Sheet 10
Sheet 10
Problem sheet 10
Semilinear elliptic equations: Calculus of variations
n R 1/2 R1 o
Problem 1. Let M = u ∈ C([0, 1]) : 0 u − 1/2 u = 1 and I : M 7→ R given by I(u) =
∥u∥∞ .
(ii) Show that there does not exist any u ∈ M such that I(u) = 0.
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(ii) Show that there does not exist any u ∈ M such that I(u) = 0.
a) Given u0 ∈ H 1 (Ω),
−∆u = sin u in Ω, u = u0 on ∂Ω.
u′′ = u + eu + f in Ω, u′ = 0 on ∂Ω.
and f ∈ L2 (Ω).
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(ii) Let g ∈ H 1 (Ω), and A = {u = g + v : v ∈ H01 (Ω)}. Prove that a critical point of F in A is
a weak solution to the equation of minimal surfaces:
∇u
∇· = 0 en Ω, u = g en ∂Ω.
(1 + |∇u|2 )1/2
The expression on the left of this equality is N -times the mean curvature of the graphic of
u. Hence a minimal surface has zero mean curvature.
(iii) Check wether or not the direct method of calculus of variations can be used to deduce
existence of a minimizer of F in A.
R
(iv) Let J(w) = Ω w dx. assume that u is a smooth minimizer of F in A ∩ {w : J(w) = 1}.
Show that the graphic of u is a minimal surface with constant mean curvature.
Problem 8. Let Ω ⊂ Rn be open and bounded. Let p ∈ [2, ∞). Let f ∈ Lq (Ω) for some
q ∈ [1, ∞). Consider the nonlinear elliptic equation
(
− div (|∇u|p−2 ∇u) = f in Ω,
u=0 on ∂Ω.
Find the weak formulation of the problem and show, for suitable values of q, the existence of a
weak solution.
Problem 9. Let Ω ⊂ Rd be a bounded, connected open set with C 1 boundary. Let f ∈ L2 (Ω).
We define I : H 1 (Ω) → R as
Z Z
1 2
u2 − sin u .
I[u] = |Du| − f u +
Ω 2 ∂Ω
(a) Prove that the directional derivative of I at u ∈ H 1 (Ω) in the direction of v ∈ H 1 (Ω) is
given by Z Z
∂v I[u] = (Du · Dv − f v) + (2u − cos u)v .
Ω ∂Ω
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(c) Prove that I is sequentially continuous and strictly convex.
Hints. (i) Remember that a Gâteaux differentiable functional on a Banach space X is
strictly convex if and only if
(ii) You may use, without proving it, that there exists a constant C > 0 such that
∥u∥2L2 (Ω) ≤ C ∥Du∥2L2 (Ω) + ∥u∥2L2 (∂Ω) for all u ∈ H 1 (Ω).
(e) Assume that the unique minimizer u of I satisfies u ∈ H 2 (Ω). Prove that