\qquad\text{for every }k\in\mathbb{N}. \tag*{(3.19)}
\end{equation} ∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ φ k d x − γ E s ( u , φ k ) ≥ 0 for every k ∈ N . (3.19) The convergences in (3.12) , together with the Cauchy–Schwarz inequality, allow us to pass to the limit in (3.19) , obtaining
∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ ψ R d x − γ E s ( u , ψ R ) ≥ 0. \begin{equation}
\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}\nabla u\cdot\nabla\psi_R\,dx
-\gamma\mathcal E_s(u,\psi_R)\ge0. \tag*{(3.20)}
\end{equation} ∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ ψ R d x − γ E s ( u , ψ R ) ≥ 0. (3.20) We next move the operator onto ψ R \psi_R ψ R . To this end we first observe that, from (3.6) , (3.4) and the scaling relations (3.7) , we have
− Δ ψ R ∈ L 2 ( R n ) , ( − Δ ) s ψ R ∈ L 2 ( R n ) . \begin{equation}
-\Delta\psi_R\in L^2(\mathbb{R}^n),
\qquad
(-\Delta)^s\psi_R\in L^2(\mathbb{R}^n). \tag*{(3.21)}
\end{equation} − Δ ψ R ∈ L 2 ( R n ) , ( − Δ ) s ψ R ∈ L 2 ( R n ) . (3.21) Indeed, at infinity these functions decay respectively as ∣ x ∣ − n − 2 + 2 s |x|^{-n-2+2s} ∣ x ∣ − n − 2 + 2 s and ∣ x ∣ − n − 2 s |x|^{-n-2s} ∣ x ∣ − n − 2 s .
Take u j ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) u_j\in C_0^\infty(\mathbb{R}^n) u j ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) such that
u j → u strongly in H 1 ( R n ) . \begin{equation}
u_j\to u
\qquad\text{strongly in }H^1(\mathbb{R}^n). \tag*{(3.22)}
\end{equation} u j → u strongly in H 1 ( R n ) . (3.22) Since u j u_j u j is compactly supported, classical integration by parts gives
∫ R n ∇ u j ⋅ ∇ ψ R d x = ∫ R n u j ( − Δ ψ R ) d x . \int_{\mathbb{R}^n}\nabla u_j\cdot\nabla\psi_R\,dx
=\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}u_j(-\Delta\psi_R)\,dx. ∫ R n ∇ u j ⋅ ∇ ψ R d x = ∫ R n u j ( − Δ ψ R ) d x . Using (3.21) and (3.22) , we may pass to the limit and obtain
∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ ψ R d x = ∫ R n u ( − Δ ψ R ) d x . \begin{equation}
\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}\nabla u\cdot\nabla\psi_R\,dx
=\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}u(-\Delta\psi_R)\,dx. \tag*{(3.23)}
\end{equation} ∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ ψ R d x = ∫ R n u ( − Δ ψ R ) d x . (3.23) The same argument applies to the fractional part. Indeed, (3.22) and Lemma 2.7 imply u j → u u_j\to u u j → u strongly in H s ( R n ) H^s(\mathbb{R}^n) H s ( R n ) . Hence
∣ E s ( u j − u , ψ R ) ∣ ≤ [ u j − u ] s [ ψ R ] s ⟶ 0. \begin{equation*}
|\mathcal E_s(u_j-u,\psi_R)|
\le [u_j-u]_s[\psi_R]_s\longrightarrow0.
\end{equation*} ∣ E s ( u j − u , ψ R ) ∣ ≤ [ u j − u ] s [ ψ R ] s ⟶ 0. On the other hand, by the fractional integration-by-parts formula, with the normalization associated with (2.3) ,
E s ( u j , ψ R ) = ∫ R n u j ( − Δ ) s ψ R d x . \mathcal E_s(u_j,\psi_R)
=\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}u_j(-\Delta)^s\psi_R\,dx. E s ( u j , ψ R ) = ∫ R n u j ( − Δ ) s ψ R d x . Using again (3.21) and passing to the limit gives
E s ( u , ψ R ) = ∫ R n u ( − Δ ) s ψ R d x . \begin{equation}
\mathcal E_s(u,\psi_R)
=\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}u(-\Delta)^s\psi_R\,dx. \tag*{(3.24)}
\end{equation} E s ( u , ψ R ) = ∫ R n u ( − Δ ) s ψ R d x . (3.24) Combining (3.23) and (3.24) , we therefore find
∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ ψ R d x − γ E s ( u , ψ R ) = ∫ R n u [ − Δ ψ R − γ ( − Δ ) s ψ R ] d x = ∫ R n u L γ , s ψ R d x . \begin{align}
\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}\nabla u\cdot\nabla\psi_R\,dx
-\gamma\mathcal E_s(u,\psi_R)
&=\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}u
\left[-\Delta\psi_R-\gamma(-\Delta)^s\psi_R\right]dx\notag\\
&=\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}u\,\mathcal L_{\gamma,s}\psi_R\,dx. \tag*{(3.25)}
\end{align} ∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ ψ R d x − γ E s ( u , ψ R ) = ∫ R n u [ − Δ ψ R − γ ( − Δ ) s ψ R ] d x = ∫ R n u L γ , s ψ R d x . (3.25) The last integral is finite by (3.21) and u ∈ L 2 ( R n ) u\in L^2(\mathbb{R}^n) u ∈ L 2 ( R n ) .
Finally, u ≥ 0 u\ge0 u ≥ 0 and u ≢ 0 u\not\equiv0 u ≡ 0 , while L γ , s ψ R < 0 \mathcal L_{\gamma,s}\psi_R<0 L γ , s ψ R < 0 everywhere by (3.10) . Hence
∫ R n u L γ , s ψ R d x < 0 , \begin{equation*}
\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}u\,\mathcal L_{\gamma,s}\psi_R\,dx<0,
\end{equation*} ∫ R n u L γ , s ψ R d x < 0 , which contradicts (3.20) and (3.25) . Thus u ≡ 0 u\equiv0 u ≡ 0 . This closes the proof. ◻
The preceding theorem immediately gives the desired nonexistence result for power nonlinearities, without any restriction on the exponent.
Corollary 3.5. Let r > 1 r>1 r > 1 . Then the problem − Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = u r − 1 in R n
-\Delta u-\gamma(-\Delta)^s u=u^{r-1}
\qquad\text{in }\mathbb{R}^n
− Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = u r − 1 in R n admits no nontrivial nonnegative weak solution u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) u\in H^1(\mathbb{R}^n) u ∈ H 1 ( R n ) . Here, for r r r outside the Sobolev range, by weak solution we mean that u r − 1 ∈ L l o c 1 ( R n ) u^{r-1}\in L^1_{\rm loc}(\mathbb{R}^n) u r − 1 ∈ L loc 1 ( R n ) and that ∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ φ d x − γ E s ( u , φ ) = ∫ R n u r − 1 φ d x
\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}\nabla u\cdot\nabla\varphi\,dx
-\gamma\mathcal E_s(u,\varphi)
=\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}u^{r-1}\varphi\,dx
∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ φ d x − γ E s ( u , φ ) = ∫ R n u r − 1 φ d x holds for every φ ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) \varphi\in C_0^\infty(\mathbb{R}^n) φ ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) .
Proof. If u ≥ 0 u\ge0 u ≥ 0 satisfies (3.26) , then for every nonnegative φ ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) \varphi\in C_0^\infty(\mathbb{R}^n) φ ∈ C 0 ∞ ( R n ) ,
∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ φ d x − γ E s ( u , φ ) = ∫ R n u r − 1 φ d x ≥ 0. \int_{\mathbb{R}^n}\nabla u\cdot\nabla\varphi\,dx
-\gamma\mathcal E_s(u,\varphi)
=\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}u^{r-1}\varphi\,dx\ge0. ∫ R n ∇ u ⋅ ∇ φ d x − γ E s ( u , φ ) = ∫ R n u r − 1 φ d x ≥ 0. Thus u u u is a nonnegative weak supersolution of (3.1) , and Theorem 3.4 gives u ≡ 0 u\equiv0 u ≡ 0 . ◻
Proof of Theorem 1.3
In this section we prove Theorem 1.3 . We first establish the attainment of the constant S r ( γ ) S_r(\gamma) S r ( γ ) in the subcritical range. We then study the normalized minimizers as γ → C e m b − \gamma\to C_{\rm emb}^- γ → C emb − , identify their limits as generalized eigenfunctions associated with C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb , and finally derive the uniform finite L R L^R L R -estimates needed in the sequel.
Recall that
Q γ ( u ) : = ∫ Ω ∣ ∇ u ∣ 2 d x − γ [ u ] s 2 , u ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , \begin{equation*}
Q_{\gamma}(u) := \int_{\Omega}|\nabla u|^{2} \, dx - \gamma \, [u]^{2}_{s}, \quad u \in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega),
\end{equation*} Q γ ( u ) := ∫ Ω ∣∇ u ∣ 2 d x − γ [ u ] s 2 , u ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) ,
and notice that, by the definition of C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb in (2.9) ,
Q γ ( u ) ≥ ( 1 − γ C e m b ) ∥ ∇ u ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 . \begin{equation}
Q_\gamma(u)\ge
\left(1-\frac\gamma{C_{\rm emb}}\right)
\left\lVert \nabla u\right\rVert_{L^2(\Omega)}^2. \tag*{(4.1)}
\end{equation} Q γ ( u ) ≥ ( 1 − C emb γ ) ∥ ∇ u ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 . (4.1)
Proposition 4.1. Let 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ 1<r\le2^* 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ and 0 < γ < C e m b 0<\gamma<C_{\rm emb} 0 < γ < C emb .
If r < 2 ∗ r<2^* r < 2 ∗ , the infimum in (1.11) is achieved for every γ ∈ ( 0 , C e m b ) \gamma\in(0,C_{\rm emb}) γ ∈ ( 0 , C emb ) .
If r = 2 ∗ r=2^* r = 2 ∗ , the attainment result is the one established in [51 Theorem 1.1] : if n ≥ 5 n\ge5 n ≥ 5 , the infimum is achieved for every γ ∈ ( 0 , C e m b ) \gamma\in(0,C_{\rm emb}) γ ∈ ( 0 , C emb ) , while if n = 3 , 4 n=3,4 n = 3 , 4 , there exists γ ∗ ∈ [ 0 , C e m b ) \gamma^*\in[0,C_{\rm emb}) γ ∗ ∈ [ 0 , C emb ) such that it is achieved for every γ ∈ ( γ ∗ , C e m b ) \gamma\in(\gamma^*,C_{\rm emb}) γ ∈ ( γ ∗ , C emb ) .
In either case, every normalized minimizer u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r satisfies ∫ Ω ∇ u γ , r ⋅ ∇ φ d x − γ E s ( u γ , r , φ ) = S r ( γ ) ∫ Ω ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 u γ , r φ d x
\int_\Omega\nabla u_{\gamma,r}\cdot\nabla\varphi\,dx
-\gamma\mathcal E_s(u_{\gamma,r},\varphi)
=S_r(\gamma)\int_\Omega
|u_{\gamma,r}|^{r-2}u_{\gamma,r}\varphi\,dx
∫ Ω ∇ u γ , r ⋅ ∇ φ d x − γ E s ( u γ , r , φ ) = S r ( γ ) ∫ Ω ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 u γ , r φ d x for every φ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) \varphi\in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) φ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) .
Proof. In view of Theorem 1.2 , only the case r < 2 ∗ r<2^* r < 2 ∗ needs to be discussed. Let ( u j ) (u_j) ( u j ) be a minimizing sequence normalized by ∥ u j ∥ r = 1 \left\lVert u_j\right\rVert_r=1 ∥ u j ∥ r = 1 . By (4.1) , ( u j ) (u_j) ( u j ) is bounded in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) . Hence, up to a subsequence,
u j ⇀ u in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , u j → u in L r ( Ω ) ∩ H s ( R n ) . u_j\rightharpoonup u\quad\text{in }\mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega),
\qquad
u_j\to u\quad\text{in }L^r(\Omega)\cap H^s(\mathbb{R}^n). u j ⇀ u in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , u j → u in L r ( Ω ) ∩ H s ( R n ) . Therefore ∥ u ∥ r = 1 \left\lVert u\right\rVert_r=1 ∥ u ∥ r = 1 , and weak lower semicontinuity of the Dirichlet integral, together with the strong convergence in H s ( R n ) H^s(\mathbb{R}^n) H s ( R n ) , gives
Q γ ( u ) ≤ lim inf j → ∞ Q γ ( u j ) = S r ( γ ) . Q_\gamma(u)\le\liminf_{j\to\infty}Q_\gamma(u_j)=S_r(\gamma). Q γ ( u ) ≤ j → ∞ lim inf Q γ ( u j ) = S r ( γ ) . Thus, setting u γ , r : = u u_{\gamma,r}:=u u γ , r := u , we obtain a normalized minimizer of (1.11) . The Euler equation follows from the Lagrange multiplier rule. Testing it with u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r and using ∥ u γ , r ∥ r = 1 \left\lVert u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_r=1 ∥ u γ , r ∥ r = 1 shows that the multiplier is precisely S r ( γ ) S_r(\gamma) S r ( γ ) . This closes the proof. ◻
For the rest of the paper, whenever r = 2 ∗ r=2^* r = 2 ∗ we restrict γ \gamma γ to the range where the minimum in (1.11) is achieved, according to Proposition 4.1 . This is no restriction when studying the limit
γ → C e m b − . \gamma\to C_{\rm emb}^-. γ → C emb − .
Let Φ r \Phi_r Φ r be any nonzero element of the eigenspace associated with C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb , normalized so that
∥ Φ r ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1. \left\lVert \Phi_r\right\rVert_{L^r(\Omega)}=1. ∥ Φ r ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1.
In particular,
∥ ∇ Φ r ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 = C e m b [ Φ r ] s 2 . \left\lVert \nabla\Phi_r\right\rVert_{L^2(\Omega)}^2
=C_{\rm emb}[\Phi_r]_s^2. ∥ ∇ Φ r ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 = C emb [ Φ r ] s 2 .
Proposition 4.2. For every 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ 1<r\le2^* 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ one has S r ( γ ) ⟶ 0 as γ → C e m b − .
S_r(\gamma)\longrightarrow0
\qquad\text{as }\gamma\to C_{\rm emb}^-.
S r ( γ ) ⟶ 0 as γ → C emb − . More precisely, 0 < S r ( γ ) ≤ ( C e m b − γ ) [ Φ r ] s 2 .
0<S_r(\gamma)\le(C_{\rm emb}-\gamma)[\Phi_r]_s^2.
0 < S r ( γ ) ≤ ( C emb − γ ) [ Φ r ] s 2 . Moreover, every normalized minimizer u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r satisfies [ u γ , r ] s 2 ≤ [ Φ r ] s 2
[u_{\gamma,r}]_s^2\le[\Phi_r]_s^2
[ u γ , r ] s 2 ≤ [ Φ r ] s 2 and ∥ ∇ u γ , r ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 ≤ C e m b [ Φ r ] s 2 .
\left\lVert \nabla u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_{L^2(\Omega)}^2
\le C_{\rm emb}[\Phi_r]_s^2.
∥ ∇ u γ , r ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) 2 ≤ C emb [ Φ r ] s 2 .
Proof. Strict positivity of S r ( γ ) S_r(\gamma) S r ( γ ) follows from (4.1) and the Sobolev–Poincaré inequality. Since ∥ ∇ Φ r ∥ 2 2 = C e m b [ Φ r ] s 2 \left\lVert \nabla\Phi_r\right\rVert_2^2=C_{\rm emb}[\Phi_r]_s^2 ∥ ∇ Φ r ∥ 2 2 = C emb [ Φ r ] s 2 , the definition of S r ( γ ) S_r(\gamma) S r ( γ ) gives
S r ( γ ) ≤ Q γ ( Φ r ) = ( C e m b − γ ) [ Φ r ] s 2 , S_r(\gamma)\le Q_\gamma(\Phi_r)
=(C_{\rm emb}-\gamma)[\Phi_r]_s^2, S r ( γ ) ≤ Q γ ( Φ r ) = ( C emb − γ ) [ Φ r ] s 2 , which proves (4.4) and (4.3) .
Set
Q C e m b ( u ) : = ∥ ∇ u ∥ 2 2 − C e m b [ u ] s 2 ≥ 0. Q_{C_{\rm emb}}(u):=\left\lVert \nabla u\right\rVert_2^2-C_{\rm emb}[u]_s^2\ge0. Q C emb ( u ) := ∥ ∇ u ∥ 2 2 − C emb [ u ] s 2 ≥ 0. Since
Q γ ( u ) = Q C e m b ( u ) + ( C e m b − γ ) [ u ] s 2 , Q_\gamma(u)=Q_{C_{\rm emb}}(u)+(C_{\rm emb}-\gamma)[u]_s^2, Q γ ( u ) = Q C emb ( u ) + ( C emb − γ ) [ u ] s 2 , we obtain
( C e m b − γ ) [ u γ , r ] s 2 ≤ Q γ ( u γ , r ) = S r ( γ ) ≤ ( C e m b − γ ) [ Φ r ] s 2 , (C_{\rm emb}-\gamma)[u_{\gamma,r}]_s^2
\le Q_\gamma(u_{\gamma,r})=S_r(\gamma)
\le(C_{\rm emb}-\gamma)[\Phi_r]_s^2, ( C emb − γ ) [ u γ , r ] s 2 ≤ Q γ ( u γ , r ) = S r ( γ ) ≤ ( C emb − γ ) [ Φ r ] s 2 , which gives (4.5) . Finally,
∥ ∇ u γ , r ∥ 2 2 = S r ( γ ) + γ [ u γ , r ] s 2 ≤ ( C e m b − γ ) [ Φ r ] s 2 + γ [ Φ r ] s 2 = C e m b [ Φ r ] s 2 . \begin{split}
\left\lVert \nabla u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_2^2
&=S_r(\gamma)+\gamma[u_{\gamma,r}]_s^2\\
&\le(C_{\rm emb}-\gamma)[\Phi_r]_s^2+\gamma[\Phi_r]_s^2
=C_{\rm emb}[\Phi_r]_s^2.
\end{split} ∥ ∇ u γ , r ∥ 2 2 = S r ( γ ) + γ [ u γ , r ] s 2 ≤ ( C emb − γ ) [ Φ r ] s 2 + γ [ Φ r ] s 2 = C emb [ Φ r ] s 2 . This closes the proof. ◻
Theorem 4.3. Let ( γ k ) k ⊂ ( 0 , C e m b ) (\gamma_k)_k\subset(0,C_{\rm emb}) ( γ k ) k ⊂ ( 0 , C emb ) satisfy γ k → C e m b − \gamma_k\to C_{\rm emb}^- γ k → C emb − , and let u γ k , r u_{\gamma_k,r} u γ k , r be normalized minimizers. Then there exists 0 ≢ u ∞ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) 0\not\equiv u_\infty\in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) 0 ≡ u ∞ ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) such that, up to a subsequence, u γ k , r → u ∞ strongly in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) ,
u_{\gamma_k,r}\to u_\infty\qquad\text{strongly in }\mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega),
u γ k , r → u ∞ strongly in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , and ∥ u ∞ ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 , ∥ ∇ u ∞ ∥ 2 2 = C e m b [ u ∞ ] s 2 .
\left\lVert u_\infty\right\rVert_{L^r(\Omega)}=1,
\qquad
\left\lVert \nabla u_\infty\right\rVert_2^2=C_{\rm emb}[u_\infty]_s^2.
∥ u ∞ ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 , ∥ ∇ u ∞ ∥ 2 2 = C emb [ u ∞ ] s 2 . In particular, u ∞ u_\infty u ∞ is an L r L^r L r -normalized generalized eigenfunction associated with C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb . As a consequence, if C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb is simple and Φ s \Phi_s Φ s is any fixed L r L^r L r -normalized generalized eigenfunction associated with it, then necessarily u ∞ = Φ s or u ∞ = − Φ s .
u_\infty=\Phi_s\qquad\text{or}\qquad u_\infty=-\Phi_s.
u ∞ = Φ s or u ∞ = − Φ s .
Proof. By Proposition 4.2 , ( u γ k , r ) k (u_{\gamma_k,r})_k ( u γ k , r ) k is uniformly bounded in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) . Hence, up to a subsequence,
u γ k , r ⇀ u ∞ in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , u γ k , r → u ∞ in H s ( R n ) . u_{\gamma_k,r}\rightharpoonup u_\infty\quad\text{in }\mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega),
\qquad
u_{\gamma_k,r}\to u_\infty\quad\text{in }H^s(\mathbb{R}^n). u γ k , r ⇀ u ∞ in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) , u γ k , r → u ∞ in H s ( R n ) . In particular,
[ u γ k , r ] s 2 → [ u ∞ ] s 2 . \begin{equation}
[u_{\gamma_k,r}]_s^2\to[u_\infty]_s^2. \tag*{(4.7)}
\end{equation} [ u γ k , r ] s 2 → [ u ∞ ] s 2 . (4.7) Moreover,
Q C e m b ( u γ k , r ) = Q γ k ( u γ k , r ) − ( C e m b − γ k ) [ u γ k , r ] s 2 = S r ( γ k ) − ( C e m b − γ k ) [ u γ k , r ] s 2 ⟶ 0 , \begin{equation}
\begin{split}
Q_{C_{\rm emb}}(u_{\gamma_k,r})
&=Q_{\gamma_k}(u_{\gamma_k,r})-(C_{\rm emb}-\gamma_k)[u_{\gamma_k,r}]_s^2\\
&=S_r(\gamma_k)-(C_{\rm emb}-\gamma_k)[u_{\gamma_k,r}]_s^2\longrightarrow0,
\end{split} \tag*{(4.8)}
\end{equation} Q C emb ( u γ k , r ) = Q γ k ( u γ k , r ) − ( C emb − γ k ) [ u γ k , r ] s 2 = S r ( γ k ) − ( C emb − γ k ) [ u γ k , r ] s 2 ⟶ 0 , (4.8) where we used (4.3) and (4.5) . By weak lower semicontinuity and (4.7) ,
Q C e m b ( u ∞ ) ≤ lim inf k → ∞ Q C e m b ( u γ k , r ) = 0. Q_{C_{\rm emb}}(u_\infty)
\le\liminf_{k\to\infty}Q_{C_{\rm emb}}(u_{\gamma_k,r})=0. Q C emb ( u ∞ ) ≤ k → ∞ lim inf Q C emb ( u γ k , r ) = 0. Since Q C e m b ≥ 0 Q_{C_{\rm emb}}\ge0 Q C emb ≥ 0 , it follows that
Q C e m b ( u ∞ ) = 0. \begin{equation}
Q_{C_{\rm emb}}(u_\infty)=0. \tag*{(4.9)}
\end{equation} Q C emb ( u ∞ ) = 0. (4.9) Combining (4.8) , (4.7) and (4.9) , we obtain
∥ ∇ u γ k , r ∥ 2 2 = Q C e m b ( u γ k , r ) + C e m b [ u γ k , r ] s 2 ⟶ C e m b [ u ∞ ] s 2 = ∥ ∇ u ∞ ∥ 2 2 . \left\lVert \nabla u_{\gamma_k,r}\right\rVert_2^2
=Q_{C_{\rm emb}}(u_{\gamma_k,r})+C_{\rm emb}[u_{\gamma_k,r}]_s^2
\longrightarrow C_{\rm emb}[u_\infty]_s^2
=\left\lVert \nabla u_\infty\right\rVert_2^2. ∥ ∇ u γ k , r ∥ 2 2 = Q C emb ( u γ k , r ) + C emb [ u γ k , r ] s 2 ⟶ C emb [ u ∞ ] s 2 = ∥ ∇ u ∞ ∥ 2 2 . Weak convergence together with convergence of the norms gives strong convergence in H 0 1 ( Ω ) H^1_0(\Omega) H 0 1 ( Ω ) and hence, together with (4.7) , in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) . In particular,
u γ k , r → u ∞ u_{\gamma_k,r}\to u_\infty u γ k , r → u ∞ strongly in L r ( Ω ) L^r(\Omega) L r ( Ω ) , including when r = 2 ∗ r=2^* r = 2 ∗ . Therefore ∥ u ∞ ∥ r = 1 \|u_\infty\|_r=1 ∥ u ∞ ∥ r = 1 , and (4.9) identifies u ∞ u_\infty u ∞ as a generalized eigenfunction associated with C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb . The last assertion follows under the additional assumption that C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb is simple.
This closes the proof. ◻
We now prove estimates which are uniform as γ → C e m b − \gamma\to C_{\rm emb}^- γ → C emb − . Our use of truncated-power test functions is inspired by the Moser-type arguments for mixed local–nonlocal equations in [87 , 88 ] ; here, the main difficulty is the unfavorable sign of the fractional term in (4.2) .
For β > 1 \beta>1 β > 1 and T ≥ 1 T\ge1 T ≥ 1 , define
G β , T ( t ) : = t min { ∣ t ∣ , T } β − 1 , H β , T ( t ) : = t min { ∣ t ∣ , T } 2 β − 2 . \begin{equation}
G_{\beta,T}(t):=t\min\{|t|,T\}^{\beta-1},
\qquad
H_{\beta,T}(t):=t\min\{|t|,T\}^{2\beta-2}. \tag*{(4.10)}
\end{equation} G β , T ( t ) := t min { ∣ t ∣ , T } β − 1 , H β , T ( t ) := t min { ∣ t ∣ , T } 2 β − 2 . (4.10)
Lemma 4.4. For every β > 1 \beta>1 β > 1 and T ≥ 1 T\ge1 T ≥ 1 , the functions in (4.10) satisfy H β , T ′ ( t ) ≥ c β ∣ G β , T ′ ( t ) ∣ 2 for a.e. t ∈ R , c β : = 2 β − 1 β 2 ,
H_{\beta,T}'(t)\ge c_\beta|G_{\beta,T}'(t)|^2
\quad\text{for a.e. }t\in\mathbb{R},
\qquad
c_\beta:=\frac{2\beta-1}{\beta^2},
H β , T ′ ( t ) ≥ c β ∣ G β , T ′ ( t ) ∣ 2 for a.e. t ∈ R , c β := β 2 2 β − 1 , ( a − b ) ( H β , T ( a ) − H β , T ( b ) ) ≤ 2 ∣ G β , T ( a ) − G β , T ( b ) ∣ 2 for every a , b ∈ R ,
(a-b)\bigl(H_{\beta,T}(a)-H_{\beta,T}(b)\bigr)
\le2|G_{\beta,T}(a)-G_{\beta,T}(b)|^2
\qquad\text{for every }a,b\in\mathbb{R},
( a − b ) ( H β , T ( a ) − H β , T ( b ) ) ≤ 2∣ G β , T ( a ) − G β , T ( b ) ∣ 2 for every a , b ∈ R , and t H β , T ( t ) = G β , T ( t ) 2 for every t ∈ R .
tH_{\beta,T}(t)=G_{\beta,T}(t)^2
\qquad\text{for every }t\in\mathbb{R}.
t H β , T ( t ) = G β , T ( t ) 2 for every t ∈ R .
Proof. Set h ( t ) : = min { ∣ t ∣ , T } β − 1 h(t):=\min\{|t|,T\}^{\beta-1} h ( t ) := min { ∣ t ∣ , T } β − 1 , so that G ( t ) = t h ( t ) G(t)=th(t) G ( t ) = t h ( t ) and H ( t ) = t h ( t ) 2 H(t)=th(t)^2 H ( t ) = t h ( t ) 2 . If ∣ t ∣ < T |t|<T ∣ t ∣ < T , then
H ′ ( t ) = ( 2 β − 1 ) ∣ t ∣ 2 β − 2 , ∣ G ′ ( t ) ∣ 2 = β 2 ∣ t ∣ 2 β − 2 , H'(t)=(2\beta-1)|t|^{2\beta-2},
\qquad
|G'(t)|^2=\beta^2|t|^{2\beta-2}, H ′ ( t ) = ( 2 β − 1 ) ∣ t ∣ 2 β − 2 , ∣ G ′ ( t ) ∣ 2 = β 2 ∣ t ∣ 2 β − 2 , while, if ∣ t ∣ > T |t|>T ∣ t ∣ > T ,
H ′ ( t ) = T 2 β − 2 , ∣ G ′ ( t ) ∣ 2 = T 2 β − 2 . H'(t)=T^{2\beta-2},
\qquad
|G'(t)|^2=T^{2\beta-2}. H ′ ( t ) = T 2 β − 2 , ∣ G ′ ( t ) ∣ 2 = T 2 β − 2 . Since c β ≤ 1 c_\beta\le1 c β ≤ 1 , this proves (4.11) ; (4.13) is immediate.
For (4.12) , a direct computation gives
( a − b ) ( H ( a ) − H ( b ) ) = ( G ( a ) − G ( b ) ) 2 − a b ( h ( a ) − h ( b ) ) 2 . \begin{equation}
(a-b)(H(a)-H(b))
=(G(a)-G(b))^2-ab\,(h(a)-h(b))^2. \tag*{(4.14)}
\end{equation} ( a − b ) ( H ( a ) − H ( b )) = ( G ( a ) − G ( b ) ) 2 − ab ( h ( a ) − h ( b ) ) 2 . (4.14) If a b ≥ 0 ab\ge0 ab ≥ 0 , the conclusion follows immediately. If a b < 0 ab<0 ab < 0 , assume without loss of generality that ∣ a ∣ ≥ ∣ b ∣ |a|\ge|b| ∣ a ∣ ≥ ∣ b ∣ . Since h h h is nondecreasing as a function of ∣ t ∣ |t| ∣ t ∣ ,
∣ a b ∣ ( h ( a ) − h ( b ) ) 2 ≤ ∣ a ∣ ∣ b ∣ h ( a ) 2 ≤ ∣ a ∣ 2 h ( a ) 2 ≤ ∣ G ( a ) − G ( b ) ∣ 2 , |ab|\,(h(a)-h(b))^2
\le |a||b|h(a)^2
\le |a|^2h(a)^2
\le |G(a)-G(b)|^2, ∣ ab ∣ ( h ( a ) − h ( b ) ) 2 ≤ ∣ a ∣∣ b ∣ h ( a ) 2 ≤ ∣ a ∣ 2 h ( a ) 2 ≤ ∣ G ( a ) − G ( b ) ∣ 2 , because G ( a ) G(a) G ( a ) and G ( b ) G(b) G ( b ) have opposite signs. Formula (4.14) then yields (4.12) . ◻
Proposition 4.5. Let R ∈ [ 1 , + ∞ ) R\in[1,+\infty) R ∈ [ 1 , + ∞ ) . There exist γ R < C e m b \gamma_R<C_{\rm emb} γ R < C emb and M R > 0 M_R>0 M R > 0 such that ∥ u γ , r ∥ L R ( Ω ) ≤ M R
\left\lVert u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_{L^R(\Omega)}\le M_R
∥ u γ , r ∥ L R ( Ω ) ≤ M R for every γ ∈ ( γ R , C e m b ) \gamma\in(\gamma_R,C_{\rm emb}) γ ∈ ( γ R , C emb ) and every normalized minimizer u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r .
Proof. Fix β > 1 \beta>1 β > 1 , to be chosen below, and, for T ≥ 1 T\ge1 T ≥ 1 , set
G γ , T : = G β , T ( u γ , r ) , H γ , T : = H β , T ( u γ , r ) . G_{\gamma,T}:=G_{\beta,T}(u_{\gamma,r}),\qquad
H_{\gamma,T}:=H_{\beta,T}(u_{\gamma,r}). G γ , T := G β , T ( u γ , r ) , H γ , T := H β , T ( u γ , r ) . Since H β , T H_{\beta,T} H β , T is Lipschitz and vanishes at the origin, H γ , T ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) H_{\gamma,T}\in \mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega) H γ , T ∈ X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) and can be used as a test function in (4.2) . By (4.11) ,
∫ Ω ∇ u γ , r ⋅ ∇ H γ , T d x ≥ c β ∥ ∇ G γ , T ∥ 2 2 . \begin{equation}
\int_\Omega\nabla u_{\gamma,r}\cdot\nabla H_{\gamma,T}\,dx
\ge c_\beta\left\lVert \nabla G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_2^2. \tag*{(4.16)}
\end{equation} ∫ Ω ∇ u γ , r ⋅ ∇ H γ , T d x ≥ c β ∥ ∇ G γ , T ∥ 2 2 . (4.16) On the other hand, (4.12) gives
E s ( u γ , r , H γ , T ) ≤ 2 [ G γ , T ] s 2 . \begin{equation}
\mathcal E_s(u_{\gamma,r},H_{\gamma,T})\le2[G_{\gamma,T}]_s^2. \tag*{(4.17)}
\end{equation} E s ( u γ , r , H γ , T ) ≤ 2 [ G γ , T ] s 2 . (4.17) By Remark 2.8 , choosing ε = c β / ( 4 C e m b ) \varepsilon=c_\beta/(4C_{\rm emb}) ε = c β / ( 4 C emb ) and using γ < C e m b \gamma<C_{\rm emb} γ < C emb , we infer from (4.16) –(4.17) that
∫ Ω ∇ u γ , r ⋅ ∇ H γ , T d x − γ E s ( u γ , r , H γ , T ) ≥ c β 2 ∥ ∇ G γ , T ∥ 2 2 − C β ∥ G γ , T ∥ 2 2 , \begin{equation}
\int_\Omega\nabla u_{\gamma,r}\cdot\nabla H_{\gamma,T}\,dx-\gamma\mathcal E_s(u_{\gamma,r},H_{\gamma,T})
\ge\frac{c_\beta}{2}\left\lVert \nabla G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_2^2-C_\beta\left\lVert G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_2^2, \tag*{(4.18)}
\end{equation} ∫ Ω ∇ u γ , r ⋅ ∇ H γ , T d x − γ E s ( u γ , r , H γ , T ) ≥ 2 c β ∥ ∇ G γ , T ∥ 2 2 − C β ∥ G γ , T ∥ 2 2 , (4.18) where C β > 0 C_\beta>0 C β > 0 is independent of T T T , γ \gamma γ and the chosen minimizer u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r . Moreover, by (4.13) , the right-hand side of (4.2) becomes
S r ( γ ) ∫ Ω ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 G γ , T 2 d x . \begin{equation*}
S_r(\gamma)\int_\Omega|u_{\gamma,r}|^{r-2}G_{\gamma,T}^2\,dx.
\end{equation*} S r ( γ ) ∫ Ω ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 G γ , T 2 d x . We distinguish two cases. If 2 ≤ r ≤ 2 ∗ 2\le r\le2^* 2 ≤ r ≤ 2 ∗ , Hölder’s inequality and ∥ u γ , r ∥ r = 1 \left\lVert u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_r=1 ∥ u γ , r ∥ r = 1 give
∫ Ω ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 G γ , T 2 d x ≤ ∥ G γ , T ∥ r 2 ≤ C ∥ G γ , T ∥ 2 ∗ 2 . \int_\Omega|u_{\gamma,r}|^{r-2}G_{\gamma,T}^2\,dx\le\left\lVert G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_r^2
\le C\left\lVert G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_{2^*}^2. ∫ Ω ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 G γ , T 2 d x ≤ ∥ G γ , T ∥ r 2 ≤ C ∥ G γ , T ∥ 2 ∗ 2 . Using (2.7) in (4.18) and recalling that S r ( γ ) → 0 S_r(\gamma)\to0 S r ( γ ) → 0 , we can absorb the last term for γ \gamma γ sufficiently close to C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb . Hence
∥ G γ , T ∥ 2 ∗ 2 ≤ K β ( 1 + ∥ G γ , T ∥ 2 2 ) , \begin{equation}
\left\lVert G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_{2^*}^2\le K_\beta\bigl(1+\left\lVert G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_2^2\bigr), \tag*{(4.19)}
\end{equation} ∥ G γ , T ∥ 2 ∗ 2 ≤ K β ( 1 + ∥ G γ , T ∥ 2 2 ) , (4.19) with K β K_\beta K β independent of T T T , γ \gamma γ and the minimizer u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r .
If 1 < r < 2 1<r<2 1 < r < 2 , then pointwise
∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 G γ , T 2 ≤ 1 + G γ , T 2 . \begin{equation*}
|u_{\gamma,r}|^{r-2}G_{\gamma,T}^2\le1+G_{\gamma,T}^2.
\end{equation*} ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 G γ , T 2 ≤ 1 + G γ , T 2 . Indeed, on { ∣ u γ , r ∣ ≤ 1 } \{|u_{\gamma,r}|\le1\} { ∣ u γ , r ∣ ≤ 1 } the left-hand side is at most 1 1 1 , whereas on { ∣ u γ , r ∣ > 1 } \{|u_{\gamma,r}|>1\} { ∣ u γ , r ∣ > 1 } we have ∣ u γ , r ∣ r ≤ ∣ u γ , r ∣ 2 |u_{\gamma,r}|^r\le|u_{\gamma,r}|^2 ∣ u γ , r ∣ r ≤ ∣ u γ , r ∣ 2 . Since S r ( γ ) S_r(\gamma) S r ( γ ) is bounded for γ \gamma γ close to C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb , (4.19) follows again from (4.18) and (2.7) .
We now remove the L 2 L^2 L 2 -term in (4.19) without any iteration. Let P : = 2 ∗ P:=2^* P := 2 ∗ and, for M ≥ 1 M\ge1 M ≥ 1 , set
E M : = { x ∈ Ω : ∣ u γ , r ( x ) ∣ > M } . E_M:=\{x\in\Omega:|u_{\gamma,r}(x)|>M\}. E M := { x ∈ Ω : ∣ u γ , r ( x ) ∣ > M } . Since ∥ u γ , r ∥ r = 1 \left\lVert u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_r=1 ∥ u γ , r ∥ r = 1 , Chebyshev’s inequality gives
∣ E M ∣ ≤ M − r . \begin{equation*}
|E_M|\le M^{-r}.
\end{equation*} ∣ E M ∣ ≤ M − r . On Ω ∖ E M \Omega\setminus E_M Ω ∖ E M one has ∣ G γ , T ∣ ≤ ∣ u γ , r ∣ β ≤ M β |G_{\gamma,T}|\le|u_{\gamma,r}|^\beta\le M^\beta ∣ G γ , T ∣ ≤ ∣ u γ , r ∣ β ≤ M β , while on E M E_M E M , Hölder’s inequality gives
∫ E M ∣ G γ , T ∣ 2 d x ≤ ∣ E M ∣ 1 − 2 / P ∥ G γ , T ∥ P 2 ≤ M − 2 r / n ∥ G γ , T ∥ P 2 . \int_{E_M}|G_{\gamma,T}|^2\,dx
\le |E_M|^{1-2/P}\left\lVert G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_P^2
\le M^{-2r/n}\left\lVert G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_P^2. ∫ E M ∣ G γ , T ∣ 2 d x ≤ ∣ E M ∣ 1 − 2/ P ∥ G γ , T ∥ P 2 ≤ M − 2 r / n ∥ G γ , T ∥ P 2 . Consequently,
∥ G γ , T ∥ 2 2 ≤ ∣ Ω ∣ M 2 β + M − 2 r / n ∥ G γ , T ∥ P 2 . \begin{equation}
\left\lVert G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_2^2\le|\Omega|M^{2\beta}
+M^{-2r/n}\left\lVert G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_P^2. \tag*{(4.20)}
\end{equation} ∥ G γ , T ∥ 2 2 ≤ ∣Ω∣ M 2 β + M − 2 r / n ∥ G γ , T ∥ P 2 . (4.20) Inserting (4.20) into (4.19) , and choosing M M M so large that K β M − 2 r / n ≤ 1 / 2 K_\beta M^{-2r/n}\le1/2 K β M − 2 r / n ≤ 1/2 , we obtain
∥ G γ , T ∥ P 2 ≤ A β , \begin{equation*}
\left\lVert G_{\gamma,T}\right\rVert_P^2\le A_\beta,
\end{equation*} ∥ G γ , T ∥ P 2 ≤ A β , where A β A_\beta A β is independent of T T T , γ \gamma γ and the minimizer u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r . Letting T → + ∞ T\to+\infty T → + ∞ and using monotone convergence,
∥ u γ , r ∥ L β P ( Ω ) 2 β ≤ A β . \begin{equation}
\left\lVert u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_{L^{\beta P}(\Omega)}^{2\beta}\le A_\beta. \tag*{(4.21)}
\end{equation} ∥ u γ , r ∥ L β P ( Ω ) 2 β ≤ A β . (4.21) Given R < + ∞ R<+\infty R < + ∞ , choose a fixed β > 1 \beta>1 β > 1 such that R ≤ β P R\le\beta P R ≤ β P . Since Ω \Omega Ω is bounded, (4.15) follows from (4.21) . ◻
Corollary 4.6. For every fixed q ∈ [ 1 , + ∞ ) q\in[1,+\infty) q ∈ [ 1 , + ∞ ) , S r ( γ ) ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 u γ , r ⟶ 0 strongly in L q ( Ω )
S_r(\gamma)|u_{\gamma,r}|^{r-2}u_{\gamma,r}
\longrightarrow0
\qquad\text{strongly in }L^q(\Omega)
S r ( γ ) ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 u γ , r ⟶ 0 strongly in L q ( Ω ) as γ → C e m b − \gamma\to C_{\rm emb}^- γ → C emb − , uniformly with respect to the normalized minimizers u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r .
Proof. Set R : = max { 1 , q ( r − 1 ) } R:=\max\{1,q(r-1)\} R := max { 1 , q ( r − 1 )} . Proposition 4.5 and Hölder’s inequality give
∥ S r ( γ ) ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 u γ , r ∥ q ≤ S r ( γ ) ∣ Ω ∣ 1 / q − ( r − 1 ) / R ∥ u γ , r ∥ R r − 1 ≤ C R S r ( γ ) , \left\lVert S_r(\gamma)|u_{\gamma,r}|^{r-2}u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_q
\le S_r(\gamma)|\Omega|^{1/q-(r-1)/R}\left\lVert u_{\gamma,r}\right\rVert_R^{r-1}
\le C_RS_r(\gamma), S r ( γ ) ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 u γ , r q ≤ S r ( γ ) ∣Ω ∣ 1/ q − ( r − 1 ) / R ∥ u γ , r ∥ R r − 1 ≤ C R S r ( γ ) , and the conclusion follows from (4.3) . ◻
Proof of Theorem 1.3 . This is now a simple combination of Proposition 4.2 , Theorem 4.3 and Proposition 4.5 . This closes the proof. ◻
Proof of Theorem 1.4
In this section we prove Theorem 1.4. Throughout the section, we assume that
and that Ω \Omega Ω is of class C 1 , 1 C^{1,1} C 1 , 1 .
We shall use directly the global regularity estimate in [74 Theorem 1.8] . There is only one normalization issue to keep track of. In [74 ] , the fractional Laplacian contains the standard positive factor c n , s c_{n,s} c n , s , whereas our definition associated with (2.2) corresponds to c n , s = 1 c_{n,s}=1 c n , s = 1 . Hence our equation
− Δ v − γ ( − Δ ) s v = g -\Delta v-\gamma(-\Delta)^s v=g − Δ v − γ ( − Δ ) s v = g
corresponds in the notation of [74 ] to the signed measure
μ γ = − γ c n , s δ s . \begin{equation*}
\mu_\gamma=-\frac{\gamma}{c_{n,s}}\delta_s.
\end{equation*} μ γ = − c n , s γ δ s .
Since s s s is fixed and 0 ≤ γ ≤ C e m b 0\le\gamma\le C_{\rm emb} 0 ≤ γ ≤ C emb , the total variations of these measures are uniformly bounded. Therefore, for every fixed q ∈ [ 2 , + ∞ ) q\in[2,+\infty) q ∈ [ 2 , + ∞ ) , [74 Theorem 1.8, formula (1.26)] yields
∥ v ∥ W 2 , q ( Ω ) ≤ C ( ∥ g ∥ L q ( Ω ) + ∥ v ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) ) , \begin{equation}
\left\lVert v\right\rVert_{W^{2,q}(\Omega)}
\le C\bigl(\left\lVert g\right\rVert_{L^q(\Omega)}+\left\lVert v\right\rVert_{L^2(\Omega)}\bigr), \tag*{(5.1)}
\end{equation} ∥ v ∥ W 2 , q ( Ω ) ≤ C ( ∥ g ∥ L q ( Ω ) + ∥ v ∥ L 2 ( Ω ) ) , (5.1)
where C C C is independent of γ ∈ [ 0 , C e m b ] \gamma\in[0,C_{\rm emb}] γ ∈ [ 0 , C emb ] .
Proof. Apply (5.1) to (4.2) , with
g = S r ( γ ) ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 u γ , r . g=S_r(\gamma)|u_{\gamma,r}|^{r-2}u_{\gamma,r}. g = S r ( γ ) ∣ u γ , r ∣ r − 2 u γ , r . The L q L^q L q -norm of g g g is uniformly bounded, and actually tends to zero, by Corollary 4.6 , while the L 2 L^2 L 2 -norm of u γ , r u_{\gamma,r} u γ , r is uniformly bounded by Proposition 4.2 . This proves (5.2) . The second assertion follows from the Sobolev–Morrey embedding. ◻
Proposition 5.2. Let γ k → C e m b − \gamma_k\to C_{\rm emb}^{-} γ k → C emb − and let u γ k , r u_{\gamma_k,r} u γ k , r be normalized minimizers. After passing to a subsequence and relabelling, let u ∞ u_\infty u ∞ be the limit supplied by Theorem 4.3 , so that u γ k , r ⟶ u ∞ strongly in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) . u_{\gamma_k,r}\longrightarrow u_\infty
\qquad\text{strongly in }\mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega). u γ k , r ⟶ u ∞ strongly in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) . Then, for every fixed q ∈ [ 2 , + ∞ ) q\in[2,+\infty) q ∈ [ 2 , + ∞ ) , u γ k , r → u ∞ strongly in W 2 , q ( Ω ) .
u_{\gamma_k,r}\to u_\infty\qquad\text{strongly in }W^{2,q}(\Omega).
u γ k , r → u ∞ strongly in W 2 , q ( Ω ) . In particular, if q > n q>n q > n , u γ k , r → u ∞ strongly in C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) .
u_{\gamma_k,r}\to u_\infty\qquad\text{strongly in }C^1(\overline\Omega).
u γ k , r → u ∞ strongly in C 1 ( Ω ) . If C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb is simple, then there exists σ ∈ { − 1 , 1 } \sigma\in\{-1,1\} σ ∈ { − 1 , 1 } such that u γ k , r → σ Φ s strongly in W 2 , q ( Ω ) and C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) ,
u_{\gamma_k,r}\to\sigma\Phi_s
\qquad\text{strongly in }W^{2,q}(\Omega)\text{ and }C^1(\overline\Omega),
u γ k , r → σ Φ s strongly in W 2 , q ( Ω ) and C 1 ( Ω ) , where Φ s \Phi_s Φ s is any fixed L r L^r L r -normalized generalized eigenfunction associated with C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb .
Proof. The limit u ∞ u_\infty u ∞ satisfies
− Δ u ∞ − C e m b ( − Δ ) s u ∞ = 0. -\Delta u_\infty-C_{\rm emb}(-\Delta)^s u_\infty=0. − Δ u ∞ − C emb ( − Δ ) s u ∞ = 0. Applying (5.1) at γ = C e m b \gamma=C_{\rm emb} γ = C emb gives u ∞ ∈ W 2 , q ( Ω ) u_\infty\in W^{2,q}(\Omega) u ∞ ∈ W 2 , q ( Ω ) . Hence, by the above equation,
( − Δ ) s u ∞ = − Δ u ∞ C e m b ∈ L q ( Ω ) . \begin{equation}
(-\Delta)^s u_\infty
=\frac{-\Delta u_\infty}{C_{\rm emb}}\in L^q(\Omega). \tag*{(5.5)}
\end{equation} ( − Δ ) s u ∞ = C emb − Δ u ∞ ∈ L q ( Ω ) . (5.5) Set
f γ k : = S r ( γ k ) ∣ u γ k , r ∣ r − 2 u γ k , r , w k : = u γ k , r − u ∞ . f_{\gamma_k}:=S_r(\gamma_k)|u_{\gamma_k,r}|^{r-2}u_{\gamma_k,r},
\qquad
w_k:=u_{\gamma_k,r}-u_\infty. f γ k := S r ( γ k ) ∣ u γ k , r ∣ r − 2 u γ k , r , w k := u γ k , r − u ∞ . Then
− Δ w k − γ k ( − Δ ) s w k = f γ k − ( C e m b − γ k ) ( − Δ ) s u ∞ . \begin{equation*}
-\Delta w_k-\gamma_k(-\Delta)^s w_k
=f_{\gamma_k}-(C_{\rm emb}-\gamma_k)(-\Delta)^s u_\infty.
\end{equation*} − Δ w k − γ k ( − Δ ) s w k = f γ k − ( C emb − γ k ) ( − Δ ) s u ∞ . Using (5.1) once more, together with Corollary 4.6 , (5.5) , and the strong X 1 , 2 \mathcal{X}^{1,2} X 1 , 2 -convergence in Theorem 4.3 , we obtain
∥ u γ k , r − u ∞ ∥ W 2 , q ( Ω ) ≤ C ( ∥ f γ k ∥ q + ( C e m b − γ k ) ∥ ( − Δ ) s u ∞ ∥ q + ∥ u γ k , r − u ∞ ∥ 2 ) ⟶ 0. \begin{split}
\left\lVert u_{\gamma_k,r}-u_\infty\right\rVert_{W^{2,q}(\Omega)}
\le C\bigl(&\left\lVert f_{\gamma_k}\right\rVert_q
+(C_{\rm emb}-\gamma_k)\left\lVert (-\Delta)^s u_\infty\right\rVert_q\\
&+\left\lVert u_{\gamma_k,r}-u_\infty\right\rVert_2\bigr)\longrightarrow0.
\end{split} ∥ u γ k , r − u ∞ ∥ W 2 , q ( Ω ) ≤ C ( ∥ f γ k ∥ q + ( C emb − γ k ) ∥ ( − Δ ) s u ∞ ∥ q + ∥ u γ k , r − u ∞ ∥ 2 ) ⟶ 0. This proves (5.3) ; (5.4) follows for q > n q>n q > n . The last assertion follows from (4.6) . ◻
Proof of Theorem 1.4 . Combining Proposition 5.1 and Proposition 5.2 we get the desired conclusion. This closes the proof. ◻
Proof of Theorems 1.6 and 1.8
In this last section, we complete the analysis of the bounded-domain problem. We first prove Theorem 1.6 by combining the convergence obtained in § 4 and § 5 with the small-s s s spectral information of Lemma 2.4 and the Hopf lemma. We then turn to the Sobolev supercritical regime and prove Theorem 1.8 by means of a Pohozaev identity.
We begin with the positivity of the normalized minimizers. For this part of the section, we assume that Ω \Omega Ω is connected and of class C 1 , 1 C^{1,1} C 1 , 1 , and fix 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ 1<r\le2^* 1 < r ≤ 2 ∗ .
Let φ 1 \varphi_1 φ 1 denote the positive first Dirichlet eigenfunction of − Δ -\Delta − Δ , normalized in such a way that ∥ φ 1 ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 \|\varphi_1\|_{L^r(\Omega)}=1 ∥ φ 1 ∥ L r ( Ω ) = 1 . By the Hopf lemma,
φ 1 > 0 in Ω , ∂ ν i n φ 1 > 0 on ∂ Ω , \begin{equation*}
\varphi_1>0\quad\text{in }\Omega,
\qquad
\partial_{\nu_{\rm in}}\varphi_1>0\quad\text{on }\partial\Omega,
\end{equation*} φ 1 > 0 in Ω , ∂ ν in φ 1 > 0 on ∂ Ω ,
where ν i n \nu_{\rm in} ν in denotes the interior unit normal.
Lemma 6.1. Let ϕ ∈ C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) \phi\in C^1(\overline\Omega) ϕ ∈ C 1 ( Ω ) satisfy ϕ = 0 on ∂ Ω , ϕ > 0 in Ω , inf ∂ Ω ∂ ν i n ϕ > 0. \phi=0\quad\text{on }\partial\Omega,
\qquad
\phi>0\quad\text{in }\Omega,
\qquad
\inf_{\partial\Omega}\partial_{\nu_{\rm in}}\phi>0. ϕ = 0 on ∂ Ω , ϕ > 0 in Ω , inf ∂ Ω ∂ ν in ϕ > 0. Then there exists η > 0 \eta>0 η > 0 such that every v ∈ C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) v\in C^1(\overline\Omega) v ∈ C 1 ( Ω ) satisfying v = 0 v=0 v = 0 on ∂ Ω \partial\Omega ∂ Ω and ∥ v − ϕ ∥ C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) < η \left\lVert v-\phi\right\rVert_{C^1(\overline\Omega)}<\eta ∥ v − ϕ ∥ C 1 ( Ω ) < η is strictly positive in Ω \Omega Ω .
Proof. Set
a : = min ∂ Ω ∂ ν i n ϕ > 0. a:=\min_{\partial\Omega}\partial_{\nu_{\rm in}}\phi>0. a := ∂ Ω min ∂ ν in ϕ > 0. By continuity, there exists δ > 0 \delta>0 δ > 0 such that the derivative of ϕ \phi ϕ in the inward normal direction is at least 3 a / 4 3a/4 3 a /4 in the boundary layer
Ω δ : = { x ∈ Ω : dist ( x , ∂ Ω ) < δ } . \Omega_\delta:=\{x\in\Omega:\operatorname{dist}(x,\partial\Omega)<\delta\}. Ω δ := { x ∈ Ω : dist ( x , ∂ Ω ) < δ } . If ∥ v − ϕ ∥ C 1 < a / 4 \left\lVert v-\phi\right\rVert_{C^1}<a/4 ∥ v − ϕ ∥ C 1 < a /4 , the corresponding derivative of v v v is at least a / 2 a/2 a /2 in a possibly smaller boundary layer. Since v = 0 v=0 v = 0 on ∂ Ω \partial\Omega ∂ Ω , integration along inward normal segments gives
v ( x ) ≥ a 2 dist ( x , ∂ Ω ) > 0 for x ∈ Ω δ . v(x)\ge\frac a2\operatorname{dist}(x,\partial\Omega)>0
\qquad\text{for }x\in\Omega_\delta. v ( x ) ≥ 2 a dist ( x , ∂ Ω ) > 0 for x ∈ Ω δ . On the compact set K δ : = { x ∈ Ω : dist ( x , ∂ Ω ) ≥ δ } K_\delta:=\{x\in\Omega:\operatorname{dist}(x,\partial\Omega)\ge\delta\} K δ := { x ∈ Ω : dist ( x , ∂ Ω ) ≥ δ } , we have m δ : = min K δ ϕ > 0 m_\delta:=\min_{K_\delta}\phi>0 m δ := min K δ ϕ > 0 . Requiring in addition ∥ v − ϕ ∥ C 0 < m δ / 2 \left\lVert v-\phi\right\rVert_{C^0}<m_\delta/2 ∥ v − ϕ ∥ C 0 < m δ /2 yields v > 0 v>0 v > 0 also on K δ K_\delta K δ . ◻
Thanks to the above lemma, we can now provide the
Proof of Theorem 1.6 . Let η > 0 \eta>0 η > 0 be given by Lemma 6.1 with ϕ = φ 1 \phi=\varphi_1 ϕ = φ 1 . By Lemma 2.4 , reducing s 0 s_0 s 0 if necessary, we can find s 1 ∈ ( 0 , s 0 ) s_1\in(0,s_0) s 1 ∈ ( 0 , s 0 ) such that
∥ Φ s − φ 1 ∥ C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) < η 2 for every s ∈ ( 0 , s 1 ) , \begin{equation*}
\left\lVert \Phi_s-\varphi_1\right\rVert_{C^1(\overline\Omega)}<\frac\eta2
\qquad\text{for every }s\in(0,s_1),
\end{equation*} ∥ Φ s − φ 1 ∥ C 1 ( Ω ) < 2 η for every s ∈ ( 0 , s 1 ) , where Φ s \Phi_s Φ s is the positive L r L^r L r -normalized generalized eigenfunction associated with C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb . We now fix s ∈ ( 0 , s 1 ) s\in(0,s_1) s ∈ ( 0 , s 1 ) , and we argue by contradiction. If the assertion were false, there would exist a sequence γ k → C e m b − \gamma_k\to C_{\rm emb}^{-} γ k → C emb − and normalized minimizers u γ k , r u_{\gamma_k,r} u γ k , r that are neither strictly positive nor strictly negative in Ω \Omega Ω .
By Theorem 4.3 and the simplicity of C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb , after passing to a subsequence there exists σ ∈ { − 1 , 1 } \sigma\in\{-1,1\} σ ∈ { − 1 , 1 } such that
u γ k , r → σ Φ s strongly in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) . u_{\gamma_k,r}\to\sigma\Phi_s\qquad\text{strongly in }\mathcal{X}^{1,2}(\Omega). u γ k , r → σ Φ s strongly in X 1 , 2 ( Ω ) . Proposition 5.2 , with any q > n q>n q > n , improves this convergence to
u γ k , r → σ Φ s strongly in C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) . \begin{equation*}
u_{\gamma_k,r}\to\sigma\Phi_s
\qquad\text{strongly in }C^1(\overline\Omega).
\end{equation*} u γ k , r → σ Φ s strongly in C 1 ( Ω ) . Therefore, for k k k sufficiently large,
∥ σ u γ k , r − φ 1 ∥ C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) ≤ ∥ σ u γ k , r − Φ s ∥ C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) + ∥ Φ s − φ 1 ∥ C 1 ( Ω ‾ ) < η . \left\lVert \sigma u_{\gamma_k,r}-\varphi_1\right\rVert_{C^1(\overline\Omega)}
\le\left\lVert \sigma u_{\gamma_k,r}-\Phi_s\right\rVert_{C^1(\overline\Omega)}
+\left\lVert \Phi_s-\varphi_1\right\rVert_{C^1(\overline\Omega)}<\eta. ∥ σ u γ k , r − φ 1 ∥ C 1 ( Ω ) ≤ ∥ σ u γ k , r − Φ s ∥ C 1 ( Ω ) + ∥ Φ s − φ 1 ∥ C 1 ( Ω ) < η . Lemma 6.1 gives σ u γ k , r > 0 \sigma u_{\gamma_k,r}>0 σ u γ k , r > 0 in Ω \Omega Ω , contradicting our choice of u γ k , r u_{\gamma_k,r} u γ k , r . This proves the existence of γ ‾ r , s \overline\gamma_{r,s} γ r , s and hence the theorem. ◻
We now turn to establish Theorem 1.8 . The proof is based on a Pohozaev-type identity adapted to the wrong-sign operator. We first recall the identity in the form needed below.
Proposition 6.2. Let Ω ⊂ R n \Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n Ω ⊂ R n be an open, bounded and connected set with C 2 C^2 C 2 -smooth boundary ∂ Ω \partial \Omega ∂ Ω . Let us denote by ν \nu ν the outer unit normal to ∂ Ω \partial \Omega ∂ Ω . Let f : R → R f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R} f : R → R be a continuous function. Let s ∈ ( 0 , 1 / 2 ) s \in (0,1/2) s ∈ ( 0 , 1/2 ) . Let u ∈ C 2 ( Ω ‾ ) ∩ C ( R n ) u \in C^{2}(\overline{\Omega})\cap C(\mathbb{R}^n) u ∈ C 2 ( Ω ) ∩ C ( R n ) be a solution to { − Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = f ( u ) in Ω , u = 0 in R n ∖ Ω .
\begin{cases}
-\Delta u - \gamma(-\Delta)^s u =f(u)&\text{in }\Omega,\\
u=0&\text{in }\mathbb{R}^n\setminus\Omega.
\end{cases}
{ − Δ u − γ ( − Δ ) s u = f ( u ) u = 0 in Ω , in R n ∖ Ω. Then the following identity holds true n − 2 2 ∫ Ω ∣ ∇ u ∣ 2 − γ n − 2 s 2 [ u ] s 2 − n ∫ Ω F ( u ) = − 1 2 ∫ ∂ Ω ( x ⋅ ν ) ( ∂ u ∂ ν ) 2 d σ ,
\dfrac{n-2}{2} \int_{\Omega}|\nabla u|^2 - \gamma \, \dfrac{n-2s}{2} \, [u]^2_s - n \int_{\Omega}F(u) =-\dfrac{1}{2}\int_{\partial\Omega}(x\cdot \nu) \, \left(\dfrac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}\right)^2\,d\sigma,
2 n − 2 ∫ Ω ∣∇ u ∣ 2 − γ 2 n − 2 s [ u ] s 2 − n ∫ Ω F ( u ) = − 2 1 ∫ ∂ Ω ( x ⋅ ν ) ( ∂ ν ∂ u ) 2 d σ , where F ( t ) : = ∫ 0 t f ( τ ) d τ F(t):=\int_{0}^{t}f(\tau)\, d\tau F ( t ) := ∫ 0 t f ( τ ) d τ .
The identity is the same as the one proved in [56 Theorem 1.1] . We only need to keep track of two minor points. First, our fractional Laplacian differs from the normalization used in [56 ] by a positive multiplicative constant, which is absorbed into γ \gamma γ . Second, although [56 ] states the equation with a nonnegative coefficient in front of the fractional term, the proof of the Pohozaev identity treats the local and nonlocal contributions separately, and the sign of this coefficient does not enter the computation once the required regularity is available. In the present formulation this regularity is immediate: since u ∈ C 2 ( Ω ‾ ) u\in C^2(\overline\Omega) u ∈ C 2 ( Ω ) and u = 0 u=0 u = 0 in R n ∖ Ω \mathbb R^n\setminus\Omega R n ∖ Ω , its zero extension is globally Lipschitz, while for s < 1 / 2 s<1/2 s < 1/2 the fractional term is bounded up to the boundary. Therefore, after adjusting the coefficient to account for the different normalization, the computation in [56 ] applies with a negative fractional coefficient and yields the identity above.
Proof of Theorem 1.8 . Up to a translation of coordinates, we may assume that Ω \Omega Ω is star-shaped with respect to the origin, so that x ⋅ ν ( x ) ≥ 0 x\cdot\nu(x)\ge0 x ⋅ ν ( x ) ≥ 0 for every x ∈ ∂ Ω x\in\partial\Omega x ∈ ∂ Ω .
Let us start noticing that, due to the assumption p > n + 2 n − 2 p>\tfrac{n+2}{n-2} p > n − 2 n + 2 , the following hold true:
n − 2 2 − n p + 1 > 0 , \begin{equation}
\dfrac{n-2}{2}-\dfrac{n}{p+1}>0, \tag*{(6.3)}
\end{equation} 2 n − 2 − p + 1 n > 0 , (6.3) and
n − 2 s 2 − n p + 1 > 0. \begin{equation}
\dfrac{n-2s}{2}-\dfrac{n}{p+1}>0. \tag*{(6.4)}
\end{equation} 2 n − 2 s − p + 1 n > 0. (6.4) Assume now that there exists a non-trivial solution to (1.14) and let us test (1.14) with u u u itself: this gives
∫ Ω ∣ ∇ u ∣ 2 − γ [ u ] s 2 = ∫ Ω ∣ u ∣ p + 1 . \begin{equation}
\int_{\Omega}|\nabla u|^2 -\gamma \, [u]^{2}_{s} = \int_{\Omega}|u|^{p+1}. \tag*{(6.5)}
\end{equation} ∫ Ω ∣∇ u ∣ 2 − γ [ u ] s 2 = ∫ Ω ∣ u ∣ p + 1 . (6.5) Plugging the latter into (6.2) , we get
n − 2 2 ∫ Ω ∣ ∇ u ∣ 2 − γ n − 2 s 2 [ u ] s 2 − n p + 1 ∫ Ω ∣ ∇ u ∣ 2 + γ n p + 1 [ u ] s 2 = − 1 2 ∫ ∂ Ω ( x ⋅ ν ) ( ∂ u ∂ ν ) 2 d σ , \begin{equation*}
\begin{aligned}
\dfrac{n-2}{2} \int_{\Omega}|\nabla u|^2 &- \gamma \, \dfrac{n-2s}{2} \, [u]^2_s - \dfrac{n}{p+1}\int_{\Omega}|\nabla u|^2 + \dfrac{\gamma \, n}{p+1}[u]^{2}_{s} \\
& =-\dfrac{1}{2}\int_{\partial\Omega}(x\cdot \nu) \, \left(\dfrac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}\right)^2\,d\sigma,
\end{aligned}
\end{equation*} 2 n − 2 ∫ Ω ∣∇ u ∣ 2 − γ 2 n − 2 s [ u ] s 2 − p + 1 n ∫ Ω ∣∇ u ∣ 2 + p + 1 γ n [ u ] s 2 = − 2 1 ∫ ∂ Ω ( x ⋅ ν ) ( ∂ ν ∂ u ) 2 d σ , Using the assumption on γ \gamma γ , the fact that [ u ] s > 0 [u]_s>0 [ u ] s > 0 for a nontrivial solution, and the definition of C e m b C_{\rm emb} C emb in (2.9) , we obtain
0 < [ C e m b ( n − 2 2 − n p + 1 ) − γ ( n − 2 s 2 − n p + 1 ) ] [ u ] s 2 ≤ ( n − 2 2 − n p + 1 ) ∫ Ω ∣ ∇ u ∣ 2 d x − γ ( n − 2 s 2 − n p + 1 ) [ u ] s 2 = − 1 2 ∫ ∂ Ω ( x ⋅ ν ) ( ∂ u ∂ ν ) 2 d σ ≤ 0. \begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}
0
&<\left[
C_{\rm emb}\left(\frac{n-2}{2}-\frac{n}{p+1}\right)
-\gamma\left(\frac{n-2s}{2}-\frac{n}{p+1}\right)
\right][u]_s^2\\
&\le
\left(\frac{n-2}{2}-\frac{n}{p+1}\right)
\int_\Omega |\nabla u|^2\,dx
-\gamma\left(\frac{n-2s}{2}-\frac{n}{p+1}\right)[u]_s^2\\
&=-\frac12\int_{\partial\Omega}(x\cdot\nu)
\left(\frac{\partial u}{\partial\nu}\right)^2\,d\sigma
\le0.
\end{aligned} \tag*{(6.6)}
\end{equation} 0 < [ C emb ( 2 n − 2 − p + 1 n ) − γ ( 2 n − 2 s − p + 1 n ) ] [ u ] s 2 ≤ ( 2 n − 2 − p + 1 n ) ∫ Ω ∣∇ u ∣ 2 d x − γ ( 2 n − 2 s − p + 1 n ) [ u ] s 2 = − 2 1 ∫ ∂ Ω ( x ⋅ ν ) ( ∂ ν ∂ u ) 2 d σ ≤ 0. (6.6) This contradiction proves the theorem. ◻