c Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, 2005

NoDEA
Nonlinear differ. equ. appl. 12 (2005) 437–457
1021–9722/00/030437–21
DOI 10.1007/s00030-005-0021-8

Existence and concentration of positive

solutions for a class of gradient systems
Claudianor O. ALVES
Departamento de Matemática
Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - UFCG
58109-970 - Campina Grande - PB, Brazil
e-mail: coalves@dme.ufpb.br
Sérgio H. M. SOARES
Departamento de Matemática
Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e de Computação -ICMC
Universidade de São Paulo - USP
13560-970 - São Carlos - SP, Brazil
e-mail: monari@icmc.usp.br

Abstract. Some gradient systems with two competing potential functions

are considered. Bound states (solutions with finite energy) are proved to
exist and to concentrate at a point in the limit. The proof relies on varia-
tional methods, where the existence and concentration of positive solutions
are related to a suitable ground energy function.
2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 35A15 35J50 58J37.
Key words and phrases: variational methods, gradient systems, positive solu-
tions, concentration.

1 Introduction
This paper was motivated by some works that have appeared in recent years
concerning the nonlinear Schrödinger equation

∂ψ
−ih̄ = −h̄2 ∆ψ + V (x)ψ − |ψ|p−1 ψ in RN . (N LS)
∂t

Research partially supported by Millennium Institute for the Global Advancement of Brazil-
ian Mathematics - IM - AGIMB Supported
438 C.O. Alves and S.H.M. Soares NoDEA

Knowledge of the solutions for the elliptic equation

−2 ∆u + V (x)u = |u|p−1 u in RN . (P
)
has a great importance in the study of standing-wave solutions of (NLS). In recent
years, the existence of bound states (solutions with finite energy) of the stationary
nonlinear Schrödinger equation (P
) has been extensively investigated, mainly in
the semiclassical limit as  → 0.
In [8], Floer and Weinstein considered N = 1 and p = 3. For a given
nondegenerate critical point of V , assumed globally bounded, they proved the
existence of solution for (P
) provided  > 0 is sufficiently small. Moreover, they
found that this solution concentrates around the critical point as  tends to 0.
Later, this work was generalized by Oh [10, 11], who obtained similar results for
(P
) in higher dimensions. The method in these works is based on an essential way
of critical point nondegeneracy . In [12], Rabinowitz uses a mountain-pass type
argument to find a ground state (least energy solution) for  > 0 is sufficiently
small, when V satisfies the global assumption
lim inf V (x) > inf V (x) > 0
|x|→∞ x∈RN

and 1 < p < (N + 2)/(N − 2). In [14], Wang proves that the mountain-pass
solutions found in [12] concentrate around a global minimum of V as  tends to 0.
In [6], del Pino and Felmer find solutions which concentrate around local minima
of V not necessarily nondegenerate.
In Wang and Zeng [15], in order to study following equation
−2 ∆u + V (x)u = W (x)|u|p−1 u, x ∈ RN (W Z)
they considered the ground energy function C(ξ), defined to be the least energy
of the functional associated with
−2 ∆u + V (ξ)u = W (ξ)|u|p−1 u, x ∈ RN
where ξ ∈ RN acts as a parameter instead of an independent variable. By assump-
tions involving the potentials V and W , the function ξ → C(ξ) assume minimum
at a global minimum point y ∗ . Moreover, for every  > 0 sufficiently small, there
exists a solution u
for (WZ), whose global maximum point moving toward y ∗ as
 tends to 0.
Motivated by the results just described, a natural question is whether same
phenomenon of concentration occurs for the following class of gradient systems
 2

 − ∆u + V (x)u = Qu (u, v) in RN
 2
− ∆v + W (x)v = Qv (u, v) in RN
(S
)

 u(x), v(x) → 0, as |x| → ∞

u, v > 0 in RN

where N ≥ 3 and V, W : RN → R verify

Vol. 12, 2005 Existence and concentration of positive solutions 439

(H0 ) There exists α0 > 0 such that

V (x), W (x) ≥ α0 > 0 ∀ x ∈ RN


 V∞ = lim inf V (x) > infN V (x),
|x|→∞ x∈R
(H1 )
W∞ = lim inf W (x) > infN W (x).
|x|→∞ x∈R

For the system (S
), there would presumably be competition between V and
W , with each one trying to attract the local maximum points of the solutions to its
minimum points. Thus, some questions arise: Do bound states still concentrate?
In affirmative case, the functions u
and v
that verify (S
) concentrate around
the same point? The purpose of this paper is to analyze these questions.
In order to answer these questions, for each ξ ∈ RN , consider the following
autonomous system


 −∆u + V (ξ)u = Qu (u, v) in RN

−∆v + W (ξ)v = Qv (u, v) in RN
(Aξ )

 u(x), v(x) → 0, as |x| → ∞

u, v > 0 in RN

We show the existence of a minimax function C = C(ξ) for (Aξ ). From this result,
via variational methods based on variants of Mountain Pass Theorem, we prove
that there exists a least energy solution (u
, v
) of (Sε ), for  sufficiently small. It is
showed that u
and v
possess just one global maximum points p
, q
, respectively,
which for some subsequences converge to y ∗ , where C(y ∗ ) = inf ξ∈RN C(ξ), that
characterizes the concentration behavior of solutions for (S
) around at same point.
In order to state our main result more precisely, we need to introduce some
notations first. Denote R2+ = (0, ∞)2 . The function Q ∈ C 2 (R2+ , R) is homoge-
neous of degree p and verifies

(Q1 ) There exists C > 0 such that


|Qu (u, v)| ≤ C(up−1 + v p−1 ), ∀ (u, v) ∈ R2+
|Qv (u, v)| ≤ C(up−1 + v p−1 ), ∀ (u, v) ∈ R2+ , R

where 2 < p < 2N /(N − 2).

(Q2 ) Qu (0, 1) = 0, Qv (1, 0) = 0.
(Q3 ) Qu (1, 0) = 0, Qv (0, 1) = 0.
(Q4 ) Quv (u, v) > 0, ∀ (u, v) ∈ R2+ .

Remark 1.1 Let F be a C 1 -function and homogeneous of degree p ≥ 1. Then,

1. pF (u, v) = uFu (u, v) + vFv (u, v);
2. ∇F is a homogeneous function of degree p − 1.
440 C.O. Alves and S.H.M. Soares NoDEA

3. Examples and other properties involving homogeneous functions can be

found in de Morais Filho and Souto [5]. In a recent paper Boccardo and de
Figueiredo [2] consider a more general class of potential Q.

Note that the condition (Q2 ) is related to property (1) above. We also observe
that Remark 1.1 implies

|Q(u, v)| ≤ C(up + v p ), ∀ (u, v) ∈ R2+ .

Following a well-know device used to obtain a solution of (S
), let us extend

function Q to the whole plane as a C 1 -function as

Q(s, t) s, t ≥ 0,
Q(s, t) =
0 otherwise.

For any ξ ∈ RN , set

 
1
Iξ (u, v) = (|∇u|2 + |∇v|2 + V (ξ)u2 + W (ξ)v 2 ) dx − Q(u, v) dx, (1)
2 RN RN

which is well defined for (u, v) ∈ Eξ where Eξ = H 1 (RN ) × H 1 (RN ) endowed with
the norm

(u, v) 2ξ = (|∇u|2 + |∇v|2 + V (ξ)u2 + W (ξ)v 2 ) dx.
RN

By (H0 ), (Q1 ) − (Q2 ) the functional Iξ satisfies the geometric conditions of

the Mountain Pass Theorem, with minimax value C(ξ) characterized as

C(ξ) = inf max Iξ (γ(t))

γ∈Γ t∈[0,1]

where γ ∈ Γ if and only if γ ∈ C([0, 1], Eξ ) and γ(0) = 0, Iξ (γ(1)) ≤ 0. As

observed in [7], that this number can be further characterized as

C(ξ) = inf max Iξ (tu).

u=0 t>0

When V∞ , W∞ , given by (H1 ), belongs to (0, ∞), we also denote by C ∞ the

minimax value related to the functional
 
1  
I ∞ (u, v) = |∇u|2 + |∇v|2 + V∞ u2 + W∞ v 2 dx − Q(u, v) dx
2 RN RN

defined on the space E∞ = H 1 (RN ) × H 1 (RN ), otherwise define C ∞ = ∞.

Our main result for system (S
) is the following.
Vol. 12, 2005 Existence and concentration of positive solutions 441

Theorem 1.1 Assume (H0 ) − (H1 ) and (Q1 ) − (Q4 ) hold. If

(C∞ ) C ∞ > inf C(ξ),

ξ∈RN

then there exists 0 > 0 such that (S
) has a solution (u
, v
) ∈ H 1 (RN )×H 1 (RN ),
for every 0 <  < 0 . Moreover, for some subsequence, u
j , v
j possesses just one
local (hence global) maximum p
j , q
j , respectively, which converge to y ∗ where

C(y ∗ ) = min C(ξ).

ξ∈RN

Remark 1.2 It is possible to check that condition (C∞ ) holds if V and W verify
one the following conditions:

• Either V∞ = ∞ or W∞ = ∞.
• There exists x0 ∈ RN such that V (x0 ) = inf V (x), W (x0 ) = inf x∈RN W (x).
x∈RN
W (x0 )
• There exists x0 ∈ RN such that either V (x0 ) < V∞ or V (x0 ) < V∞ ·
W∞

V (x0 )
• There exists x0 ∈ RN such that either W (x0 ) < W∞ or W (x0 ) < W∞ ·
V∞

V (x)
• lim inf |x|→∞ W (x) = V∞
W∞ < V∞
W∞ , where W ∞ = lim sup W (x).
|x|→∞

(x)
• lim inf |x|→∞ W
V (x) = W∞
V∞ < W∞
V∞ , where V ∞ = lim sup V (x).
|x|→∞

2 Autonomous Case
This section is devoted to study the following class of autonomous systems:


−∆u + V (ξ)u = Qu (u, v), x ∈ RN

−∆v + W (ξ)v = Qv (u, v), x ∈ RN
(Aξ )

 u > 0, v > 0 in RN

u(x), v(x) → 0 as |x| → ∞

where ξ ∈ RN is fixed. The corresponding functional is

 
1
Iξ (u, v) = (|∇u|2 + |∇v|2 + V (ξ)u2 + W (ξ)v 2 ) dx − Q(u, v) dx,
2 RN RN

for (u, v) ∈ Eξ . By (H0 ), (Q1 ) − (Q2 ) the functional Iξ satisfies the geometric
conditions of the Mountain Pass Theorem, that is, the following result holds:
442 C.O. Alves and S.H.M. Soares NoDEA

Lemma 2.1 The functional Iξ satisfies

(i) There are constants α, ρ > 0 such that Iξ |∂Bρ ≥ α, and
(ii) There is e ∈ Eξ \Bρ such that Iξ (e) ≤ 0.

By a version of the Mountain Pass Theorem (see Willem [16]), there exists
a sequence (un , vn ) ∈ Eξ , with

Iξ (un , vn ) → C(ξ) and Iξ (un , vn ) → 0. (2)

From (2), the sequence (un , vn ) is bounded in Eξ . Passing to a subsequence if

necessary, we can assume that (un , vn )  (u, v) weakly in Eξ . This and (Q1 ) we
get
 
Qu (un , vn )φ dx → Qu (u, v)φ dx, ∀φ ∈ H 1 (RN )
RN RN
 
Qv (un , vn )ψ dx → Qv (u, v)ψ dx, ∀ψ ∈ H 1 (RN )
RN RN

which imply
I  ξ (u, v)(φ, ψ) = 0 ∀(φ, ψ) ∈ Eξ ,
that is, (u, v) is a critical point of Iξ . Then, we must study the cases:
i) u = v = 0;
ii) u
= 0, u ≥ 0 and v
= 0, v ≥ 0.
Suppose (i) holds. In this case, we claim that one the two following possi-
bilities occurs:
(i.1) (un , vn ) → 0;
(i.2) There exist constants β, R > 0 and sequence (yn ) ⊂ RN such that

lim inf (u2n + vn2 ) dx ≥ β.
n→∞ BR (yn )

In fact, since Iξ (un , vn ) → C(ξ) > 0, then (i.1) does not hold. Suppose that (i.2)
also does not hold. Then, we have

lim sup (u2n + vn2 ) dx = 0, ∀ R > 0.
n→∞ y∈RN BR (y)

Consequently,
 
lim sup u2n dx = 0 and lim sup vn2 dx = 0.
n→∞ y∈RN BR (y) n→∞ y∈RN BR (y)
Vol. 12, 2005 Existence and concentration of positive solutions 443

By Lemma I.1 in [9] or Lemma 2.18 in [4] we get

 
lim |un | dx = 0 and lim
s
|vn |s dx = 0,
n→∞ RN n→∞ RN

for every s ∈ (2, 2N/(N − 2)). Using this for s = p, from (Q1 ), we have

lim Q(un , vn ) dx = 0,
n→∞ RN

which implies (un , vn ) → 0, contrary to case (i.1), and the proof of the claim is
complete.
Now, since (i.2) occurs, define

ũn (x) = un (x + yn )
ṽn (x) = vn (x + yn ).

Thus, for some subsequence still denoted by ũn , ṽn , there exist ũ and ṽ in Eξ such
that
ũn  ũ and ṽn  ṽ weakly Eξ .
By a change of variables

lim inf (ũ2n + ṽn2 ) dx ≥ β.
n→∞ BR (0)

Then, by (Q3 ), ũ and ṽ are not zero. Moreover, observing that Iξ (ũn , ṽn ) =
Iξ (un , vn ) and Iξ (ũn , ṽn ) = on (1), we conclude that (ũn , ṽn ) is a Palais-Smale
sequence (P S)C(ξ) and (ũ, ṽ) is a weak solution of (Sξ ). Remain to verify that
C(ξ) is a critical level, that is, Iξ (ũ, ṽ) = C(ξ). In fact, since Q is homogenous
and (ũ, ṽ) is a critical point of Iξ , we have

Iξ (ũ, ṽ) = max Iξ (t(ũ, ṽ)) ≥ C(ξ). (3)

t≥0

Let θ ∈ (2, p) be fixed. By Remark 1.1:

1
C(ξ) = Iξ (un , vn ) − Iξ (un , vn )(un , vn ) + on (1)

θ
1 1
≥ − (un , vn ) 2ξ + on (1).
2 θ
From Fatou’s Lemma, we get

1 1 1
C(ξ) ≥ − (ũ, ṽ) 2ξ = Iξ (ũ, ṽ) − Iξ (ũ, ṽ)(ũ, ṽ) = Iξ (ũ, ṽ). (4)
2 θ θ
Thus, from (3) and (4), we have Iξ (ũ, ṽ) = C(ξ). Moreover we also have
that Iξ (ũ, ṽ)(ũ− , ṽ − ) = 0, where ũ− and ṽ − denote of the negative part of the
444 C.O. Alves and S.H.M. Soares NoDEA

functions ũ and ṽ respectively. Consequently, ũ, ṽ ≥ 0. Now, from (Q3 ) and

(Q4 ), the functions Qu and Qv are non-negative and we may apply the maximum
principle to get the following result:

Proposition 2.1 Let ξ ∈ RN . Then there exists w = (u, v) ∈ Eξ , with u > 0 and
v > 0, such that I  ξ (w) = 0 and Iξ (w) = C(ξ), where C(ξ) is the minimax level
of the associated functional Iξ .
We conclude this section with a key lemma in this work.

Lemma 2.2 The function ξ → C(ξ) is continuous.

Proof. For ξ ∈ RN , let (ζn ), (λn ) be sequences in RN such that

a) ζn → ξ and C(ζn ) ≥ C(ξ) ∀ n
b) λn → ξ and C(λn ) ≤ C(ξ) ∀ n
We claim that C(ζn ), C(λn ) → C(ξ), as n → ∞. In fact, by Proposition 2.1,
there exists w ∈ E satisfying

Iξ (w) = C(ξ) and Iξ (w) = 0.

For each n, let tn > 0 be such that

C(ζn ) ≤ Iζn (tn w) = max Iζn (tw).

t≥0

As in the proof of Theorem 3.1, tn → 1, as n → ∞, which implies that

Iζn (tn w) → Iξ (w), as n → ∞. Then,

lim sup C(ζn ) ≤ C(ξ). (5)

n→∞

On the other hand, since C(ζn ) ≥ C(ξ), we have

lim inf C(ζn ) ≥ C(ξ). (6)

n→∞

Thus, from (5) and (6), we have C(ζn ) → C(ξ), and hence (a) holds.
To verify (b), again by Proposition 2.1, consider wn = (un , vn ) such that

Iλn (wn ) = C(λn ), Iλ n (wn ) = 0. (7)

Setting pn , qn ∈ RN such that

un (pn ) = max un (x) and vn (qn ) = max vn (x)
x∈RN x∈RN

Define zn = un + vn . From (Q1 ) and maximum principle, we have

0 < α0 ≤ Kznp−2
Vol. 12, 2005 Existence and concentration of positive solutions 445

for some positive constant K. Thus, there exists δ > 0 such that un (pn )+v(qn ) ≥ δ
for every n. Therefore,

un (pn ) ≥ δ
4 or vn (qn ) ≥ δ
4 ∀n

Consequently, there exists an infinite subset N ⊂ N such that at least one of the
cases occurs:
(a) un (pn ) ≥ δ
4 ∀ n ∈ N .
(b) vn (qn ) ≥ δ
4 ∀ n ∈ N .
Now, supposing that (a) occurs, define

ûn (x) = un (x + pn ) and v̂n (x) = vn (x + pn ).

From (7), passing to a subsequence if necessary, we may assume that ûn → û

and v̂n → v̂ weakly in H = H 1 (RN ) × H 1 (RN ) endowed with usual norm. Recall
λn → ξ, the function ŵ = (û, v̂) satisfies Iξ (ŵ) = C(ξ) and I  ξ (ŵ) = 0.
Using ψn = ŵ(x − pn ) as a test function in (7), after a change of variables,
we get Iλ n (ŵn )ŵ = 0 so that, passing to limit as n → ∞ we have I  ξ (ŵ)ŵ = 0,
which implies
1
C(ξ) ≤ Iξ (ŵ) = Iξ (ŵ) − I  ξ (ŵ)ŵ

θ
1 1 p 
2
= − ŵ ξ + −1 Q(û, v̂) dx.
2 θ θ RN

Now, by weak convergence and Fatou’s Lemma,

p  
1 1
C(ξ) ≤ lim inf − (ûn , v̂n ) 2λn + −1 Q(ûn , v̂n ) dx
n→∞ 2 θ θ RN

1 
= lim inf Iλn (un , vn ) − I λn (un , vn )(un , vn )
n→∞ θ
= lim inf Iλn (un , vn ) = lim inf C(λn ).
n→∞ n→∞

Thus,
C(ξ) ≤ lim inf C(λn ).
n→∞

On the other hand, by (b), since C(λn ) ≤ C(ξ), we have

C(ξ) ≥ lim sup C(λn ).

n→∞

Hence,
lim C(λn ) = C(ξ)
n→∞

and the proof of the lemma is thus complete.

446 C.O. Alves and S.H.M. Soares NoDEA

Remark 2.1 As in the proof of Lemma 2.2, we can observe that the function
(µ, ν) → cµ,ν is continuous, where cµ,ν is the minimax level of Iµ,ν given by
 
1 2 2 2 2
Iµ,ν (u, v) = (|∇u| + |∇v| + µu + νv ) dx − Q(u, v) dx.
2 RN RN

3 System (S1 )
In this section we set  = 1. More precisely, we consider the system


 −∆u + V (x)u = Qu (u, v) in RN ,

−∆v + W (x)v = Qv (u, v) in RN
(S1 )
 u(x), v(x) → 0, as |x| → ∞


u, v > 0 in RN

and the corresponding functional

 
1 2 2 2 2
I(u, v) = (|∇u| + |∇v| + V (x)u + W (x)v ) dx − Q(u, v) dx,
2 RN RN

which is well defined for (u, v) ∈ E where

  
E = (u, v) ∈ H 1 (RN ) × H 1 (RN ); (V (x)u2 + W (x)v 2 ) dx < ∞
RN

when endowed with the norm


 
(u, v) 2 = |∇u|2 + |∇v|2 + V (x)u2 + W (x)v 2 dx.
RN

It is standard to check that I verifies the geometry of the mountain pass with
minimax level c. As consequence of Theorem 1.15 in [16], there exists a sequence
(un , vn ) ⊂ E such that

I(un , vn ) → c, I  (un , vn ) → 0. (8)

Based on comparison arguments given in [12] (see also [1]), the next result estab-
lishes the existence of solution for (S1 ).

Theorem 3.1 If c < C ∞ , then c is a critical value of I.

Proof. From (8), the sequence (un , vn ) is bounded in E. Thus, a subsequence

of (un , vn ), still denoted by (un , vn ), converges weakly in E to (u, v), a weak
solution of (S1 ). As in the proof of Lemma 2.1, I(u, v) = c. To prove that (u, v)
Vol. 12, 2005 Existence and concentration of positive solutions 447

is nontrivial, from the Sobolev imbedding, it suffices to verify that there exist
constants η, R > 0 such that

(u2n + vn2 ) dx ≥ η. (9)
|x|≤R

In fact, by (H1 ), set µ and ν such that

inf V (x) < µ < lim inf V (x) = V∞ ,

x∈RN |x|→∞
inf W (x) < ν < lim inf W (x) = W∞ .
x∈RN |x|→∞

Now, take R > 0 such that

V (x) > µ, ∀x ∈ RN \BR (0)

W (x) > ν, ∀x ∈ RN \BR (0)

If (9) does not hold, then for this R there exists a subsequence of (un , vn ), still
denoted by (un , vn ), such that

lim (u2n + vn2 ) dx = 0.
n→∞ |x|≤R

For each n ∈ N, there exists tn > 0, with tn → 1, such that I(tn un , tn vn ) =

maxt≥0 I(t(un , vn )). To verify the convergence of (tn ), by (8)

2
(un , vn ) = p Q(un , vn ) dx + on (1), (10)
RN

which implies that Q(un , vn ) is bounded in L1 (RN ). Now, as d 
dt I(tu, tv) t=tn = 0,
from homogeneity of Q, we get

(un , vn ) 2 = ptp−1
n Q(un , vn ) dx.
RN

Thus, 
p(tp−1
n − 1) Q(un , vn ) dx = on (1). (11)
RN
From (10) and (11) follows that tn → 1. Consequently, we can write

I(un , vn ) = I(tn un , tn vn ) + on (1) ≥ I(tun , tvn ) + on (1), ∀ t ≥ 0.

Thus, for every t ≥ 0,

I(un , vn ) ≥ Iµ,ν (t(un , vn ))


t2
+ ((V (x) − µ)u2n + (W (x) − ν)vn2 ) dx + on (1), (12)
2 BR (0)
448 C.O. Alves and S.H.M. Soares NoDEA

where
 
1 2 2 2 2
Iµ,ν (u, v) = (|∇u| + |∇v| + µu + νv ) dx − Q(u, v) dx.
2 RN RN

Set τn such that

Iµ,ν (τn (un , vn )) = max Iµ,ν (t(un , vn )).

t≥0

As in the above arguments, τn → 1. Taking t = τn in (12), we get


1
I(un , vn ) ≥ cµ,ν + τn2 ((V (x) − µ)u2n + (W (x) − ν)vn2 ) dx + on (1),
2 BR (0)

where cµ,ν is the mountain pass minimax value for Iµ,ν . Passing to limit n → ∞,
we obtain c ≥ cµ,ν . Next, taking µ → V∞ and ν → W∞ , we get c ≥ C ∞ , contrary
to c < C ∞ .

4 System (S )
In this section, we will study the existence of a solution for (S
), which is equiva-
lently to


 −∆u + V (x)u = Qu (u, v) in RN ,

−∆v + W (x)v = Qv (u, v) in RN
(S 
)

 u(x), v(x) → 0, as |x| → ∞

u, v > 0 in RN
Let I
denote the functional associated with (S  )
:
 
1 2 2 2 2


I (u, v) = (|∇u| + |∇v| + V (x)u + W (x)v ) dx − Q(u, v) dx.
2 RN RN

Let c
be the mountain pass minimax value related to I
given by

c
= inf max I
(γ(t)),

γ∈Γ t∈[0,1]

where γ ∈ Γ if only if γ ∈ C(E, R) and γ(0) = 0, I
(γ(1)) ≤ 0. It was observed in

[7] that this number can be characterized as

c
= inf max I
(t(u, v)). (13)

(u,v)=(0,0) t>0

Theorem 4.1 Assume (H0 ) − (H1 ) and (Q1 ) − (Q4 ) hold. If (C∞ ) holds, then
there exists 0 > 0 such that (S
) possesses a solution for every 0 <  < 0 .
Vol. 12, 2005 Existence and concentration of positive solutions 449

Proof. Since (C∞ ) holds, there exist z ∈ RN , δ > 0 such that C(z) + δ < C ∞ .
Now, from Proposition 2.1, let w = (w1 , w2 ) be a solution of (Az ) such that
Iz (w) = C(z) and define  z
w
(x) = w x − .

Let t
> 0 such that
I
(t
w
) = max I
(tw
). (14)
t≥0

As in the proof of Theorem 2.1, t
→ 1 as  → 0. Thus, from (13) − (14), we have

lim sup c
≤ lim sup I
(t
w
) = Iz (w) = C(z) < C(z) + δ < C ∞ .

→0
→0

Thus, for every 0 <  < 0 we get c
< C ∞ . Therefore, from Theorem 3.1, (S 
)
has a solution for every 0 <  < 0 .

5 The behavior of the solutions

In this section, we study the asymptotic behavior of the solutions, when the
parameter  goes to zero.

Lemma 5.1 Assume (H0 )−(H1 ) and (Q1 )−(Q4 ) hold. Then, there exists β0 > 0
such that c
≥ β0 for every  > 0. Moreover,

lim sup c
≤ inf C(ξ).

→0 ξ∈RN

Proof. Let w
∈ E be such that c
= I
(w
). From (H0 ),

c
= I
(w
) ≥ inf sup J(t(u, v)) = C α0 > 0, ∀  > 0,

(u, v) ∈ E
(u, v) = 0
t≥0

where
 
1  
J(u, v) = |∇u|2 + |∇v|2 + α0 (u2 + v 2 ) dx − Q(u, v) dx
2 RN RN

and C α0 is the mountain pass minimax value related to J. Then we take β0 = C α0 .

Let ξ ∈ RN and let w ∈ E be a solution of the least energy of (Aξ ), that is

Iξ (w) = C(ξ) and I  ξ (w) = 0.

Let w
(x) = w(x − ξ
) and take t
> 0 such that

c
≤ I
(t
w
) = max I
(tw
).

t≥0
450 C.O. Alves and S.H.M. Soares NoDEA

As in the proof of Theorem 2.1, t
→ 1, as  → 0, so

I
(t
w
) → Iξ (w) = C(ξ), as  → 0

and
lim sup c
≤ C(ξ), ∀ ξ ∈ RN .

→0

Hence,
lim sup c
≤ inf C(ξ).

→0 ξ∈RN

Lemma 5.2 For each  > 0 there exist y
∈ RN and constants η, R > 0 such that

lim inf (u2
+ v
2 ) dx ≥ η.

→0 BR (y )

Proof. Assume the contrary, namely the existence of a sequence n → 0 such that


lim sup (u2
n + v
2n ) dx = 0, ∀R > 0.
n→∞ y∈RN BR (y)

Invoking again Lemma I.1 in [9], we get


lim Q(u
n , v
n ) dx = 0.
n→∞ RN

Recalling that
 
(|∇u
n |2 + |∇v
n |2 + V (n x)u2
n + W (n x)v
2n ) dx = p Q(u
n , v
n ) dx,
RN RN

we conclude

lim (|∇u
n |2 + |∇u
n |2 + V (n x)u2
n + W (n x)v
2n ) dx = 0.
n→∞ RN

Thus,
lim c
n = lim I
n (u
n , v
n ) = 0,
n→∞ n→∞

contrary to c
≥ β0 , for  > 0, as proved in Lemma 5.1.

Lemma 5.3 The sequence (y
) is bounded. Moreover, if n y
n → y ∗ , then

C(y ∗ ) = inf C(ξ).

ξ∈RN
Vol. 12, 2005 Existence and concentration of positive solutions 451

Proof. Assume the contrary, namely |n y
n | → ∞. Consider the sequences

un (x) = u
n (x + y
n ) and vn (x) = v
n (x + y
n )

and study its behavior as n goes to infinity. The functions un and vn satisfy

−∆un + V (n x + n y
n )un = Qu (un , vn ) in RN ,
(15)
−∆vn + W (n x + n y
n )vn = Qv (un , vn ) in RN .

The sequence wn = (un , vn ) is bounded in H, and from elliptic estimates it

can be assumed to converge uniformly on compacts subsets of RN to ŵ = (û, v̂) ∈
H, can also be assumed to converge weakly in H. Now, let µ, ν > 0 such that
µ < lim inf V (x) and ν < lim inf W (x).
|x|→∞ |x|→∞

Using (û, v̂) as a test function in (15) so that after take limit we get
 
(|∇û|2 + |∇v̂|2 + µû2 + ν v̂ 2 ) dx ≤ p Q(û, v̂) dx. (16)
RN RN

Consider the functional Iµ,ν : H → R given by

 
1 2 2 2 2
Iµ,ν (u, v) = (|∇u| + |∇v| + µu + νv ) dx − Q(u, v) dx.
2 RN RN

Let σ > 0 be a real number such that

Iµ,ν (σ(û, v̂)) = max Iµ,ν (t(û, v̂)).

t>0

From (16) it follows that σ ≤ 1. Since dt d
Iµ,ν (t(û, v̂))t=σ = 0, we obtain
 
σ2 (|∇û|2 + |∇v̂|2 + µû2 + ν v̂ 2 ) dx = σ p p Q(û, v̂) dx.
RN RN

whence
p  
cµ,ν ≤ Iµ,ν (σ(û, v̂)) = − 1 σp Q(û, v̂) dx
2 RN
p  
≤ − 1 lim inf Q(un , vn ) dx
2 n→∞ RN

1
n 
= lim inf I (un , vn ) − (I ) (un , vn )

n
n→∞ 2
= lim inf c
n ≤ lim sup c
n ≤ inf C(ξ).
n→∞ n→∞ ξ∈RN

Now, by continuity of (µ, ν) → cµ,ν , taking

µ → lim inf V (x) = V∞ and ν → lim inf W (x) = W∞

|x|→∞ |x|→∞
452 C.O. Alves and S.H.M. Soares NoDEA

we have
C ∞ ≤ inf C(ξ),
ξ∈RN

contrary to (C∞ ). Hence (y
) is bounded. Thus, there exists a subsequence of

(n y
n ) such that n y
n → y ∗ .
Repeating above arguments, define the functions

un (x) = u
n (x + y
n ) and vn (x) = v
n (x + y
n )

and study its behavior as n goes to infinity. The functions û and v̂ satisfy system
(15) and again the sequence wn = (un , vn ) is bounded in H, and from elliptic
estimates it can be assumed to converge uniformly on compacts subsets of RN to
ŵ = (û, v̂) ∈ H, can also be assumed to converge weakly in H. Therefore, (û, v̂)
satisfies the limiting system

−∆u + V (y ∗ )u = Qu (u, v) in RN ,
(Ay∗ )
−∆v + W (y ∗ )v = Qv (u, v) in RN

Associated to system (Ay∗ ) we have the functional Iy∗ : H → R defined as

in (1). Using (û, v̂) as a test function in (15) so that after to take limit we get
 
2 2 ∗ 2 ∗ 2
(|∇û| + |∇v̂| + V (y )û + W (y )v̂ ) dx ≤ p Q(û, v̂) dx,
RN RN

which implies that there exists 0 < σ ≤ 1 such that

Iy∗ (σ(û, v̂)) = max Iy∗ (t(û, v̂)).

t>0

Thus, from Lemma 5.1, we obtain

p  
∗
C(y ) ≤ Iy∗ (σ(û, v̂)) = − 1 σp Q(û, v̂) dx
2 RN
p  
1
≤ − 1 lim inf Q(un , vn ) dx = lim inf (I
n (un , vn ) − (I
n ) (un , vn ))
2 n→∞ R N n→∞ 2
= lim inf c
n ≤ lim sup c
n ≤ inf C(ξ).
n→∞ n→∞ ξ∈RN

Hence, C(y ∗ ) = inf ξ∈RN C(ξ) and the proof of the lemma is complete

From Lemma 5.3, there exists a subsequence n y
n → y ∗ . Consider

w
n (x) = (u
n (x), v
n (x)) and wn (x) = w
n (x + y
n ).

As in the proof of Lemma 5.3, there exists ŵ = (û, v̂) ∈ H such that wn  ŵ
weakly in H.

Lemma 5.4 The sequence (wn ) converges strongly to ŵ in H.

Vol. 12, 2005 Existence and concentration of positive solutions 453

Proof. Since ŵ is a solution of (Ay∗ ), from Lemma 5.1, we have

1 
inf C(ξ) = C(y ∗ ) ≤ Iy∗ (ŵ) = Iy∗ (ŵ) − Iy∗ (ŵ)ŵ
ξ∈R N p

(p − 2)
= (|∇û|2 + |∇v̂|2 + V (y ∗ )û2 + W (y ∗ )v̂ 2 ) dx
2p RN

(p − 2)
≤ lim inf (|∇un |2 + |∇vn |2
n→∞ 2p RN
+ V (n x + n y
n )u2n + W (n x + n y
n )vn2 ) dx

(p − 2)
≤ lim sup (|∇un |2
n→∞ 2p R N

+ |∇vn |2 + V (n x + n y
n )u2n + W (n x + n y
n )vn2 ) dx

1
= lim sup(I
n (w
n ) − (I
n ) (w
n )w
n ) = lim sup c
n ≤ inf C(ξ).
n→∞ p n→∞ ξ∈RN

Consequently,
 
i) limn→∞ RN
|∇un |2 dx = RN
|∇û|2 dx.
 
ii) limn→∞ RN
|∇vn |2 dx = |∇v̂|2 dx.
RN
 
iii) limn→∞ RN
V (n x + n y
n )u2n dx = RN V (y ∗ )(û)2 dx.
 
iv) limn→∞ RN
W (n x + n y
n )vn2 dx = RN W (y ∗ )(v̂)2 dx.

From (iii), given η > 0 there exists R > 0 such that


V (n x + n y
n )u2n dx ≤ η.
|x|≥R

Using (H0 ), 
η
u2n dx ≤ . (17)
|x|≥R α0
On the other hand  
lim u2n dx = u2 dx. (18)
n→∞ |x|≤R |x|≤R

From (17) and (18), un → û in L2 (RN ). Thus, by (i), we conclude that un → û

strongly in H 1 (RN ). Similar arguments show that vn → v̂ strongly in H 1 (RN ),
and so wn → ŵ strongly in H.

Now we ready to conclude the proof of Theorem 1. Set


û
(x) = u
(x + y
)
v̂
(x) = v
(x + y
)
454 C.O. Alves and S.H.M. Soares NoDEA

which satisfy the system


−∆û
+ V (x + y
)û
= Qu (û
, v̂
)
−∆v̂
+ W (x + y
)v̂
= Qv (û
, v̂
)

As in the proof of Lemma 5.4,

w
= (u
, v
) → ŵ = (û, v̂) strongly in H.

In particular,
 
∗ ∗
u2
dx → 0 and v
2 dx → 0 unif. on . (19)
|x|≥R |x|≥R

Since z
= û
+ v̂
is a subsolution of ∆z + d(x)z = 0, with d(x) = Kz
p−2 (x)

for some positive constant K given by (Q1 ), by Theorem 8.17 in [13]

sup z
≤ K z
L2∗ (B2R (y)) ,

BR (y)

where R > 0, y ∈ RN are arbitrary and K is a constant depending only N and

the bound of z
L2∗ (B2R (y)) . Thus, by (19):

z
(x) → 0 as |x| → ∞ unif. on 

and hence
û
(x), v̂
(x) → 0 as |x| → ∞.
From condition (Q1 ), there exists positive constant K such that

−∆z
+ α0 z
≤ Kz
p−1 .

By maximum principle, (α0 /K)1/(p−2) ≤ z
(r
), where z(r
) = maxx∈RN z
(x).

Let p̂
, q̂
∈ RN be points satisfying

û
(p̂
) = max û
(x) and v̂
(q̂
) = max v̂
(x).
x∈RN x∈RN

Thus,
(α0 /K)1/(p−2) ≤ z
(r
) ≤ û
(p̂
) + v̂
(q̂
)
which implies that there δ > 0 such that

û
(p̂
) ≥ δ and v̂
(q̂
) ≥ δ.

In fact, otherwise for a sequence n , without loss generality, we would have

û
n (p̂
n ) → 0 and v̂
n (q̂
n ) ≥ (α0 /4K)1/(p−2) .

Vol. 12, 2005 Existence and concentration of positive solutions 455

Since v̂
n (x) → 0 as |x| → ∞, we conclude that q̂
n ∈ BR (0) for some R > 0.
Now, by local C 2 convergence of v̂
n to v̂, we have

v̂
n (q̂
n ) ≤ v̂
n − v̂ L∞ (BR ) + v̂ L∞ (BR ) = on (1) + v̂ L∞ (BR ) ,

which implies that (v̂
n (q̂
n )) is bounded. Now, since

α0 (α0 /K)1/(p−2) ≤ α0 z
n (r
n ) ≤ −∆z
(r
n ) + α0 z
(r
n )

≤ Qu (û
n (r
n ), v̂
n (r̂
n )) + Qv (û
n (r
n ), v̂
n (r̂
n ))
≤ Qu (û
n (p
n ), v̂
n (q̂
n )) + Qv (û
n (p
n ), v̂
n (q̂
n ))



û
n (p
n ) û
n (p
n )
≤ (v̂
n (q̂
n ))p−1 Qu , 1 + Qv ,1 ,
δ δ

taking to limit n → ∞ and using (Q2 ) − (Q3 ), we find a contradiction.

Recall that given η > 0 there exists R > 0 such that

(û2 + v̂ 2 ) dx ≥ η, (20)
BR (0)

we get û
= 0 or v̂
= 0. Now, by condition (Q3 ), if û = 0 (resp. v̂ = 0) then v̂ = 0
(resp. û = 0), contrary to (20). Therefore, û
= 0 and v̂
= 0. Then we can use the
maximum principle to conclude that û, v̂ > 0 and by similar arguments employed
above we get
û(x), v̂(x) → 0 as |x| → ∞.
Thus, from this and the last claim, there exists R0 > 0 such that the local
maximum points p
, q
of û
, v̂
, respectively, belong to BR0 (0). Now, using that
û
→ û, v̂
→ v̂ uniformly on compacts subsets of RN and û, v̂ are radially sym-
metric and radially decreasing, as the arguments in [3] show, the local maximum
points p
, q
are unique.
Finally, we recall that the functions
x x
ũ
(x) = u
and ṽ
(x) = v

 
are solutions of (S
), and their maximum points p̃
and q̃
are given respectively
by
p̃
= p̂
+ y
and q̃
= q̂
+ y
.
Since p̂
, q̂
∈ BR0 (0), that is, are bounded, and y
→ y ∗ , we have

p̃
q̃
→ y ∗ ,

where C(y ∗ ) = inf ξ∈RN C(ξ). Consequently, the concentration of the functions ũ

and ṽ
is close to y ∗ .

456 C.O. Alves and S.H.M. Soares NoDEA

Acknowledgements
We wish to thank the referee for many helpful suggestions. We also grateful to
Solange Aranha for help us in language during her lecture on Academic Writing,
where part of this paper was discussed. However, any mistakes that remain are
our own.

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Received 18 February 2003, accepted 11 July 2003