Open Access
Issue
Wuhan Univ. J. Nat. Sci.
Volume 30, Number 3, June 2025
Page(s) 241 - 252
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/wujns/2025303241
Published online 16 July 2025

© Wuhan University 2025

Licence Creative CommonsThis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

0 Introduction

The boundary value problem in which the boundary conditions involve parameters is one of the most significant problems in the mathematical theory. In 1994, Binding was the first to propose the Sturm Liouville problems with boundary conditions dependent on eigenparameters[1]. In 1999, Hai[2] used the prior estimation method to prove the existence of solutions for boundary value problem

{ u ( t ) + a ( t ) u ' ( t ) + f ( u ( t ) ) = 0 , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = 0 , u ( 1 ) = λ

with boundray conditions having parameters. Since then, many different problems with parameters under boundary conditions have been studied respectively by Marinets et al[3], and a great deal of fruitful results have been achieved, which can be found in Refs. [4-7]. Fonseka et al[6-7] investigated the positive solution of the boundary value problem with two boundary conditions having parameters by employing the upper and lower solution method. They proved the existence and multiplicity of the positive solutions and obtained the bifurcation diagram of the above positive solutions by using the time mapping method. Particularly, Fonseka et al[6] discussed the existence and multiplicity results of the steady-state reaction diffusion equation

{ - u ( t ) = λ h ( t ) f ( u ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , - d u ' ( 0 ) + μ ( λ ) u ( 0 ) = 0 , u ' ( 1 ) + μ ( λ ) u ( 1 ) = 0

via the upper and lower solution method in three cases of f(0)=0, f(0)>0 and f(0)<0. Further, they established a unique result for λ0 and λ1. In the above equation, λ>0 is a parameter, fC2([0,),R) is an increasing function which is sublinear at infinity, h C1([0,1], (0,)) is a nonin-creasing function with h1:=h (1)>0 and there exist constants d0>0, α[0,1] such that h(t)d0tα for all t(0,1], and μC([0,),[0,)) is an increasing function such that μ(0)0.

The prescribed mean curvature equation addressed in this paper is regarded as a significant problem in partial differential equations and possesses extensive applications in other domains like physics and biology, such as the shape of the human cornea[8-9], drops of capillary droopiness[10], micro electronic mechanical systems, and corresponding models of large spatial gradients[11]. Specifically, the Dirichlet problem with the Minkowski-curvature operator

{ - d i v ( u ( t ) 1 - ( 1 - u ( t ) ) 2 ) = f ( t , u ( t ) ) , t Ω , u ( 0 ) = 0 , t Ω

has drawn the attention of numerous scholars. Especially, the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions for the Dirichlet problem with the one-dimensional Minkowski-curvature operator

{ - ( u ' ( t ) 1 - ( u ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' = λ f ( u ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = u ( 1 ) = 0

have been extensively studied by employing the variational method, the upper and lower solution method, and the time mapping method. See Refs. [12-20], where λ>0 is parameter, fC([0,),[0,)) and f(u)>0 (u>0). It is obvious that the problems in the above references merely study the positive solutions of the Dirichlet problem with the mean curvature operator in Minkowski space in the case where the nonlinear term has a parameter. However, the prescribed mean curvature boundary value problem where both the nonlinear term and the boundary conditions have parameters must be further considered to accurately describe the corresponding physical phenomena.

Inspired by the above-mentioned papers, we explore the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions for the one-dimensional prescribed mean curvature problem in Minkowski space

{ - ( u ' ( t ) 1 - ( u ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' = λ h ( t ) f ( u ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = 0 , u ' ( 1 ) + λ u ( 1 ) = 0 , (1)

with boundary conditions having parameter in two cases f(0)=0 and f(0)>0 by using upper and lower solution method, where λ>0 is a parameter, fC2([0,),R) is monotonically increasing and limu1-f(u)1-u=0,h C1([0,1], (0,)) is a nonincreasing function and h(t)>1.

From the conclusion of Ref. [15], it follows that problem (1) has a positive solution u if and only if the problem

{ - u ( t ) = λ ( 1 - ( u ' ( t ) ) 2 ) 3 2 h ( t ) f ( u ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = 0 , u ' ( 1 ) + λ u ( 1 ) = 0 (2)

has a positive solution, and |u'|<1, u<1.

Let ϕ:(-1,1)R is monotone increasing homeomorphism defined by ϕ(s)=s1-s2, then ϕ(0)=0 and ϕ-1(s)=s1+s2 is also monotone increasing homeomorphism and bounded. Let us consider the eigenvalue problem

{ - u ( t ) = λ u ( t ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = 0 , u ' ( 1 ) + λ u ( 1 ) = 0 . (3)

Based on the results of Ref. [6], the problem (3) has principal eigenvalue λ1>0, and the eigencurve B1(λ) is Lipschitz continuous, strictly decreasing and convex. Further limλλ1=λ1D, where λ1D>0 is the principal eigenvalue of

{ - u ( t ) = λ 1 D u ( t ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = 0 = u ( 1 ) .

Throughout the paper we will assume that f satisfies: (C1)f'(0)=1; (C2)f(s)<0,s[0,σ*) for some σ*>0.

Let a>0,b>0 and M*>0. Define

L ( a , b ) = 4 b / ( τ ( 1 4 ) f ( b ) ) m i n { a v h f ( a ) , 8 M * f ( b ) } ,  

where vh is the solution of the problem

{ - v h ( t ) = h ( t ) , t ( 0,1 ) , v h ( 0 ) = 0 , v h ' ( 1 ) + λ v h ' ( 1 ) = 0 . (4)

First, we state the main results for the case: f(0)=0.

Theorem 1   Assume (C1) and f(0)=0 hold. Then problem (1) has no positive solution for λ0 and has at least one positive solution for λ>λ1. Further, if there exist a>0,b>0,M*>0 such that a(0,b), M*>2b, L(a,b)<1 and 4bτ(14)f(b)>λ1. Then problem (1) has at least three positive solutions for λ(4bτ(14)f(b),min{avhf(a),8M*f(b)}).

Theorem 2   Assume (C1),(C2) and f(0)=0 hold. Then problem (1) has least one positive solution uλ for λ>λ1 such that uλ0.

Next, we state the main results for case: f(0)>0.

Theorem 3   Assume f(0)>0. Then problem (1) as at least one positive solution for λ>0. Further, if there exist a>0, b>0 and M*>0 such that a(0,b), M*>2b and L(a,b)<1. Then (1) has at least three positive solutions for λ(4bτ(14)f(b),min{avhf(a),8M*f(b)}).

Note that the connected component of positive solutions of (1) is the Σ shaped under the assumptions of Theorem 1 or Theorem 3. Figure 1(a) illustrated the main results of Theorem 1, Fig.1 (b) illustrated the main results of Theorem 3. The rest of the paper is organized as follows. In Section 1, we introduce some lemmas needed to prove the main theorems. In Section 2, we use the time-mapping method to prove that problem (1) has at least one positive solution when f(u)=u,h(t)=1, which will help to construct the subsolution of (1). In Section 3, we give proofs of the main results. In Section 4, we show some examples.

thumbnail Fig. 1 Bifurcation diagram for problem (1)

1 Preliminaries

Let C01[0,1]={uC1[0,1] |u(0)=0}, it is not hard to verify that C01[0,1] endowed with the norm u=u+u' is Banach space.

We donote by P,Q: C[0,1]C[0,1], and the continuous projects defined by Pu(t)=u'(0), Qu(t)=01u(t)dt, t(0,1) and define the continuous linear operator H:C[0,1]C01[0,1], Hu(t)=0tu(s)ds, t(0,1). Integration of both sides of the equation in problem (1) from 0 to t implies that

u ' ( t ) 1 - ( u ' ( t ) ) 2 = u ' ( 0 ) 1 - ( u ' ( 0 ) ) 2 - λ 0 1 h ( s ) f ( u ( s ) ) d s ,  

i.e.

ϕ ( u ' ( t ) ) = ϕ ( u ' ( 0 ) ) - λ 0 t h ( s ) f ( u ( s ) ) d s .

Applying ϕ-1 to the above equation, we get that u'(t)=ϕ-1[ϕ(u'(0))-λ0th(s)f(u(s))ds]. Furthermore, we integrate the above equation from 0 to t, it follows that

u ( t ) = 0 t ϕ - 1 [ ϕ ( u ' ( 0 ) ) - λ 0 t h ( s ) f ( u ( τ ) ) d τ ] d s . (5)

Combining u'(1)+λu(1)=0, we obtain that u'(0) satisfies

ϕ - 1 [ ϕ ( u ' ( 0 ) ) - λ 0 t h ( s ) f ( u ( s ) ) d s ] + λ 0 1 ϕ - 1 [ ϕ ( u ' ( 0 ) ) - λ 0 t h ( s ) f ( u ( τ ) ) d τ ] d s = 0 (6)

which yields that

ϕ - 1 [ ϕ ( P u ( t ) ) - λ Q ( h ( t ) f ( u ( t ) ) ) ]            + λ Q [ ϕ - 1 ( ϕ ( P u ( t ) ) - λ H ( h ( t ) f ( u ( t ) ) ) ) ] = 0 (7)

Lemma 1   For hC[0,1], there is a unique γ:=u'(0) such that ϕ-1[ϕ(γ)-λQ(h(t)f(u(t)))]+λQ[ϕ-1(ϕ(γ) -λH(h(t)f(u(t))))]=0 and γ is continuous.

Proof   For any given λ>0, define the function g: (-1,1)R as follows:

g ( γ ) = ϕ - 1 [ ϕ ( γ ) - λ Q ( h ( t ) f ( u ( t ) ) ) ] + λ Q [ ϕ - 1 ( ϕ ( γ ) - λ H ( h ( t ) f ( u ( t ) ) ) ) ]

There are γ1,γ2(-1,1) such that

g ( γ 1 ) = m i n γ ( 0,1 ) g ( γ ) = - 1 - λ < 0 ,   g ( γ 2 ) = m i n γ ( 0,1 ) g ( γ ) = 1 + λ > 0 ,

then there exists γ(γ1,γ2) such that g(γ)=0.

Next we prove uniqueness of γ. Let γ*,γ*(-1,1) such that g(γ*)=g(γ*)=0, hence there exists t0(0,1) such that

ϕ - 1 [ ϕ ( γ * ) - λ Q ( h ( t 0 ) f ( u ( t 0 ) ) ) ] + λ Q [ ϕ - 1 ( ϕ ( γ * ) - λ H ( h ( t 0 ) f ( u ( t 0 ) ) ) ) ] = ϕ - 1 [ ϕ ( γ * ) - λ Q ( h ( t 0 ) f ( u ( t 0 ) ) ) ] + λ Q [ ϕ - 1 ( ϕ ( γ * ) - λ H ( h ( t 0 ) f ( u ( t 0 ) ) ) ) ] .

Since ϕ-1 and Q is bijection, γ*=γ*. Finally, from the continuity of h, ϕ and ϕ-1, we can conclude that γ is continuous.

Lemma 2   u C 0 1 [ 0,1 ] being a solution to problem (1) is equivalent to uC01[0,1] being a fixed point of

A f ( u )   : = H ϕ - 1 [ ϕ ( P u ) - λ H ( h f ( u ) ) ]

Proof   It follows from Lemma 1 that there exists a unique u'(0) such that (7) holds, so the operator equation of problem (1) is Af(u) :=Hϕ-1[ϕ(Pu)-λH(hf(u))]. It is obvious that ϕ: (-1,1)R, hence its inverse mapping ϕ-1 is a bounded operator, and it follows from (5) that u<1.

Next, we introduce definitions of a (strict) subsolution and a (strict) supersolution of problem (1) and establish the upper and lower solution theorem that is used to prove existence and multiplicity results of (1).

By a supersolution of the problem (1) we define αC2(0,1)C1[0,1] that satisfies

{ - ( α ' ( t ) 1 - ( α ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' λ h ( t ) f ( α ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , α ( 0 ) 0 , α ' ( 1 ) + λ α ( 1 ) 0 . (8)

By a supersolution of the problem (1), we define β C2(0,1)C1[0,1] that satisfies

{ - ( β ' ( t ) 1 - ( β ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' λ h ( t ) f ( β ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , β ( 0 ) 0 , β ' ( 1 ) + λ β ( 1 ) 0 . (9)

By a strict subsolution (supersolution) of (1) we mean a subsolution (supersolution) which is not a solution of (1).

Lemma 3   Let M>0 and v1,v2C1[0,1] such that ϕ(vi')C1[0,1] (i=1,2). If

- ( ϕ ( v 1 ' ( t ) ) ) ' + M v 1 ( t ) - ( ϕ ( v 2 ' ( t ) ) ) ' + M v 2 ( t ) ,   t ( 0,1 ) , (10)

and v1(0)=0, v2(0)=0, then v1(t)v2(t).

Proof   Suppose on the contrary that there exists t*(0,1) such that maxt(0,1)(v1(t)-v2(t))=v1(t*)-v2(t*)>0, then v1'(t*)=v2'(t*), and there exists a sequence {tk}t* on (0,t*) such that v1'(tk)-v2'(tk)0. The fact that ϕ is monotone increasing homeomorphism implies that ϕ(v1'(tk))-ϕ(v1'(t*))ϕ(v2'(tk))-ϕ(v2'(t*)).

By the definition of the derivative we get that

( ϕ ( v 1 ' ( t k ) ) ) t = t * ' ( ϕ ( v 1 ' ( t * ) ) ) t = t * ' . (11)

This together with (10) and (11) concludes that 0<M(v1(t*)-v2(t*))(ϕ(v1'(t)))t=t*'-(ϕ(v2'(t)))t=t*'0, which is contradictory. Therefore, v1(t)v2(t) for all t(0,1).

Corollary 1   Let v1,v2C1[0,1] such that ϕ(vi) C1[0,1] (i=1,2).If -(ϕ(v1'(t)))'<-(ϕ(v2'(t)))' for any t(0,1), then v1(t)<v2(t).

Lemma 4   Let α and β be a subsolution and a supersolution of (1), respectively, such that αβ, then (1) has a solution uC2(0,1)C1[0,1] such that u[α,β].

Proof   Let χ: RR be the continuous function which is defined by

χ ( u ) = { α ( t ) , u ( t ) < α ( t ) , u ( t ) , α ( t ) u ( t ) β ( t ) , β ( t ) , u ( t ) > β ( t ) ,  

and define F: [0,1]×RR by F(t,u)=-λh(t)f(χ(u)). Obviously, F is continuous and bounded.

Next we consider the auxiliary problem

{ ( ϕ ( u ' ( t ) ) ) ' = F ( t , u ( t ) ) + u ( t ) - χ ( u ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = 0 , u ' ( 1 ) + λ u ( 1 ) = 0 . (12)

First, the problem (12) has at least one solution u by the Schauder fixed theorem. Next, we only show that α(t)u(t)β(t), t(0,1), so u is a solution of (1).

Suppose on the contrary that there exists t¯(0,1) such that maxt(0,1)[α(t)-u(t)]=α( t¯ )-u( t¯ )>0. Because α'( t¯ )-u'( t¯ )=0, there exist two sequence {tk}[ t¯-ε,t¯ ) and {t˜k}[ t¯, t¯+ε) such that α'(tk)-u'(tk)0 and α'( t˜k)-u'( t˜k)0. Without loss of generality, it follows from α'(tk)-u'(tk)0 that α'(tk)u'(tk). By ϕ is an increasing homeomorphism, we get that ϕ(α'(tk))ϕ(u'(tk)).

S i n c e   ϕ ( α ' (   t ¯   ) ) = ϕ ( u ' (   t ¯   ) ) ,   t h e n  

ϕ ( α ' ( t k ) ) - ϕ ( α ' ( t ) ) t k - t ¯ ϕ ( u ' ( t k ) ) - ϕ ( u ' (   t ¯   ) ) t k - t ¯ ( t k < t ¯   ) ,   w h i c h   i m p l i e s   ( ϕ ( α ' (   t ¯   ) ) ) ' ( ϕ ( u ' (   t ¯   ) ) ) ' .  

Moreover, α is a subsolution of (1), it yields that

( ϕ ( α ' (   t ¯   ) ) ) ' ( ϕ ( u ' (   t ¯   ) ) ) ' = F (   t ¯ , u (   t ¯   ) ) + u (   t ¯   ) + α (   t ¯   ) < F (   t ¯ , u (   t ¯   ) ) = - λ h ( t ) f ( χ ( u ( t ¯ ) ) ) = - λ h ( t ) f ( α ( t ¯ ) ) ( ϕ ( α ' (   t ¯   ) ) ) ' .

This is a contradiction, thus α(t)u(t). In addition, by the similar arguments, it follows that u(t)β(t). Therefore u[α ,β] is a solution of problem (1).

Lemma 5   Let α1 and β1 be a subsolution and supersolution of (1) respectively such that α1β1. Let α2 and β2 be a strict subsoltion and a strict supersolution of (1) respectively satisfying α2,β2[α1,β1] and α2β2. Then (1) has at least three solutions u1, u2 and u3, where u1[α1,β2], u2[α2,β1] and u3[α1,β1]\([α1,β2][α2,β1]).

Proof   Let eC2[0,1] denote the the unique positive solution of

{ - ( e ' ( t ) 1 - ( e ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' = 1 , t ( 0,1 ) , e ( 0 ) = e ( 1 ) = 0 .

Let I=[α1,β1], I1=[α1,β2], I3=[α2,β1], Ce[0,1]={uC[0,1] |-teute}. It is not difficult to verify that Ce[0,1] endowed with the norm ue=inf{t>0|-teute} is Banach space, then I, I1 and I2 are non-empty closed convex subsets of Banach space Ce[0,1]. In the following, we will prove that Af(u): C01[0,1]C01[0,1] is completely continuous and strongly increasing.

In fact, I1 and I2 are disjoint subsets of I. The map Af(u) is restricted to I. Since Af(u) is increasing and α1, β2 are subsolution and supersolution of (1) respectively (α1β2), we have that α1Af(α1)Af(β2)β2, i.e. Af(u)I. Similarly, Af(Ik)Ik,k=1,2. Since β2 is a strict supersolution of (2), we have that Af(β2)<β2. By Ref. [21], Corollary 6.2, Af(u) has a maximal fixed point in u1I1 and α1u1<β2. Similarly, Af(u) has a minimal fixed point in u2I2 and α2<u2β1, because α2 is a strict subsoluton of (1).

Notice that

- ( ϕ ( u 1 ' ( t ) ) ) ' + M u 1 ( t ) - ( ϕ ( β 2 ' ( t ) ) ) ' + M β 2 ( t ) ( M > 0 )

it follows from Lemma 3 that u1β2, hence there exists a constant c1>0 such that β2-u1c1e(t). Similarly there exists a constant c2>0 such that u2-α2c2e(t). Define

J k = I { z C e [ 0,1 ] | z - u k e < t k , k = 1,2 }

then JkIk is open set, k=1,2. Hence Ik has non-empty interior. Let Jk be the largest open set in Ik, which contain uk such that Af(u) has no fixed point in Ik\ Jk. Finally by Ref. [22], Lemma 3.8, Af(u) has a third fixed point u3I \(I1I2). Therefore, problem (1) has at least three solutions u1[α1,β2], u2[α2,β1] and u3[α1,β1]\([α1,β2][α2,β1]).

2 The Autonomous Case of f(u)=u, h(t)=1

We consider the quasilinear problem

{ - ( u ' ( t ) 1 - ( u ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' = λ u ( t ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = 0 , u ' ( 1 ) + λ u ( 1 ) = 0 , (13)

where λ>0 is a parameter.

Multiplying the differential equation in (13) by u'(t) and integrating from 0 to t, we get that -(1-(u'(t))2)-12=λF(u(t))+C, where F(s)=0szdz. From Ref. [8], Lemma 2.3, there exists t0(0,1) such that u(t0)=ρ=u. Now we choose t=t0 in (13) and yield

u ' ( t ) = 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 , t ( 0 , t 0 ) , (14)

u ' ( t ) = - 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 , t ( t 0 , 1 ) . (15)

Let u(1)=m>0, further integration from 0 to t0 for (14) and integration from t0 to 1 for (15), it follows that

0 ρ d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 = t 0 , (16)

ρ m d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 = t 0 - 1 . (17)

We obtain by combining (16) and (17) that

      0 ρ d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 + m ρ d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 = 1 . (18)

Finally, from boundary value u'(1)+λu(1)=0 and (15), we can get

G λ ( m )   : = ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( m ) ) ) - 2 + λ m 2 - 1 = 0 . (19)

Let λ be a fixed value and ρ(0,1). By (19), it is easy to compute that

G λ m = 2 λ m ( 1 + 1 ( 1 + λ 2 ( ρ 2 - m 2 ) ) 3 ) > 0 , m ( 0 , ρ ) , (20)

further Gλ(0)=(1+λ2ρ2)-2-1<0, Gλ(ρ)=λρ2>0, so it follows from the intermediate value theorem that there exists m˜=m˜(ρ)(0,ρ) such that (19) holds.

Lemma 6   For any fixed ρ(0,1), limρ0m˜ρ=22 for m˜(0,ρ).

Proof   By (19), we get that Gλ(m˜)=0. It is easy to compute that

G λ ( m ˜ ) ρ = - 2 λ ρ ( 1 + λ 2 ( ρ 2 - m ˜ 2 ) ) 3 , G λ ( m ˜ ) m ˜ = 2 λ m ˜ [ 1 + ( 1 + λ 2 ( ρ 2 - m ˜ 2 ) ) - 3 ] .

Thus limρ0(m˜ρ)2=limρ0m˜(ρ)=limρ01[1+(1+λ2(ρ2-m˜2))]-3=12, i.e. limρ0m˜ρ=22.

Definition 1   For any given ρ(0,1), we define a map

T λ , m ( ρ ) = 0 ρ d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 + m ρ d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 , (21)

called the time map of problem (13).

In fact, the existence of a solution to problem (13) is equivalent to the existence of a solution to Tλ,m(ρ)=1, see Refs. [19, 23].

Theorem 4   For any given ρ(0,1), there exists λ1=λ1(ρ,m˜) satisfying (18) and (19) such that problem (13) has at least one positive solution for any λ>λ1.

Proof   Clearly, for any fixed λ>0, there exists m˜=m˜(ρ) such that Gλ(m˜)=0. Now, let m=m˜ in (21), we show that

T λ , m ˜ ( ρ ) = 0 ρ d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 + m ˜ ρ d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 = 1 . (22)

It is easy to compute that Tλ,m˜(ρ)ρ=-m'̃(ρ)11-(1+λ(F(ρ)-F(m˜)))-2< 0, m˜(0,ρ), and Tλ,m˜(0)=0<1,

T λ , m ˜ ( 1 ) = 0 1 d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( 1 ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 + m ˜ ( 1 ) 1 d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( 1 ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 > 1 .

Therefore, there exist ρ(0,1) and m˜=m˜(ρ), such that Tλ,m˜(ρ)=1 holds. Then problem (13) has at least one positive solution.

Finally, we discuss the range of value of λ when a positive solution exists for problem (13). The fact together with (18) concludes that

1 = l i m ρ 0 + ( 0 ρ d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 + m ˜ ρ d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 ) = l i m ρ 0 + ( 0 ρ 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) 2 - 1 d u + m ˜ ρ 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) 2 - 1 d u ) = l i m ρ 0 + ( 0 ρ 1 + λ 2 ( ρ 2 - u 2 ) λ 2 4 ( ρ 2 - u 2 ) 2 + λ ( ρ 2 - u 2 ) d u + m ˜ ρ 1 + λ 2 ( ρ 2 - u 2 ) λ 2 4 ( ρ 2 - u 2 ) 2 + λ ( ρ 2 - u 2 ) d u )

= l i m ρ 0 + ( 0 1 ( 1 + λ 2 ( ρ 2 - ( ρ τ ) 2 ) ) ρ λ 2 4 ( ρ 2 - ( ρ τ ) 2 ) 2 + λ ( ρ 2 - ( ρ τ ) 2 ) d τ + m ˜ ρ 1 ( 1 + λ 2 ( ρ 2 - ( ρ τ ) 2 ) ) ρ λ 2 4 ( ρ 2 - ( ρ τ ) 2 ) 2 + λ ( ρ 2 - ( ρ τ ) 2 ) d τ ) = l i m ρ 0 + ( 0 1 1 + λ 2 ( ρ 2 - ( ρ τ ) 2 ) λ 2 4 ( ρ - ρ τ 2 ) 2 + λ ( 1 - τ 2 ) d τ m ˜ ρ 1 1 + λ 2 ( ρ 2 - ( ρ τ ) 2 ) λ 2 4 ( ρ - ρ τ 2 ) 2 + λ ( 1 - τ 2 ) d τ ) = 1 λ ( 0 1 1 1 - τ 2 d τ + 2 2 1 1 1 - τ 2 d τ ) = 1 λ 3 π 4 .

Therefore, limρ0+λ(ρ,m˜)=916π2 :=λ1.

Next, we show that limρ1-λ(ρ,m˜)=. From the definition of ϕ(u), we get that limρ1-uϕ(u)=0. Hence, there exists δ(0,1) for any ε>0 such that uεϕ(u), 1-δ<u<1 and it follows that

F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) = u ρ s d s < ε u ρ s 1 - s 2 d s = ε ( ρ 2 - u 2 ) 1 - u 2 + 1 - ρ 2 .  

This together with (18) implies that

1 = 0 ρ d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2 + m ˜ ρ d u 1 - ( 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ) - 2

0 ρ d u 1 - [ 1 + λ ( F ( ρ ) - F ( u ) ) ] - 2 0 ρ d u 1 - [ 1 + λ ε ( ρ 2 - u 2 ) / ( 1 - u 2 + 1 - ρ 2 ) ] - 2 = 0 1 1 + λ ε ρ 2 ( 1 - τ 2 ) / ( 1 - ( ρ τ ) 2 + 1 - ρ 2 ) λ ε [ 2 ( 1 - τ 2 ) 1 - ( ρ τ ) 2 + 1 - ρ 2 + λ ε ρ 2 ( 1 - τ 2 ) 2 ( 1 - ( ρ τ ) 2 + 1 - ρ 2 ) 2 ] d τ .

Therefore, we yield that for ε>0 small enough as ρ1-, limρ1-λ(ρ,m˜)limρ1-1ε0111-τ2dτ=, i.e. limρ1-λ(ρ,m˜)=.

In consequence, the problem (13) has at least one positive solution for any λ>λ1.

Remark 1   In the case of h(t)=1, f(u)=u, the principal eigenvalue of problem

{ - u ( t ) = λ u ( t ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = 0 , u ' ( 1 ) + λ u ( 1 ) = 0

has eigenvalue λ1=916π2, and the corresponding eigenfunction is B1(λ)=sin3π4t, t(0,1).

3 The Proof of Main Results

Proof of Theorem 1   We first show the nonexistence for λ0. Let σλ be the principal eigenvalue and ωλ>0 be the corresponding normalized eigenfunction of

{ - ω λ ( t ) = ( λ + σ ) h ( t ) ω λ ( t ) , t ( 0,1 ) , ω λ ( 0 ) = 0 , ω λ ' ( 1 ) + λ ω λ ( 1 ) = 0 .

We note that σλ>0 for λ<λ1 and σλ<0 for λ>λ1, the detail see Ref. [24]. Supppose on the contrary that uλ be a positive solution of (1) for λ0. Note that there exists k0>0 such that f(s)k0s for s[0,), and

0 = 0 1 ( u λ ω λ - ω λ u λ ) d s = 0 1 h ( s ) [ u λ ω λ ( λ + σ λ ) - λ f ( u λ ) ω λ ( 1 - ( u λ ' ) 2 ) 3 2 ] d s 0 1 h ( s ) [ ( λ + σ λ ) - λ k 0 ( 1 - ( u λ ' ) 2 ) 3 2 ] u λ ω λ d s 0 1 h ( s ) [ ( λ + σ λ ) - λ k 0 ] u λ ω λ d s . (23)

Clearly, it is easy to see that λ>λ for λ0. Thus there exists constant m>0 (independent of λ ) such that 0<mλ-λ<σλ. Besides, by (23), it follows that (λ+σλ)-λk00, i.e. σλλ. This is a contradiction, hence (1) has no positive solution for λ0.

Next, we show that the existence of positive solution of (1) for λ>λ1. Let β1=mλeh, where eh is solution of

  { - ( u ' ( t ) 1 - ( u ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' = h ( t ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = 0 , u ' ( 1 ) + λ u ( 1 ) = 0

and 1<mλ<1min{eh,eh'}. Then 1-mλeh>0 and 1-mλ2e'h2>0.

Since limu1-f(u)1-u=0, for all ε>0, there exists 0<δ<1 such that |f(u)1-u|<ε, 1-δ<u<1. Furthermore, choosing ε=mλλ(1-mλeh), we have that

f ( m λ e h ) 1 - m λ e h < m λ λ ( 1 - m λ e h ) ,   i . e .   λ f ( m λ e h ) < m λ . (24)

Next, we prove that β1 is an upper solution to problem (1). By mλ>1 and (24), we conclude that

- ( β 1 ' 1 - β 1 ' 2 ) ' = - β 1 ( 1 - β 1 ' 2 ) 3 2 = - m λ e h ( 1 - m λ 2 e h ' 2 ) 3 2 > - m λ e h ( 1 - e h ' 2 ) 3 2 = m λ h ( t ) λ f ( m λ e h ) h ( t ) = λ f ( β 1 ) h ( t ) .

In addition, we get that β1(0)=0 and β1'(1)+λβ1(1)=0, thus β1 is a supersolution.

Let α1=εv with ε>0, where v is positive solution of (13) according to Theorem 4. Since f'(0)=1, limu0+f(u)u=1. Therefore, for any ε>0, there exists δ>0 such that 1-εf(u)u1+ε. Hence, for ε0, we have that

- ( α 1 ' 1 - α 1 ' 2 ) ' = - ( ε v ' 1 - ε 2 v ' 2 ) ' = λ ε ( 1 - v ' 2 ) 3 2 v ( 1 - ε 2 v ' 2 ) 3 2 λ ε v h ( t ) λ f ( ε v ) h ( t ) .

Obviously α1(0)=0 and α1'(1)+λα1(1)=0, thus α1 is a subsolution of (2). Now choosing ε0 to ensure that β1α1. By Lemma 1 there exists a positive solution uλ[α1,β1] for λ>λ1.

Finally, we establish the multiplicity result of positive solution of (1). Let m*,M*(0,η) such that f is strictly increasing on [m*,M*]. We first construct a strict subsolution of the Dirichlet problem

{ - ( u ' ( t ) 1 - ( u ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' = λ h ( t ) f ˜ ( u ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = u ( 1 ) = 0 . (25)

Define f˜C2([0,),R) satisfying

f ˜ ( u ) = { f ^ ( u ) , u < m * , f ( u ) , u m * ,  

where f^(u) is defined such that the function f˜(u) is strictly increasing on [m*,M*] and f˜(u)f(u). For t[0,12], let

g ( t ) = { 1 - ( 1 - ( t ξ ) μ ) δ , 0 t < ξ , 1 , ξ t 1 2 ,

and g(t)=g(1-t), t[12,1], where 0<μ,δ<1. By computing, we get that

g ' ( t ) = { δ μ ξ ( t ξ ) μ - 1 ( 1 - ( t ξ ) μ ) δ - 1 , 0 t < ξ , 0 , ξ t 1 2 .

Assume that there exists a constant b[m*,M*) such that M*>2b, and define z(t)=bg(t). Since |g'(t)|<δμξ, |z'(t)|<bδμξ. Define α* on [12,1] to be the solution of

{ - ( α * ' ( t ) 1 - ( α * ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' = λ f ˜ ( z ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , α * ( 0 ) = α * ' ( 1 2 ) = 0 , (26)

and extend α* on [0,12] such that α*(t)=α*(1-t), where α*(t) has a maximum value at t=12 and is symmetric about t=12, see Ref. [17].

Claim α * ( t ) ( z ( t ) , M * ) , t(0,1).

Based on the claim, it follows that

- α * = λ ( 1 - ( α * ' ) 2 ) 3 2 f ˜ ( z ) < λ ( 1 - ( α * ' ) 2 ) 3 2 f ˜ ( α * ) λ ( 1 - ( α * ' ) 2 ) 3 2 h ( t ) f ˜ ( α * ( t ) )

Since α*(0)=α*(1)=0, α*'(1)+λα*(1)=α*'(1)0. Therefore, α* is a strict subsolution. Now, we prove the claim is true. First, we show that α*(t)>z(t), t[0,1].

Define τ=τ(ξ) :=ξ12(1-(α*'(s))2)32ds, then 0<τ(ξ)<1. Recall that (26). Integration from t to 12 with t(0,12) and noting that α*'(12)=0, we obtain that

α * ' ( t ) = λ t 1 2 ( 1 - ( α * ' ( s ) ) 2 ) 3 2 f ˜ ( z ( s ) ) d s λ ξ 1 2 ( 1 - ( α * ' ( s ) ) 2 ) 3 2 f ˜ ( b g ( s ) ) d s = λ f ˜ ( b ) ξ 1 2 ( 1 - ( α * ' ( s ) ) 2 ) 3 2 d s = λ f ( b ) τ ( ξ ) , t [ 0 , ξ ] . (27)

Now we choose ξ=14. Since λ>4bτ(14)f(b), we can choose 0<μ,δ<1 such that λ>4b(δμ)τ(14)f(b). Hence for all t[0,14],α*'(t)>λf(b)τ(14)>4bδμ=bδμξ>z'(t). Clearly, z(t)=b, z'(t)=0 for all t[14,12). We obtain that

α * ' ( t ) = λ t 1 2 ( 1 - ( α * ' ( s ) ) 2 ) 3 2 f ˜ ( z ( s ) ) d s > 0 = z ' ( t ) .   i . e .   α * ' ( t ) > z ' ( t )   f o r   a l l   t [ 0 , 1 2 ) .  

Since α*(0)=z(0)=0, we have α*(t)>z(t) for all t[0,12). By symmetry of the solution of (26), α*(t)>z(t) for all t[0,1].

Next, we show that α*<M*. Recall that α*'(t)=λt12(1-(α*'(s))2)32f˜(z(s))ds, t(0,12) . Integrating from 0 to t , we have

  α * ( t ) = 0 t ( λ s 1 2 ( 1 - α * ' ( τ ) ) 3 2 f ˜ ( z ( τ ) ) d τ ) d s ,   t ( 0 , 1 2 )   .

Furthermore, α*=α*(12)λf˜(b)012s12(1-(α*'(τ))2)32dτds=λf˜(b)8=λf(b)8. This together with λ<8M*f(b) yields α*<M*. Hence v(t)<α*(t)<M* for t(0,1). Moreover α* is a strict subsolution of problem (1).

Let α2 be the first interation of α*, then α2 be the soluton to the problem

{ - ( α 2 ' ( t ) 1 - ( α 2 ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' = λ h ( t ) f ( α * ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , α 2 ( 0 ) = 0 , α 2 ' ( 1 ) + λ α 2 ( 1 ) = 0 .

Then -(α2'1-(α2')2)'=λh(t)f(α*)>λh(t)f(z)=-(α*'1-(α*')2)'. By Corollary 1, we have that α2>α*. Hence, it is not difficult to verfy that α2 is a strict subsolution of (1).

Finally, we construct a strict supersolution for λ(4bτ(14)f(b),avhf(a)), where a(0,b) is a constant. Let β2:=avhvh, where vh is defined by (4). Then

- β 2 = a h ( t ) v h > λ h ( t ) f ( a ) > λ ( 1 - ( β 2 ' ) 2 ) 3 2 h ( t ) f ( a ) > λ ( 1 - ( β 2 ' ) 2 ) 3 2 h ( t ) f ( β 2 ) .

On the other hand, β2 satisifies β2(0)=0 and β2'(1)+λβ2(1)==avh[vh'(1)+λvh(1)]=0. Therefore β2 is a strict supersolution for λ(4bτ(14)f(b),avhf(a)). Further, we can choose ε0 and 0<a1 such that α1α2β1 and α1β2β1. Since α2b>a=β2, α2β2. Therefore (1) has at least three positive solutions from Lemma 5.

Proof of Theorem 2   By (C2), there exists A*>0 such that f(s)-A* for s0. Let β^1:=δλωλ, where δλ=-2σλλA*mint(0,1)ωλ. It follows that δλ>0 and δλ0(λλ1+) from σλ<0, σλ0(λλ1+) and mint(0,1]ωλ0(λλ1+). By the Taylor's series f(β^1)=f(0)+f'(0)β^1+f(ζ)2β^12=β^1+f(ζ)2β^12, ζ[0,β^1], it concludes that

- β ^ 1 - λ ( 1 - ( β ^ 1 ' ) 2 ) 3 2 h ( t ) f ( β ^ 1 ) = δ λ ( λ + σ λ ) h ( t ) ω λ - λ ( 1 - ( β 1 ' ) 2 ) 3 2 h ( t ) [ δ λ ω λ + f ( ζ ) 2 ( δ λ ω λ ) 2 ] δ λ ( λ + σ λ ) ( 1 - ( β 1 ' ) 2 ) 3 2 h ( t ) ω λ - λ ( 1 - ( β 1 ' ) 2 ) 3 2 h ( t ) [ δ λ ω λ + f ( ζ ) 2 ( δ λ ω λ ) 2 ] δ λ ω λ ( 1 - ( β 1 ' ) 2 ) 3 2 h ( t ) [ σ λ + λ A * 2 δ λ m i n t ( 0,1 ] ω λ ] = 0 .

Therefore, β^1 is a supersolution of (1) for λ>λ1 and β^10(λλ1+). Let α1=εv be as in the proof of Theorem 1. Choosing ε0, we can note that α1β1. By Lemma 2, there exists a positive solution uλ[α1,β^1] for λ>λ1 and λλ1 such that uλ0 (λλ1+).

Proof of Theorem 3   First of all, we show the existence of positive solution for λ>0. Clearly, α0 is a strict subsoluion of (1). Let β=mλeh be as in the proof of Theorem 1, then is a supersolution of (1). Further, by Lemma 1, there exists uλ[α,β]. Next, the proof of multiplicity is similar to that of Theorem 1, we omit it.

4 Examples

Example 1 Let us consider the following problem

{ - ( u ' ( t ) 1 - ( u ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' = λ 3 t - 1 2 f ( u ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = 0 , u ' ( 1 ) + λ u ( 1 ) = 0 , (28)

where

f ( s ) = { ( 1 - s ) c o s ( ( s - 1 2 ) π ) , s [ 0 , 7 20 ) , ( 1 - s ) s i n ( ( s - 1 ) π ) , s [ 7 20 , 1 ] .

It is obvious that f(0)=0. Moreover, we note that f(s) satisfies (C1), (C2) and lims1-f(s)1-s=0. Let s=s0=110, then s0f(s0)1027. Let a=s0 and ι>2s0, then we can choose bι(s0,ι2) such that 4bι(14)f(bι)<16. Let vbι be as in (4). It is easy to compute that vbι(t)=6+4λ3(1+λ)-43t32, t(0,1). Then we obtain that vbι2. Hence (4bτ(14)f(bι))/(avbf(a))<1. Next, let Mι=ι2. Then 4bιτ(14)f(bι)<min{avbιf(a),8Mιf(bι)}. Therefore, problem (28) has at least three positive solutions for λ(4bιτ(14)f(bι),min{avbιf(bι),8M*f(bι)}) by Theorem 1.

Example 2 Let us consider the following problem

{ - ( u ' ( t ) 1 - ( u ' ( t ) ) 2 ) ' = λ 3 t - 1 2 f ( u ( t ) ) , t ( 0,1 ) , u ( 0 ) = 0 , u ' ( 1 ) + λ u ( 1 ) = 0 , (29)

where

f ( s ) = { ( 1 200 + s ) ( 1 - s ) l n ( 2 - s ) , s [ 0 , 7 20 ) , ( 1 200 + s ) ( 1 - s ) l n ( e 1 - s - 1 ) , s [ 7 20 , 1 ) .

It is obvious that f(0)>0. Moreover, we note that f(s) satisfies (C1), (C2) and lims1-f(s)1-s=0. The following is similar to Example 1, so we omit it.

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All Figures

thumbnail Fig. 1 Bifurcation diagram for problem (1)
In the text

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