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To appear in Nonlinear Analysis
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topological methods - nonlinear problems - prescribed mean curvature equation
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\title 
The prescribed mean curvature equation with Dirichlet conditions
\endtitle

\title P. Amster and  M. C. Mariani 
\endtitle  

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\lema{Abstract:}

In this paper we study H-systems 
with a Dirichlet boundary data $g$.
We find solutions under different conditions on $H$ and $g$, and prove 
that weak solutions in $W^{1,\infty}$ are classic.

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\bigskip

\tit{Introduction}

We consider the Dirichlet problem in a bounded $C^{1,1}$ domain 
$\Omega \subset R^2$ for a vector function 
$X: \overline \Omega \longrightarrow { R^3}$ which satisfies the equation of
prescribed mean curvature
$$
\text{(1)}
\cases
\Delta X=2H(u,v,X,X_u,X_v)X_u\land X_v \qquad \text{ in }\quad \Omega &\\
X=g\qquad  \text{ in }\quad \partial \Omega &
\endcases
$$
where $X_u=\dfrac{\partial X}{\partial u},$ $X_v=\dfrac{\partial X}{\partial
v},$  $\land$ denotes the exterior product in ${ R^3}$ and $H:\overline \Omega \times
(R^3)^3 \longrightarrow { R}$ is a given continuous function.
The problem above arises in the Plateau and Dirichlet problems for the 
prescribed mean curvature equation that has been studied in [1-2-3-4-5-6-7-10].

In order to study problem (1) we assume that $g \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$ for 
$2<p<\infty$ and
define an operator 
$T:C^1(\overline \Omega,{R^3})\lra C^1(\overline \Omega,{R^3})$, 
$T \overline X = X$, where $X \in W^{2,p} \hookrightarrow C^1$
 is the only solution of the linear problem
$$
\cases
\Delta X=2H(u,v,\overline X, \overline X _u, \overline X _v) \overline X _u\land 
\overline X _v \qquad \text{ in }\quad \Omega &\\
X=g\qquad  \text{ in }\quad \partial \Omega &
\endcases
$$
Thus a strong solution of (1) can be regarded as a fixed point of $T$. 

\newpage

\lema {Theorem 1}

Let $2<p<\infty$ and $g \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$.
Then the operator $T$
defined above
is compact.

\demost{Proof}

For $X = T(\overline X)$, $Y = T(\overline Y)$, it holds that
$X=Y$ in $\partial \Omega$. 
Moreover, by Sobolev imbedding
and lemma 9.17 in
[8]
we obtain that
$$\Vert X - Y \Vert_{1,\infty}\le c_1 \Vert X - Y \Vert_{2,p} \le c_1c
\Vert \Delta (X - Y) \Vert_p = $$
$$2c_1c \Vert H(u,v, \overline X, 
\overline X_u, \overline X_v) \overline X_u\land \overline X_v
- H(u,v, \overline Y, \overline Y_u, \overline Y_v) \overline Y_u\land 
\overline Y_v \Vert_p$$
and continuity of $T$ follows.
On the other hand,
for $X_0 = T(0)$, $\Vert \overline X \Vert_{1,\infty} \le R$, it holds that
$$\Vert X - X_0 \Vert_{2,p}
\le c \Vert \Delta (X - X_0) \Vert_p = 2c \Vert H(u,v, \overline X, 
\overline X_u, \overline X_v) \overline X_u\land \overline X_v \Vert_p \le$$
$$2c \Vert H(u,v, \overline X, 
\overline X_u, \overline X_v) \Vert_p \Vert \overline X_u 
\Vert _{\infty} \Vert \overline X_v \Vert _{\infty} \le 
kR^2$$
As the imbedding 
$W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3) \hookrightarrow C^1(\overline \Omega,R^3)$ is 
compact, the result follows.

\lema {Theorem 2}

The 
following properties
are equivalent:

i) (1) admits a solution in $W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$

ii) There exists $R > 0$ such that

$$\inf_{\Vert \Delta \overline Y \Vert_p \le R, \overline Y = g \text { in } 
\partial 
\Omega} \Vert \Delta \overline Y -  2 H(u,v, \overline Y, \overline Y_u, 
\overline Y_v) \overline Y_u\land \overline Y_v \Vert_p = 0$$

iii) There exists $R > 0$ such that

$$\inf_{\Vert \overline Y \Vert_{1,\infty} \le R, \overline Y = g \text { en } 
\partial 
\Omega}
\Vert \overline Y - T(\overline Y)\Vert_{1,\infty} = 0$$

\demost{Proof}

$i) \Longrightarrow ii)$ is obvious.
In order to see $ii) \Longrightarrow iii)$, it suffices to note that
if $\overline Y \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$ verifies
$\Vert \Delta \overline Y \Vert_p \le R, \overline Y = g \text { in } 
\partial \Omega$ and $g$ is harmonic
then
$$\Vert \overline Y \Vert_{1,\infty} \le c_1 \Vert \overline Y \Vert_{2,p} 
\le c_1 (\Vert \overline Y - g \Vert_{2,p} + \Vert g \Vert_{2,p})
\le c_1 (c\Vert \Delta (\overline Y - g) \Vert_p + \Vert g \Vert_{2,p}) \le$$
$$\le c_1 (cR + \Vert g \Vert_{2,p}) = R'$$
Moreover,
$$\Vert \overline Y - T(\overline Y)\Vert_{1,\infty} \le 
c_1 \Vert \overline Y - T(\overline Y)\Vert_{2,p} \le 
c_1c \Vert \Delta (\overline Y - T(\overline Y))\Vert_p =$$
$$=c_1c \Vert \Delta \overline Y - 
2 H(u,v, \overline Y, \overline Y_u, 
\overline Y_v) \overline Y_u\land \overline Y_v
\Vert_p$$
and the result follows.
Finally, we prove 
$iii) \Longrightarrow i)$: let us consider
a sequence
 $\overline Y_n$ bounded in $C^1(\overline \Omega,R^3)$ such that
$\Vert \overline Y_n - T(\overline Y_n)\Vert_{1,\infty} \lra 0$.
Being $T$ compact
we may assume that $T(\overline Y_n)$ 
converges to $\overline Y$ in $C^1(\overline \Omega,{R^3})$. 
Then
$\overline Y_n \lra \overline Y$, and
$\overline Y$ 
is a fixed point of $T$.

\lema {Theorem 3}

Let $c_1, c$ be the constants of the previous theorems, 
$2<p<\infty$,
 $g \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$ harmonic, and assume
that for some
$R > 0$ it holds, for any $\overline X \in B_R(g)$:
$$2c_1c\Vert  H(u,v, \overline X, \overline X_u, \overline X_v)
\overline X_u \Vert _p \le \dfrac R{R+\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty}}$$ 
\noi or
$$2c_1c\Vert  H(u,v, \overline X, \overline X_u, \overline X_v)
\overline X_v \Vert _p \le \dfrac R{R+\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty}}$$

Then there is at least one solution of (1) in $ B_R(g)$.

\demost{Proof}

We have, for 
$\Vert \overline X - g \Vert_{1,\infty}\le R$:
$$\Vert X - g \Vert_{1,\infty}\le 2c_1c \Vert H(u,v, \overline X, 
\overline X_u, \overline X_v) \overline X_u\land \overline X_v\Vert_p$$
Then
$$\Vert X - g \Vert_{1,\infty}\le 2c_1c \Vert H(u,v, \overline X, 
\overline X_u, \overline X_v) \overline X_u \Vert_p
\Vert \overline X_v \Vert_\infty$$
$$\le 
2c_1c\Vert  H(u,v, \overline X, \overline X_u, \overline X_v)
\overline X_u \Vert _p(R+\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty})$$
and also
$$\Vert X - g \Vert_{1,\infty}\le 2c_1c \Vert H(u,v, \overline X, 
\overline X_u, \overline X_v) \overline X_v \Vert_p
\Vert \overline X_u \Vert_\infty$$
$$\le 
2c_1c\Vert  H(u,v, \overline X, \overline X_u, \overline X_v)
\overline X_v \Vert_p(R+\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty})$$
Thus $T(B_R) \subset B_R$
and the result follows by Schauder Theorem.

\lema {Corollary 4}

Let $c_1, c$ be the constants of the previous theorems,
$2<p<\infty$, and suppose
that
$$H = \sup_{\overline X \in C^1(\overline \Omega,R^3)}
\Vert H(u,v,\overline X,\overline X_u, \overline X_v) \Vert_p < \infty$$
Then (1) has a solution for any harmonic $g \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$
such that $\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty} \le \dfrac 1{8c_1cH}$.

\lema {Corollary 5}

Let $c_1, c$ be the constants of the previous theorems,
$2<p<\infty$,  $g \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$,
and suppose
that
$$0 < H' = \sup_{\overline X \in C^1(\overline \Omega,R^3), 
\overline X \ne g}
\dfrac {\Vert H(u,v,\overline X,\overline X_u, \overline X_v) 
- H(u,v,g,g_u, g_v)\Vert_p}{\Vert \overline X - g \Vert_{1,\infty}}
 < \infty$$
We define
 $h=\Vert H(u,v,g,g_u,g_v) \Vert_p$,
$R_0 = \dfrac {-h+\sqrt {h^2+8hH'\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty}}}{4H'}$, and the 
function 
$$f(R) = (H'+\dfrac hR) (R+\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty})^2$$
Then, if
$f(R_0) \le \dfrac 1{2c_1c}$, 
(1) admits a solution in $W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$.

\demost{Proof}

As in the previous result, for
$\Vert \overline X - g \Vert_{1,\infty}\le R$,
$$\Vert X - g \Vert_{1,\infty}\le 2c_1c \Vert H(u,v, \overline X, 
\overline X_u, \overline X_v)\Vert_p \Vert \overline X_u \Vert_\infty
\Vert \overline X_v \Vert_\infty \le
2c_1cH(R+\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty})^2$$
In order to apply Schauder Theorem, we need that
$2c_1cH(R+\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty})^2 \le R$ for some
 $R$, i.e., that
the parabola
$$R^2 + (2\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty} - \dfrac 1{2c_1cH})R + \Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty}^2$$
has a positive root, which is equivalent to the condition:
$(2\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty} - \dfrac 1{2c_1cH})^2 - 
4\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty}^2 \ge 0$,
or $\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty} \le \dfrac 1{8c_1cH}$.

\lema {Remark}

In particular, if $H$ is globally 
Lipschitz with respect to $X,X_u$ y $X_v$, (1) 
has a solution 
for any
$g$ close enough to a constant. Indeed, 
we see that
$$f(R_0) = (H'R_0+h)(R_0+2 \Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty} + \dfrac 
{\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty}^2}{R_0}) \lra 0$$
if $\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty} \lra 0$

For example, this holds when
$H$ has bounded derivatives 
with respect to $X,X_u$ y $X_v$, 
since by mean value theorem
$$\Vert H(u,v, \overline X, 
\overline X_u, \overline X_v) - H(u,v, g, g_u, g_v)
\Vert_p \le k\Vert DH \Vert _\infty \Vert \overline X - g \Vert_{1,\infty}$$

\lema {Example}

Taking the maximum of both values, we may assume
 $h = H'$, and then
$R_0 = \dfrac {-1+ \sqrt {1+8\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty}}}4$. 
Thus, the condition we must verify is
$$f(R_0) = h(1+\dfrac 1R_0)(R_0+1)^2 \le \dfrac 1{2c_1c}$$ 
For
example, if $\Vert \nabla g \Vert_{\infty}=1$ it suffices to take
$h \le \dfrac 2{27c_1c}$.

The following result eliminates any kind of condition on
 $\Vert g \Vert_{1,\infty}$:

\lema {Theorem 6}

Let $c_1, c$ be the constants of the previous theorems,
$2<p<\infty$, $g \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$,
and suppose
that
there exist constants $k,R_0 > 0$ such that 
$k < \dfrac 1{2c_1c}$, and
$$\Vert  H(u,v, \overline X, \overline X_u, \overline X_v)
\overline X_u \land \overline X_v
\Vert_p \le k \Vert \overline X \Vert_{1,\infty}$$
\noi for every $\overline X$ such that
$\Vert \overline X \Vert_{1,\infty} \ge R_0$.
 
Then (1) has at least one solution in $ W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$.

\demost{Proof}

In the same way as before, for harmonic $g$,
if $T(\overline X)=X$ then
$$\Vert X - g \Vert_{1,\infty}\le 2c_1c \Vert H(u,v, \overline X, 
\overline X_u, \overline X_v) \overline X_u\land \overline X_v\Vert_p $$
Then for $\Vert \overline X \Vert_{1,\infty} \ge R_0$, 
$$\Vert X - g \Vert_{1,\infty} \le 
2c_1ck \Vert \overline X \Vert_{1,\infty} \le 
2c_1ck \left(\Vert \overline X -g \Vert_{1,\infty} 
+ \Vert g \Vert_{1,\infty}\right)$$  

If also $\Vert \overline X - g \Vert_{1,\infty} \le R$, being 
$2c_1ck<1$ it follows that
$$\Vert X - g \Vert_{1,\infty} \le 2c_1ck \left(R + \Vert g \Vert_{1,\infty}\right) \le R$$
when $R$ is big enough.
On the other hand, if $\Vert \overline X \Vert_{1,\infty} \le R_0$ then
$$\Vert X - g \Vert_{1,\infty}\le 2c_1c \Vert H(u,v, \overline X, 
\overline X_u, \overline X_v) \overline X_u\land \overline X_v\Vert_p \le R'$$
for some $R'$, and the result follows taking
 $R > R'$ big enough.

\lema {Remark}

As a particular case, theorem 6 is valid when the support of
$H = H(u,v,x,y,z)$ 
is bounded in $y$ and $z$. It holds also for 
$H =\frac {H_1(u,v,X)}{1+\vert\nabla X \vert^2}$.


\lema {Theorem 7}

Let $(1_\sigma )$ be the equation given by
$$
(1_\sigma )
\cases
\Delta X=2\sigma H(u,v,X,X_u,X_v)X_u\land X_v \qquad \text{ in }
\quad \Omega &\\
X=\sigma g\qquad  \text{ in }\quad \partial \Omega &
\endcases
$$

\noi and suppose there exists $M>0$ such that for any
 $X \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$ 
solution of $(1_\sigma )$ for some $\sigma \in (0,1)$, 
 $\Vert X \Vert_{1,\infty} \le M$. Then (1) has a solution
in $C^1(\overline \Omega,{R^3})$.

\demost{Proof}

For fixed $M' > M$, we define
the operator $T'$, given by
$$T'X = 
\cases
TX \qquad \quad \text{ if } \Vert TX \Vert_{1,\infty} \le M' &\\
\dfrac {M'TX}{\Vert TX \Vert_{1,\infty}} \qquad \text{ if }\Vert TX \Vert_{1,\infty} > M'
\endcases
$$
It is clear that $T'$ is compact, and as
$T'(B_{M'}(0)) \subset B_{M'}(0)$, $T'$ has a fixed point 
$X$. If $X$ is not a fixed
point of $T$, then
$X = \sigma TX$, with $\sigma =  
\dfrac {M'}{\Vert TX \Vert_{1,\infty}} < 1$, and $X$ is a solution of
$(1_{\sigma})$.
Moreover, $\Vert X \Vert_{1,\infty} = M'$, a contradiction.

\lema {Theorem 8}

Let $X_n \in W^{1,\infty}(\Omega,{R^3})$ be a bounded sequence 
such that
$X_n$ is a 
weak solution
of (1) for some $H_n \in 
C(\overline \Omega \times (R^3)^3),R)$, $g_n \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$
such that $H_n \lra H$ and $g_n \lra g$.
Then (1) has a solution in $W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$ for $H$
and $g$.

\demost{Proof}

Let us note first that
 $X_n \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$, since if
$Z_n$ 
is the only
element in $W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$ verifying
$$
\cases
\Delta Z_n=2 H_n(u,v,X_n,X_{n_u},X_{n_v})X_{n_u}\land X_{n_v} \qquad \text{ in }
\quad \Omega &\\
Z_n= g_n\qquad  \text{ in }\quad \partial \Omega &
\endcases
$$
it holds weakly that
$\Delta (Z_n-X_n) =0$ and being $Z_n-X_n=0$ in 
$\partial \Omega$, we conclude that $Z_n = X_n$.
 
On the other hand, by compactness we may assume that
$TX_n \lra X \in C^1(\overline \Omega,R^3)$.
Moreover, $\Delta (TX_n - X_n) = $
$$2 (H(u,v, X_n, 
X_{n_u}, X_{n_v}) X_{n_u}\land X_{n_v} - H_n(u,v, X_n, 
 X_{n_u}, X_{n_v}) 
X_{n_u}\land X_{n_v}) \lra 0$$
uniformly
in $\overline \Omega$, and then
$$\Vert TX_n - X_n \Vert_{1,\infty} \le \Vert g - g_n \Vert_{1,\infty} +
c_1c (\Vert \Delta (TX_n - X_n) \Vert _p +\Vert \Delta (g - g_n) \Vert_p)\lra 0$$

We conclude that
$X_n \lra X$ en $C^1(\overline \Omega,{R^3})$
and $TX = X$.

\lema {Remark}

It is known (see e.g [9]) that
if
$X$ is a weak 
solution of (1), 
then
$X \in C(\overline \Omega,R^3) \cap C^2(\Omega,{R^3})$.
In the previous theorem we saw that if
$X \in W^{1,\infty}( \Omega,{R^3})$ 
then $X \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3)$. We'll see now that 
under some extra
hypothesis, $X \in C^2(\overline \Omega,R^3)$.


\lema {Theorem 9}

Let $X \in W^{1,\infty}(\Omega,R^3)$ be a
weak solution of (1), and 
assume, for $k \ge 0$, that
$\partial \Omega \in C^{k+2,\alpha}$, 
$H \in C^{k,\alpha}(\overline \Omega \times (R^3)^3,R)$
 $g \in C^{k+2,\alpha}(\overline \Omega,R^3)$ for some  
$\alpha$, with
 $0 < \alpha \le 1-\dfrac 2p$. Then
$X \in C^{k+2,\alpha}(\overline \Omega,R^3)$.

\demost{Proof}

Case $k=0$: by Sobolev
imbedding and previous
theorem, 
$X \in W^{2,p}(\Omega,R^3) \hookrightarrow 
C^{1,\alpha}(\overline \Omega,{R^3})$. 
Then
$\Delta X = f \in C^\alpha(\overline \Omega,{R^3})$. 
By theorem 6.14 in [8], the equation 
$\Delta Z = f $ en $\Omega$, $Z = g$ en $\partial \Omega$ is
uniquely solvable
in $C^{2,\alpha}(\overline \Omega,R^3)$, and the
result
follows from the uniqueness
in theorem 9.15 in [8].

The general case is now immediate, from theorem 6.19 in [8].


\tit{References}

[1]  Brezis, H. Coron, J. M:Multiple solutions of $H$ systems and
Rellich's conjecture, Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 37 (1984), 149-187.

[2]  Wang Guofang: The Dirichlet problem for the equation of
prescribed mean curvature, Analyse Nonlin\'eaire 9 (1992), 643-655.

[3]  Struwe, M: Plateau 's problem and the calculus of variations,
Lecture Notes Princeton Univ. Press (1988).

[4]  Lami Dozo, E. Mariani, M. C: A Dirichlet problem for an $H$
system with variable $H$. Manuscripta Math. 81 (1993), 1-14.

[5]  Struwe, M.: Multiple solutions to the Dirichlet problem for
the equation of prescribed mean curvature, Preprint.

[6] M. C. Mariani and D. Rial: Solutions to the mean cuvature equation by fixed point methods.
 Bull.Belgian Math. Soc. Simon 
Stevin 4 (1997) 617-620.

[7] S.Hildebrandt: 
On the Plateau problem for surfaces of constant mean curvature. 
 Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 23 (1970) 97-114.

[8]  Gilbarg, D. Trudinger, N. S. : Elliptic partial differential
equations of second order, Springer- Verlag (1983).

[9] Bethuel, F., Ghidaglia, J., Improved regularity of solutions to
elliptic equations involving jacobians and applications. J.Math.Pures
Appl. (9) 72 no.5, 1993. 

[10] Amster P. Mariani, M.C, Rial, D.F: Existence and uniqueness 
of H-System's 
solutions with Dirichlet 
conditions. 
To appear in Nonlinear Analysis, Theory, Methods, and Applications.


\bigskip 

\bigskip

{\bf P.Amster and M. C. Mariani}

Dpto. de Matem\'atica
Fac. de Cs. Exactas y Naturales, UBA
Pab. I, Ciudad Universitaria (1428) Capital, Argentina

CONICET

\bigskip

{\bf Address for correspondence:} Prof.  M. C. Mariani,
Dpto. de Matem\'atica
Fac. de Cs. Exactas y Naturales, UBA
Pab. I, Ciudad Universitaria (1428) Capital, Argentina

{\bf E-mail: mcmarian\@dm.uba.ar}






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