Open Mathematics 2021; 19: 1538–1553

Research Article

Shengbin Yu* and Jianqing Chen

On a fractional Schrödinger-Poisson system

with strong singularity
https://doi.org/10.1515/math-2021-0105
received March 22, 2021; accepted September 20, 2021

Abstract: We investigate a fractional Schrödinger-Poisson system with strong singularity as follows:

⎧ ( −Δ) u + V (x )u + λϕu = f (x )u , x ∈  ,
s −γ 3

t 2
( −Δ) ϕ = u , x ∈ 3,
⎨
⎩ u > 0, x ∈ 3,

where 0 < s ≤ t < 1 with 4s + 2t > 3, λ > 0 and γ > 1. When V and f satisfy certain conditions, existence
and uniqueness of positive solution uλ are established via variational method and Nehari method. We also
describe the asymptotic behaviour of uλ as λ → 0.

Keywords: strong singularity, fractional Schrödinger-Poisson system, uniqueness, variational method,

asymptotic behaviour

MSC 2020: 35A15, 35B40, 35B09, 35R11

1 Introduction
Due to their important roles in the real world, nonlinear problems involving fractional Laplacian have
attracted a lot of attention in recent years. As the infinitesimal generator of Lévy stable diffusion process,
the fractional Laplacian arises in plasma physics, finance, flame propagation, geophysical fluid dynamics
and population dynamics, see [1] for example. This paper is concerned with existence, uniqueness and
asymptotic behaviour of positive solution to the following singular Schrödinger-Poisson system involving
the fractional Laplacian

⎧ ( −Δ) u + V (x )u + λϕu = f (x )u , x ∈  ,
s −γ 3

t 2
( −Δ) ϕ = u , x∈, 3 (SPλ)
⎨
⎩ u > 0, x ∈ 3,

where 0 < s ≤ t < 1 with 4s + 2t > 3, λ > 0 and γ > 1. ( −Δ)α is the fractional Laplacian operator defined as

( −Δ)αu(x ) = C (α) P.V. ∫ u∣(xx−) −y∣3u+(2yα) dy, u ∈  (3) ,

3


* Corresponding author: Shengbin Yu, Department of Basic Teaching and Research, Yango University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350015,
China, e-mail: yushengbin.8@163.com
Jianqing Chen: College of Mathematics and Informatics & FJKLMAA, Fujian Normal University, Qishan Campus, Fuzhou 350117,
China, e-mail: jqchen@fjnu.edu.cn

Open Access. © 2021 Shengbin Yu and Jianqing Chen, published by De Gruyter. This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
 Fractional Schrodinger-Poisson system  1539

where C (α) is a normalized constant, P.V. stands for the Cauchy principal value,  (3) is the Schwartz space
of rapidly decaying function. We assume that V and f satisfy:

(V1) V ∈ C (3) satisfies infx ∈ 3V (x ) > V0 > 0, where V0 is a constant;

(V2) meas {x ∈ R3 : −∞ < V (x ) ≤ h} < +∞ for all h ∈  ;
2
(f1) f ∈ L1+γ (3) is a nonnegative function.

Recently, much attention has been paid to the following more generic fractional Schrödinger-Poisson
system:

⎧ ( −Δ) su + V (x )u + λϕu = h(x , u) , x ∈ 3,

(1.1)
⎨ ( −Δ)t ϕ = λu2 , x ∈ 3.
⎩
Zhang et al. [2] paid attention to the existence and asymptotic behaviour of positive solutions for (1.1) with
V = 0 and h satisfying subcritical or critical growth conditions. When V = λ = 1, the existence of nontrivial
solutions for (1.1) was considered by Li [3]. The existence and multiplicity of nontrivial solutions for (1.1)
with superlinear terms was investigated in [4]. Gu et al. [5] showed that (1.1) with λ = 1 and h(x , u) =
∗
K (x )h(u) + ∣u ∣2 s− 2 u has a positive solution. Teng [6,7], Yu et al. [8] and Guo [9] considered the existence
of solutions for (1.1) with critical nonlinearity term. Xiang and Wang [10] further studied a critical fractional
Schrödinger-Poisson-Kirchhoff system. Under certain assumptions, Wang et al. [11] obtained infinitely
many solutions to a fractional Schrödinger-Poisson-Kirchhoff system.
The following singular elliptic equation with fractional Laplacian on bounded domains which can be
viewed as a special case of system (SPλ) with ϕ = 0 has been investigated extensively over recent years

⎧ ( −Δ) su = k (x )u−γ + Muq , u > 0, x ∈ Ω,

(1.2)
⎨ u = 0, x ∈ ∂Ω.
⎩
When 0 < γ < 1 (i.e. weakly singular case), (1.2) with critical or subcritical nonlinearity was studied in
[12–14]. Goyal [15] discussed (1.2) with Hardy potential. Fiscella [16,17] obtained two solutions for (1.2) with
Kirchhoff prototype and critical exponent. As for the strongly singular case (i.e. γ > 1), Barrios et al. [18]
studied the existence and multiplicity of solutions for (1.2) when M > 0. (1.2) with Kirchhoff prototype was
discussed in [19,20].
On a bounded domain Ω ⊂ 3 , when s = t = 1, system (SPλ) reduces to a singular Schrödinger-Poisson
system as follows:
−γ
⎧−Δu + λϕu = f (x )u , x ∈ Ω,
⎪− Δϕ = u2 , x∈ Ω,
(1.3)
⎨ u > 0, x∈ Ω,
⎪ u = ϕ = 0, x ∈ ∂Ω.
⎩
Considering the weakly singular case (i.e. 0 < γ < 1), Zhang [21] studied (1.3) with λ = ±1 and f replaced
by a positive parameter μ. Some results in Zhang [21] were generalized to critical case by Lei and Liao [22]
μ
lately. When f = ∣ x ∣β
, Wang [23] obtained two positive solutions for (1.3) with λ = −1 and cubic nonlinearity.
Zhang [24], Li et al. [25] and Mu and Lu [26] investigated a class of singular Schrödinger-Kirchhoff-Poisson
system. Sun and Li [27] discussed a semilinear elliptic equation with singularity on N . Lei et al. [28]
investigated a critical Schrödinger-Newton system with singularity. When γ > 1 (i.e. strongly singular
case), Sun and Zhang [29] obtained the existence of solutions of (1.3) with λ = 0 and analysed the reason
why 3 is crucial. Li and Gao [30] and Cong and Han [31] generalized the results obtained by Sun and Zhang
[29] to the p-Laplace operator. Sun [32] obtained an optimal compatible condition between f and γ for
H01(Ω) solution of (1.3) with sublinear nonlinearities. Li et al. [33] studied (1.3) with Kirchhoff prototype.
Sun and Tan [34] further proved the existence of positive solution to problem (1.3) of Kirchhoff type and
sublinear nonlinearities. Schrödinger-Poisson system and Kirchhoff-Schrödinger-Poisson system with
strong singularity were studied in [35,36] afterwards.
1540  Shengbin Yu and Jianqing Chen

Motivated by the aforementioned results, the main purpose of this paper is to study the existence
of positive solutions for Schrödinger-Poisson system involving fractional Laplacian and strong singularity
on N . Compared with the results in [19,29–36], our discussion is in three-dimensional whole spaces 3 ,
which means we need to overcome the lack of compactness. Moreover, system (SPλ) is a doubly nonlocal
elliptic problem which can cause more difficulties than those of works such as [29–36]. On the other hand,
the non-differentiability of the energy functional Iλ on E (see Section 2 for Iλ and E ) implies that system
(SPλ) could not be discussed by using the critical point theory directly.
According to [11] for instance, for any u ∈ H s(3), there is a unique ϕut ∈  t,2(3) such that ( −Δ)t ϕut = u2 ,
x ∈ 3 . Substituting ϕut in system (SPλ) leads to

⎧ ( −Δ) su + V (x )u + λϕu u = f (x )u−γ , x ∈ 3,

t
(1.4)
⎨ u > 0,
⎩ x ∈ 3.

We call (u , ϕut ) ∈ E ×  t,2(3) a solution of system (SPλ) if u is a solution of (1.4) i.e. u > 0 in 3 and

(u , v )E + λ ∫ ϕutuv dx − ∫ fu−γ v dx = 0, ∀v ∈ E . (1.5)

3 3

For simplicity, we call u instead of (u , ϕut ) a solution of system (SPλ). Applying variational method and
Nehari method, necessary and sufficient conditions on the existence and uniqueness of positive solution
are obtained. We also get monotonicity properties of solutions with respect to f and the parameter λ and
asymptotic behaviour of solutions as λ → 0.

Theorem 1.1. Assume λ > 0, γ > 1 and (V1), (V2 ), ( f1 ) hold. Then system (SPλ) has a unique positive solution
uλ ∈ E if and only if there exists u0 ∈ E satisfying

∫ f ∣u0∣1−γ dx < +∞. (1.6)

3

2
Theorem 1.2. Assume λ > 0, γ > 1 and (V1), (V2 ) hold, further suppose f1 , f2 ∈ L1+γ (3) are two nonnegative
functions satisfying ∫ 3 fi ∣u0 ∣1 − γ dx < +∞, i = 1, 2 , then f1 ≥ f2 implies u1 ≥ u2 , where u1 , u2 are two solutions

of system (SPλ) corresponding to f1 , f2 and provided by Theorem 1.1, respectively.

Theorem 1.3. Assume γ > 1 and (V1), (V2 ) hold, further suppose that f satisfies ( f1 ) and (1.6). For 0 < λ1 ≤ λ2 ,
we have u λ1 ≥ u λ2 , where u λ1 , u λ2 are two solutions of system (SPλ) corresponding to λ1 , λ2 and provided by
Theorem 1.1, respectively.

Theorem 1.4. Assume γ > 1 and (V1), (V2 ), ( f1 ) hold. For any sequence {λn} ⊂ (0, 1) with λn → 0, the sequence
{u λn} of positive solutions provided by Theorem 1.1 strongly converges to w0 in E , where w0 is the unique
positive solution of

⎧ ( −Δ) su + V (x )u = f (x )u−γ , x ∈ 3,

(P0)
⎨ u > 0, x ∈ 3.
⎩

2 Preliminaries
We utilize the following notations in this article.
1

(
• L p(3) is the usual Lebesgue space with the norm ‖u‖p = ∫ 3 ∣u ∣p dx .
 ) p
 Fractional Schrodinger-Poisson system  1541

6
• For any α ∈ (0, 1), 2∗α = 3 − 2α is the fractional critical exponent in dimension 3.
• → denotes the strong convergence and ⇀ denotes the weak convergence.
• u± = max{ ±u , 0} for any function u.
• C and Ci (i = 1, 2, … ) denote positive constants unless specified.

Let
E = {u ∈  s,2(3) : ‖u‖E < +∞}

be endowed with the inner product and norm

(u , v )E = ∫∫ (u(x ) − u∣x( y−))(y∣v3(+x2s) − v( y )) dx dy + ∫ Vuv dx, ‖u‖E = (u , u)1E/2 .

3 3 3

Here  s,2(3) is defined as the completion of C0∞(3) with respect to the norm
1/2
⎛ ∣u(x ) − u( y )∣2 ⎞
‖u‖ s,2(3) =⎜ ∫∫
⎜ 3 3 ∣x − y∣3 + 2s
dx dy ⎟ .
⎟
⎝  ⎠
Using conditions (V1) and (V2 ), we have the following compactness result (see [11, Lemma 2.2]).

Lemma 2.1. Assume 0 < s < 1 and (V1), (V2 ) hold. Then the embedding E ↪ L p(3) is continuous for p ∈ [2, 2∗s]
and is compact for p ∈ [2, 2∗s). Hence, there are constants Cp > 0 such that ‖u‖p ≤ Cp‖u‖E , ∀u ∈ E , p ∈ [2, 2∗s].

For u ∈ H s(3) , as 0 < s ≤ t < 1 and 4s + 2t > 3, according to [11], there exists a unique ϕut ∈  t,2(3)
such that

(ϕut (x ) − ϕut ( y ))(v (x ) − v ( y ))

∫∫ ∣x − y∣3 + 2t
dx dy = ∫ u 2 v dx , ∀v ∈  t ,2 , (2.1)
3 3 3
  

so, ϕut satisfies the Poisson equation

( −Δ)t ϕut = u2 , x ∈ 3,

and one can get the following t -Riesz potential

2
ϕut = ct ∫ ∣x u− (yy∣3)−2t dy, x ∈ 3,
3

Γ(3 − 2t )
with ct = π3/2 22tΓ(t )
. Substituting ϕut into the first equation of system (SPλ) gives equation (1.4). The energy
functional corresponding to (1.4) is given by
1 2 λ
Iλ (u) =
2
‖u‖E +
4
∫ ϕut∣u∣2 dx − 1 −1 γ ∫ f ∣u∣1−γ dx. (2.2)
3 3

In order to facilitate the following analysis, we put together some properties of ϕut from [6,11,37], etc.

Lemma 2.2. For 4s + 2t > 3 and any u ∈ H s(3), the following statements hold
(i) ϕut : H s(3) →  t ,2(3) is continuous and maps bounded sets into bounded sets;
(ii) ϕut ≥ 0. Moreover, ϕut > 0 if u ≢ 0;
(iii) For u ∈ E , we have ‖ϕut ‖2 t,2(3) = ∫3 ϕut u2 dx ≤ C‖u‖4E , where C is positive and independent of u;
(iv) ϕτu
t
= τ2ϕut , ∀τ ∈  ;
1542  Shengbin Yu and Jianqing Chen

(v) Suppose un ⇀ u in E , then

∫ ϕut unv dx → ∫ ϕutuv dx,

n
∀v ∈ E
3 3

and

∫ ϕut un2dx → ∫ ϕutu2dx;

n
3 3

1
(vi) For u , v ∈ H s(3), ∫ 3 (ϕut u − ϕvt v )(u − v )dx ≥ 2 ‖ϕut − ϕvt ‖2 t,2(3) .


3 Proofs of main results

First, let us define the following two constraints:

⎧ ⎫
 1(λ ) = u ∈ E : ‖u‖2E + λ ϕut ∣u ∣2 dx −
⎨
∫ ∫ f ∣u∣1−γ dx ≥ 0⎬
⎩ 3 3 ⎭
and

⎧ ⎫
∫
 (2λ ) = u ∈ E : ‖u‖2E + λ ϕut ∣u ∣2 dx −
⎨
∫ f ∣u∣1−γ dx = 0⎬,
⎩ 3 3 ⎭
for any λ > 0. Now, let us prove main results of this paper.

Proof of Theorem 1.1. (Necessity) Assume u is a solution to (SPλ), that is u > 0 and fulfils (1.5). Selecting
v = u in (1.5), one then has

∫ fu1−γ dx = 21 ‖u‖2E + 4λ ∫ ϕut∣u∣2 dx < +∞.

3 3

(Sufficiency) This portion will be divided into six steps.

Step 1.  (i λ ) ≠ ∅, i = 1, 2 .
Taking u ∈ E satisfying ∫ 3 f (x )∣u ∣1 − γ dx < +∞, we have

η2 2 λη4 η1 − γ
Iλ (ηu) =
2
‖u‖E +
4
∫ ϕut∣u∣2 dx − 1 − γ ∫ f ∣u∣1−γ dx, ∀η > 0.
3 3
 
d I (ηu)
Define g (η) = η λd η , we have

g (η) = η2 ‖u‖2E + λη4 ∫ ϕut∣u∣2 dx − η1−γ ∫ f ∣u∣1−γ dx.

3 3

Obviously, g (η) is increasing on (0, +∞) together with limη → 0+ g (η) = −∞ and limη →+∞ g (η) = +∞. Thus,
there exists a unique η(u) > 0 such that Iλ (η(u)u) = minη > 0Iλ (ηu) and g (η(u)) = 0, i.e.

η2 (u)‖u‖2E + λη4(u) ∫ ϕut∣u∣2 dx − η1−γ (u) ∫ f ∣u∣1−γ dx = 0,

3 3

which means that η(u)u ∈  (2λ ). Moreover, (1.6) reveals the existence of η(u0) > 0 satisfying η(u0)u0 ∈
 (2λ ) ⊂  1(λ ). Therefore,  (i λ ) ≠ ∅, i = 1, 2 for any λ > 0.
 Fractional Schrodinger-Poisson system  1543

Step 2.  1(λ ) is unbounded and closed in E with ‖u‖E ≥ C1, ∀u ∈  1(λ ) for some suitable constant C1 > 0.
By Step 1, ηu0 ∈  1(λ ) for every η ≥ η(u0) , hence  1(λ ) is an unbounded set in E . Fatou’s lemma and
Lemma 2.2 (v ) show that  1(λ ) is closed directly. Next, we want to prove that ‖u‖E ≥ C1, ∀u ∈  1(λ ) for some
suitable constant C1 > 0. If not, there exists a sequence {un} ⊂  1(λ ) with un → 0 in E . Considering un ∈  1(λ )
and γ > 1, it follows from Lemma 2.2 (v ) and the reverse form of Hölder’s inequality that (together with
un ≢ 0 since γ > 1).
1+γ 1−γ
2 2
⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ ⎞
∫
⎜⎜ f 1 + γ dx ⎟⎟ ∫ 2
⎜⎜ ∣un ∣ dx ⎟⎟ ≤ ∫ f ∣un ∣1−γ dx ≤ ‖un‖2E + λ ∫ ϕut ∣un ∣2 dx → 0.
n

⎝ 3 ⎠ ⎝ 3 ⎠ 3 3
1+γ
2 2
This together with ⎛∫ 3 f 1 + γ dx ⎞ > 0 results in ‖un‖22 → +∞, which is impossible. Hence, ‖u‖E ≥ C1, ∀u ∈  1(λ )
⎝  ⎠
for some C1 > 0.
Step 3. Properties of the minimizing sequence {un} .
By Step 2, For every u ∈  1(λ ), we have ‖u‖E ≥ C1. Furthermore, it follows from γ > 1, λ > 0, Lemma 2.2
(ii) and (2.2) that
1 2 λ
Iλ (u) =
2
‖u‖E +
4
∫ ϕut∣u∣2 dx − 1 −1 γ ∫ f ∣u∣1−γ dx ≥ 21 ‖u‖2E , (3.1)
3 3

which implies that Iλ (u) is coercive and bounded from below on  1(λ ). Therefore, inf  1(λ)Iλ exists. Thus,
we apply the Ekeland variational principle to get a minimizing sequence {un} ⊂  1(λ ) such that:
1
(1) Iλ (un) < inf  1(λ)Iλ + n ;
1
(2) Iλ (z ) ≥ Iλ (un) − n ‖un − z‖E , ∀z ∈  1(λ ).

The coercivity of Iλ on  1(λ ) implies the existence of a constant C2 > 0 such that ‖un‖E ≤ C2 . To sum up,
C1 ≤ ‖un‖E ≤ C2 . So there exists uλ ∈ E such that, going if necessary to a subsequence, we have
un ⇀ uλ , in E ,
un → uλ , in L p(3) , p ∈ [2, 2∗s) ,
un → uλ , a.e. in 3.

Since Iλ (∣u∣) ≤ Iλ (u), one can assume un ≥ 0, then uλ ≥ 0. Using Lemma 2.2 (iii), {un} ⊂  1(λ ) and Fatou’s
lemma, we further get ∫ 3 fuλ1 − γ dx < +∞ which implies uλ > 0 a.e. in 3 .


Step 4. uλ ∈  (2λ ) , inf  1(λ)Iλ = Iλ (uλ ) and

(uλ , ψ)E + λ ∫ ϕut uλψdx − ∫ fuλ−γ ψdx ≥ 0,

λ
∀0 ≤ ψ ∈ E .
3 3

The above result will be proved by considering two situations on whether {un} ⊂  1(λ )⧹ (2λ ) or {un} ⊂  (2λ ).

Case 1. {un} ⊂  1(λ )⧹ (2λ ) for n large enough.

Fix 0 ≤ ψ ∈ E , since f is nonnegative, we can derive from {un} ⊂  1(λ )⧹ (2λ ) and γ > 1 that

∫ f (un + ηψ)1−γ dx ≤ ∫ fun1−γ dx < ‖un‖2E + λ ∫ ϕut un2dx, n

∀η ≥ 0.
3 3 3
  

Thus, there exists η > 0 sufficiently small satisfying

∫ f (un + ηψ)1−γ dx < ‖un + ηψ‖2E + λ ∫ ϕut +ηψ(un + ηψ)2dx, n

3 3
1544  Shengbin Yu and Jianqing Chen

so un + ηψ ∈  1(λ ). In virtue of condition (2) by choosing z = un + ηψ, one has

‖ηψ‖E
≥ Iλ (un) − Iλ (un + ηψ)
n
1 λ
= (‖un‖2E − ‖un + ηψ‖2E ) +
2 4
∫ [ϕut un2 − ϕut +ηψ(un + ηψ)2]dx
n n

3
1
+
1−γ
∫ f [(un + ηψ)1−γ − (un)1−γ ]dx.
3

Dividing by η > 0 and letting η → 0+, then we deduce from Fatou’s lemma that
‖ψ‖E f (un + ηψ)1 − γ − (un)1 − γ
n
+ (un , ψ)E + λ ∫ ϕut unψdx ≥ ∫ lim
n
inf
η→0 1−γ +
η
dx = ∫ fun−γ ψdx.
3 3 3

Letting n → ∞, one can obtain from Fatou’s lemma and Lemma 2.2 (v ) that

(uλ , ψ)E + λ ∫ ϕut uλψdx ≥ ∫ fuλ−γ ψdx

λ
and ∫ fuλ−γ ψdx < +∞. (3.2)
3 3 3

Choosing ψ = uλ in (3.2) leads to uλ ∈  1(λ ), ∫ 3 fuλ1 − γ dx < +∞ . Then, by Step 1, there exists a unique η(uλ ) > 0

satisfying η(uλ )uλ ∈  (2λ ) and Iλ (η(uλ )uλ ) = minη > 0Iλ (ηuλ ). Therefore, by Fatou’s lemma and Lemma 2.2 (v )
once again, we derive that
inf
(λ )
Iλ = lim Iλ (un)
1 n →∞

⎡1 λ ⎤
= lim inf ⎢ ‖un‖2E +
n →∞ ⎢ 2 4
∫ ϕut un2dx − 1 −1 γ ∫ fun1−γ dx⎥
n
⎥
⎣ 3 3 ⎦

1 ⎡λ ⎤ ⎡ 1 ⎤
≥ lim inf ⎡ ‖un‖2E ⎤ + lim inf ⎢
n →∞ ⎣ 2 ⎦ n →∞ ⎢ 4 n
∫
ϕut un2 dx⎥ + lim inf ⎢
n →∞ ⎢ γ − 1
∫ fun1−γ dx⎥
⎥ ⎥
⎣ 3 ⎦ ⎣ 3 ⎦
1 λ 1
2
≥ ‖uλ ‖E +
2
t 2
∫
ϕ uλ dx +
4 3 uλ γ−1 3 λ
1−γ
fu dx ∫
 
= Iλ (uλ ) ≥ Iλ (η(uλ )uλ ) ≥ inf
(λ )
Iλ ≥ inf
(λ )
Iλ .
2 1

This together with the uniqueness of η(uλ ) leads to η(uλ ) = 1. So, we have

uλ ∈  (2λ ), inf
(λ )
Iλ = Iλ (uλ ) . (3.3)
1

Moreover, we can also obtain that lim infn →∞‖un‖2E = ‖uλ ‖2E and a subsequence of {un} (still denoted by {un} )
fulfils limn →∞‖un‖2E = ‖uλ ‖2E , which means un → uλ in E .

Case 2. There is a subsequence of {un} (we still call un ) belonging to  (2λ ) .

Fix 0 ≤ ψ ∈ E , since {un} is bounded, one can obtain from γ > 1 and Lemma 2.2 (iii) that

∫ f (un + ηψ)1−γ dx ≤ ∫ fun1−γ dx = ‖un‖2E + λ ∫ ϕut un2dx < +∞, n

∀η ≥ 0.
3 3 3
  

By Step 1, there are some functions hn, ψ(η) : [0, +∞) → (0, +∞) satisfying

hn, ψ(0) = 1, hn, ψ(η)(un + ηψ) ∈  (2λ ), ∀η ≥ 0.

 Fractional Schrodinger-Poisson system  1545

By the dominated convergence theorem, Lemma 2.2 (v ), ∫3 f (x )un1 − γ dx < +∞ and γ > 1, we know that
hn, ψ(η) is continuous for all η ≥ 0. To facilitate the following proof, we define
hn, ψ(η) − 1
hn′, ψ(0) = lim+ ∈ [−∞ , +∞].
η→0 η

If the right term is nonexistent, one can select ηk → 0 (instead of η → 0) with ηk > 0 and hn′, ψ(0) =
hn, ψ(ηk ) − 1
limk →∞ ηk
∈ [−∞ , +∞]. Using Lemma 2.2 (iv), un ∈  (2λ ) and hn, ψ(η)(un + ηψ) ∈  (2λ ), one can obtain

‖un‖2E + λ ∫ ϕut un2dx = ∫ fun1−γ dx,

n
3 3

hn2, ψ(η)‖un + ηψ‖2E + λhn4, ψ(η) ∫ ϕut +ηψ(un + ηψ)2dx = hn1,−ψγ (η) ∫ f (un + ηψ)1−γ dx.
n

3 3

Consequently, we have

⎧ hn1,−ψγ (η) − 1
2
0 = [hn, ψ(η) − 1] [hn, ψ(η) + 1]‖un + ηψ‖E −
⎨ hn, ψ(η) − 1
∫ f (un + ηψ)1−γ dx
⎩ 3

⎫
+ λ[hn2, ψ(η) + 1][hn, ψ(η) + 1] ∫ ϕut +ηψ(un + ηψ)2dx ⎬ + [‖un + ηψ‖2E − ‖un‖2E ]
n

3 ⎭
+λ ∫ [ϕutn + ηψ(un + ηψ)2 − ϕut un2 ]dx
n
− ∫ f [(un + ηψ)1−γ − un1−γ ]dx.
3 3

Dividing by η > 0 and letting η → 0+, then one can get from un ∈  (2λ ) , the continuity of hn, ψ(η), Lemma 2.2 (v )
and γ > 1 that

⎧ ⎫
⎨
∫
0 ≥ hn′, ψ(0) 2‖un‖2E + (γ − 1) f (x )un1 − γ dx + 4λ ∫ ϕut un2dx ⎬ + 2(un , ψ)E + 4λ ∫ ϕut unψdx
n n

⎩ 3 3 ⎭ 3

⎧ ⎫
⎨ n ⎬
∫
= hn′, ψ(0) (γ + 1)‖un‖2E + λ (γ + 3) ϕut un2 dx + 2(un , ψ)E + 4λ ∫ ϕut unψdx,
n

⎩ 3 ⎭ 3

which implies that hn′, ψ(0) ≠ +∞. Next, we want to show the existence of C3 > 0 satisfying hn′, ψ(0) ≤ C3
uniformly in n. Fix n, without loss of generality, suppose hn′, ψ(0) ≥ 0. By Lemma 2.2 (ii) and the above
inequality, we have

0 ≥ (γ + 1)hn′, φ(0)‖un‖2E + 2(un , ψ)E .

This together with C1 ≤ ‖un‖E ≤ C2 leads to the existence of C3 > 0 satisfying

hn′, ψ(0) ≤ C3 uniformly in n . (3.4)

We claim that hn′, ψ(0) is bounded from below uniformly for n large enough satisfying

‖un‖E (γ + 1)C12
− < 0.
n γ−1

Suppose hn′, ψ(0) ≤ 0, otherwise the declaration is obvious. Hence, hn, ψ(η) < 1 for η > 0 small. In virtue
of condition (2) again, we obtain
1 η 1
[1 − hn, ψ(η)]‖un‖E + hn, ψ(η)‖ψ‖E ≥ ‖un − hn, ψ(η)(un + ηψ)‖E ≥ Iλ (un) − Iλ[hn, ψ(η)(un + ηψ)]. (3.5)
n n n
1546  Shengbin Yu and Jianqing Chen

By (3.5), Lemma 2.2 (iv) and un ∈  (2λ ) , one has

‖ψ‖E hn, ψ(η) − 1 ⎧ ‖un‖E 1 1 ⎞

hn, ψ(η) ≥ − ⎛⎜ + ⎟[hn, ψ (η) + 1]‖un + ηψ‖
2
E
n η ⎨
⎩ n ⎝ 2 γ − 1 ⎠

1 1 ⎞ 2 ⎫
− λ⎜⎛ + ⎟[h
t
∫
n, ψ(η) + 1][hn, ψ(η) + 1] ϕun + ηψ(un + ηψ) dx
2

⎝4 γ − 1⎠ ⎬
3 ⎭
t
1 2
1 ⎞ ‖un + ηψ‖E − ‖un‖E 2
1 1 ⎞ ϕ (
un + ηψ n
u + ηψ)2 − ϕut un2
− ⎜⎛ + ⎟ − λ⎜⎛ + ⎟ ∫ n
dx .
⎝ 2 γ − 1 ⎠ η ⎝ 4 γ − 1 ⎠ 3 η

Letting η → 0+ and combing with C1 ≤ ‖un‖E ≤ C2 , the continuity of hn, ψ(η), γ > 1 and Lemma 2.2 (v ), one has

‖ψ‖E ⎧ ‖un‖E 2 ⎞ 4 ⎞ ⎫
≥ hn′, ψ(0) − ⎛⎜1 + ⎟‖un ‖
2 ⎛
E − λ ⎜1 + ⎟ ∫ ϕut un2dx ⎬
n ⎨ n ⎝ γ − 1⎠ ⎝ γ − 1⎠ n

⎩ 3 ⎭
2 ⎞ 4 ⎞
− ⎛⎜1 + ⎛
⎟(un , ψ )E − λ ⎜1 + ⎟ ϕ t unψdx ∫
⎝ γ − 1⎠ ⎝ γ − 1 ⎠ 3 un


⎧ ‖u ‖ 1 ⎡ ⎤⎫
= hn′, ψ(0)
⎨ n
n E
− ⎢(γ + 1)‖un‖2E + λ (γ + 3) ϕutnun2 dx⎥ ∫
γ − 1⎢ ⎥⎬
⎩ ⎣ 3 ⎦⎭
2 ⎞ 4 ⎞
− ⎜⎛1 + ⎛
⎟(un , ψ )E − λ ⎜1 + ⎟ ϕut unψdx∫
⎝ γ − 1 ⎠ ⎝ γ − 1 ⎠ 3
n

‖un‖E (γ + 1)C12 ⎤ ⎛ 2 ⎞ 4 ⎞
≥ hn′, ψ(0)⎡ − − ⎜1 + ⎛
⎟(un , ψ )E − λ ⎜1 + ⎟ ∫ ϕut unψdx,
⎢ n γ−1 ⎦ ⎝ ⎥ γ − 1⎠ ⎝ γ − 1⎠ n
⎣ 3

where we used hn′, ψ(0) ≤ 0. Thus, the sign of the first coefficient reveals that
hn′, ψ(0) ≠ −∞ , hn′, ψ(0) ≥ C4 uniformly for large n (3.6)

for suitable constant C4. This together with (3.4) results in

hn′, ψ(0) ∈ ( −∞ , +∞) , ∣hn′, ψ(0)∣ ≤ C uniformly for large n

with C = max{C3, ∣C4∣} . Again, by condition (2), we obtain

∣1 − hn, ψ(η)∣ ‖un‖E ‖ψ‖E
+ hn, ψ(η)
η n n
1 1
≥ ‖un − hn, ψ(η)(un + ηψ)‖E ≥ {Iλ (un) − Iλ[hn, ψ(η)(un + ηψ)]}
nη η

hn, ψ(η) − 1 ⎧ hn, ψ(η) + 1 hn1,−ψγ (η) − 1

≥
η ⎨
−
2
‖un + ηψ‖2E +
(1 − γ )[hn, ψ(η) − 1]
∫ f (un + ηψ)1−γ dx
⎩ 3

λ 2 ⎫ ‖un + ηψ‖2E − ‖un‖2E

−
4
[hn, φ(η) + 1][hn, φ(η) + 1] ∫ ϕut +ηψ(un + ηψ)2dx ⎬ − 21
n
η
3 ⎭
λ ϕutn + ηψ(un + ηψ)2 − ϕut un2 1 (un + ηψ)1 − γ − un1 − γ
−
4
∫ η
n
dx +
1−γ
∫f η
dx .
3 3
 Fractional Schrodinger-Poisson system  1547

Letting η → 0+, similar to the above discussion, one can get

∣hn′, ψ(0)∣⋅‖un‖E ‖ψ‖E ⎧ ⎫

n
+
n
≥ hn′, ψ(0) −‖un‖2E +
⎨
∫ fun1−γ dx − λ ∫ ϕut un2dx ⎬ n

⎩ 3 3 ⎭
1 (un + ηψ)1 − γ − un1 − γ
n
∫
− (un , ψ)E − λ ϕut unψdx + lim inf
η → 0+ 1 − γ
∫f η
dx
3
 3
(un + ηψ)1 − γ − un1 − γ
≥ − (un , ψ)E − λ ∫ ϕut unψdx + ∫ 1 −f γ lim
n
inf
η→0 +
η
dx
3 3

= − (un , ψ)E − λ ∫ ϕut unψdx + ∫ fun−γ ψdx.

n
3 3

We can further get from ∣hn′, φ(0)∣ ≤ C for large n and C1 ≤ ‖un‖E ≤ C2 that

∣hn′, ψ(0)∣⋅‖un‖E ‖ψ‖E

∫ fun−γ ψdx ≤ n
+
n
+ (un , ψ)E + λ ∫ ϕut unψdx
n
3 3
C ⋅ C2 + ‖ψ‖E
≤
n
+ (un , ψ)E + λ ∫ ϕut unψdx,
n
for large n .
3

Letting n → ∞, it follows from Fatou’s lemma and Lemma 2.2 (v ) that

∫ fuλ−γ ψdx ≤ lim inf ∫ fun−γ ψdx ≤ (uλ , ψ)E + λ ∫ ϕut uλ ψdx < +∞ ,
n →∞ λ (3.7)
3 3 3

for every 0 ≤ ψ ∈ E . Similar to Case 1, we have

uλ ∈  (2λ ), inf
(λ )
Iλ = Iλ (uλ ) , (3.8)
1

in Case 2. Therefore, we can deduce from (3.2), (3.3), (3.7) and (3.8) that in both cases, up to subsequence,
un → uλ in E , inf  1(λ)Iλ = Iλ (uλ ), uλ ∈  (2λ ) and

(uλ , ψ)E + λ ∫ ϕut uλψdx − ∫ fuλ−γ ψdx ≥ 0,

λ
∀0 ≤ ψ ∈ E . (3.9)
3 3
 

Step 5. uλ > 0 is a solution of system (SPλ).

Since uλ ∈  (2λ ) , we have

‖uλ ‖E + λ ∫ ϕut uλ2dx − ∫ fuλ1−γ dx = 0.

λ (3.10)
3 3

For every ε > 0 and v ∈ E , set ψε = uλ + εv , we have

(uλ (x ) − uλ ( y ))(ψε+(x ) − ψε+( y ))
= (uλ (x ) − uλ ( y ))[ψε (x ) + ψε−(x ) − ψε ( y ) − ψε−( y )] (3.11)
= ∣uλ (x ) − uλ ( y )∣2 + ε (uλ (x ) − uλ ( y ))(v (x ) − v ( y )) + (uλ (x ) − uλ ( y ))[ψε−(x ) − ψε−( y )].

In virtue of the proof of [16, Theorem 3.2], we have

1 (uλ (x ) − uλ ( y ))[ψε−(x ) − ψε−( y )]

lim inf
ε→0+
ε
∫∫ ∣x − y∣3 + 2s
dx dy ≤ 0. (3.12)
3 3
 
1548  Shengbin Yu and Jianqing Chen

Setting Ωε = {x ∈ 3 : ψε ≤ 0} and inserting ψ = ψε+ into (3.9) together with (3.10)–(3.11), we obtain

1⎧ (uλ (x ) − uλ ( y ))(ψε+(x ) − ψε+( y )) ⎫

0≤
ε⎨ 3 3
∫∫ ∣x − y∣3 + 2s
dx dy + ∫
Vuλ ψε+dx + λ ϕut uλ ψε+dx −
λ
∫ ∫ fuλ−γ ψε+dx ⎬
⎩  3 3 3 ⎭
1 ∣uλ (x ) − uλ ( y )∣2 (uλ (x ) − uλ ( y ))(v (x ) − v ( y ))
= ∫∫
ε 3 3 ∣x − y∣3 + 2s
dx dy + ∫∫ ∣x − y∣3 + 2s
dx dy
3 3
   

1 (uλ (x ) − uλ ( y ))[ψε−(x ) − ψε−( y )] 1

+
ε
∫∫ ∣x − y∣3 + 2s
dx dy +
ε
∫ {Vuλ (uλ + εv ) + λϕut uλ (uλ + εv )
λ
3 3 3⧹Ωε
−γ
− fuλ (uλ + εv )}dx

1⎧ ⎫ ⎧ ⎫
=
ε⎨
∫ λ
∫
‖uλ ‖2E + λ ϕut uλ2 dx − fuλ1 − γ dx + (uλ , v )E + λ ϕut uλ v dx − fuλ−γ v dx
⎬ ⎨ λ ⎬
∫ ∫
⎩ 3 3 ⎭ ⎩ 3 3 ⎭
− −
1 1 ( uλ ( x ) − uλ ( y ))[ψε (x ) − ψε ( y )]
−
ε
∫ {Vuλ (uλ + εv ) + λϕut uλ (uλ + εv ) − fuλ−γ (uλ + εv )}dx +
λ
ε 3 3
∫∫
∣x − y∣3 + 2s
dx dy
Ωε  

⎧ ⎫ 1
⎨
∫
≤ (uλ , v )E + λ ϕut uλ v dx − fuλ−γ v dx −
λ
∫⎬ ε
∫
[Vuλ (uλ + εv ) + λϕut uλ (uλ + εv )]dx
λ

⎩ 3 3 ⎭ Ωε

1 (uλ (x ) − uλ ( y ))[ψε−(x ) − ψε−( y )]

+
ε 3 3
∫∫ ∣x − y∣3 + 2s
dx dy
 

⎧ ⎫
≤ (uλ , v )E + λ
⎨
∫ ϕut uλv dx − ∫ fuλ−γ v dx ⎬ − ε1 ∫[Vuλ2 + λϕut uλ2]dx
λ λ

⎩ 3 3 ⎭ Ωε
(uλ (x ) − uλ ( y ))[ψε−(x ) − ψε−( y )]
− ∫[Vuλv + λϕut uλv]dx + ε1 ∫∫
λ
∣x − y∣3 + 2s
dx dy
Ωε 3 3

⎧ ⎫
⎨
∫
λ
∫
≤ (uλ , v )E + λ ϕut uλ v dx − fuλ−γ v dx − [Vuλ v + λϕut uλ v ]dx
⎬ λ
∫
⎩ 3 3 ⎭ Ωε
1 (uλ (x ) − uλ ( y ))[ψε−(x ) − ψε−( y )]
+
ε 3 3
∫∫ ∣x − y∣3 + 2s
dx dy .
 

Letting ε → 0+, thanks to (3.12) and the fact that ∣Ωε∣ → 0 as ε → 0+, one has

(uλ , v )E + λ ∫ ϕut uλv dx − ∫ fuλ−γ v dx ≥ 0,

λ
∀v ∈ E .
3 3
 

Substituting v for −v , one can get the reserved inequality. So we have

(uλ , v )E + λ ∫ ϕut uλv dx − ∫ fuλ−γ v dx = 0,

λ
∀v ∈ E . (3.13)
3 3
 

Similar to [12, Theorem 6.3], we get uλ ∈ Cloc

α
(3) for some α ∈ (0, s). Since uλ ≥ 0 and uλ ≢ 0, by the strong
maximum principle in [38, Theorem 2.6], we can obtain that uλ > 0 in 3 and uλ ∈ E is a solution to (SPλ).

Step 6. The solution uλ is unique.

Assume u∗ ∈ E also solves (SPλ), then one has

(u∗, v )E + λ ∫ ϕut u∗v dx − ∫ fu∗−γ v dx = 0,

∗
∀v ∈ E . (3.14)
3 3
 
 Fractional Schrodinger-Poisson system  1549

Taking v = uλ − u∗ in (3.13)–(3.14), then subtracting (3.13) from (3.14) and using Lemma 2.2 (vi), we get

0≥ ∫ f (uλ−γ − u∗−γ )(uλ − u∗)dx

3

= ‖uλ − u∗‖2E + λ ∫(ϕut uλ − ϕut u∗)(uλ − u∗)dx

λ ∗
3
1 t
≥ ‖uλ − u∗‖2E + ‖ϕ − ϕut ‖2 t,2(3) ≥ ‖uλ − u∗‖2E ≥ 0.
2 uλ ∗

Therefore, ‖uλ − u∗‖2E = 0, which implies uλ = u∗ and the solution uλ is unique. □

Proof of Theorem 1.2. By direct calculation, for every ψ ∈ E and a.e. x , y ∈ 3 , one can obtain
(ψ(x ) − ψ( y ))(ψ+(x ) − ψ+( y )) = [ψ+(x ) − ψ−(x ) − ψ+( y ) + ψ−( y )](ψ+(x ) − ψ+( y ))
= ∣ψ+(x ) − ψ+( y )∣2 + ψ−(x )ψ+( y ) + ψ−( y )ψ+(x ) (3.15)
≥ ∣ψ+(x ) − ψ+( y )∣2 .

For every v ∈ E, as u1 , u2 are two solutions corresponding to f1 , f2 , we get

(u1 , v )E + λ ∫ ϕut u1v dx = ∫ f1 u1−γ v dx,

1
3 3

(u2 , v )E + λ ∫ ϕut u2v dx = ∫ f2 u2−γ v dx.

2
3 3

Taking v = (u2 − u1)+ in the above two equations and subtracting term by term, we obtain from applying
(3.15) with ψ = u2 − u1 that

0≥ ∫ ( f2 u2−γ − f1 u1−γ )(u2 − u1)+dx

3

= (u2 − u1 , (u2 − u1)+)E + λ ∫(ϕut u2 − ϕut u1)(u2 − u1)+dx

2 1
3
+ + 2
≥ ∫∫ [(u2 − u1) ∣(xx )−−y∣(3u+22s− u1) ( y )] dx dy + ∫ V [(u2 − u1)+]2 dx + λ ∫ (ϕut u2 − ϕut u1)(u2 − u1)dx 2 1
3 3
  3 [u2 − u1 ≥ 0]

= ‖(u2 − u1)+‖2E + λ ∫ (ϕut u2 − ϕut u1)(u2 − u1)dx

2 1
[u2 − u1 ≥ 0]

≥ ‖(u2 − u1)+‖2E ≥ 0,

where we used γ > 1, Lemma 2.2 (vi) and f1 ≥ f2 . So (u2 − u1)+ ≡ 0 and hence u1 ≥ u2 . □

Proof of Theorem 1.3. For every v ∈ E, as u λ1 , u λ2 are two solutions corresponding to λ1, λ2 , we deduce that

(u λ , v)E + λ1 ∫ ϕut u λ v dx = ∫ fu λ−γ v dx,

1 λ1 1 1

3 3

(u λ , v)E + λ2 ∫ ϕut
2 λ2
u λ2 v dx = ∫ fu λ−γ v dx.
2

3 3

Taking v = (u λ2 − u λ1)+ in the above two equations and subtracting, we get from applying (3.15) with
ψ = u λ2 − u λ1 that
1550  Shengbin Yu and Jianqing Chen

0≥ ∫ f (u λ−γ − u λ−γ )(u λ

2 1 2
− u λ1 + dx)
3

(
= u λ2 − u λ1 , u λ2 − u λ1( )+ )E + ∫(λ2ϕut λ2
u λ2 − λ1ϕut u λ1
λ1
)(u λ 2 )
− u λ1 + dx
3
u λ2 − u λ1)+ (x ) − (u λ2 − u λ1)+ ( y )]2
≥ ∫∫ [( ∣x − y∣3 + 2s
dx dy + ∫ V [(u λ 2
− u λ1 )+ ]2 dx
3 3 3

+ λ1 ∫ (ϕut λ2
u λ2 − ϕut u λ1
λ1
)(u λ 2 )
− u λ1 dx
[ u λ2 − u λ1 ≥ 0 ]
(
= ‖ u λ2 − u λ1 + ‖2E + λ1 ) ∫ (ϕut λ2
u λ2 − ϕut u λ1
λ1
)(u λ 2
− u λ1 dx )
[ u λ2 − u λ1 ≥ 0 ]
(
≥ ‖ u λ2 − u λ1 + ‖2E ≥ 0, )
where we used 0 < λ1 ≤ λ2 , Lemma 2.2 (vi) and γ > 1. So (u λ2 − u λ1)+ ≡ 0 and then u λ1 ≥ u λ2 . □

Proof of Theorem 1.4. Since the proof of Theorem 1.1 is also valid for λ = 0 and λ = 1, then under the
assumptions of Theorem 1.4, we have positive solutions w0 ∈ E and w1 ∈ E corresponding to (P0) and (SP1) ,
respectively. Hence, for every v ∈ E , we have

(w0, v )E = ∫ fw0−γv dx and w0 ∈  (20), inf

1
(0)
I0 = I0(w0) , (3.16)
3


and

(w1, v )E + ∫ ϕwt w1v dx − ∫ fw1−γv dx = 0

1
and w1 ∈  (21), inf(1) I1 = I1(w1) .
1
(3.17)
3 3
 

Step 1. cλ ≤ c1 for λ ∈ [0, 1], where cλ = inf  1(λ)Iλ .

According to the proof for the necessity of Theorem 1.1, one has ∫ 3 fw01 − γ dx < +∞ and ∫ 3 fw11 − γ dx < +∞.
 
Moreover, (3.17) and Step 1 in the proof for Theorem 1.1 reveal the existence of a unique η(w1) > 0 such that
η(w1)w1 ∈  (2λ ) , Iλ (η(w1)w1) = minη > 0Iλ (ηw1) and c1 = I1(w1) = minη > 0I1(ηw1). By  (2λ ) ⊂  1(λ ) and λ ∈ [0, 1],
we obtain
cλ = inf
(λ )
Iλ ≤ inf
(λ )
Iλ ≤ Iλ (η(w1)w1) = min Iλ (ηw1) ≤ min I1(ηw1) = c1.
1 2 η>0 η>0

For any sequence {λn} ⊂ (0, 1) satisfying λn → 0, as {u λn} is a sequence of positive solutions to system (SP λn),
we have c λn ≤ c1 and for any v ∈ E ,

(u λ , v)E + λn ∫ ϕut
n λn
u λ n v dx = ∫ fu λ−γ v dx.
n (3.18)
3 3

Using (3.1), we can further get

1
2
( )
‖u λn‖2E ≤ Iλn u λn = c λn ≤ c1,

so {u λn} is bounded in E . Thus, there exists a nonnegative function u0 ∈ E such that, going if necessary to
a subsequence, one has
u λ n ⇀ u0 , in E ,
u λ n → u0 , in L p(3) , p ∈ [2, 2∗s) , (3.19)
u λ n → u0 , a.e. in 3.
 Fractional Schrodinger-Poisson system  1551

Step 2. u0 ∈  (20), inf  1(0)I0 = I0(u0), u λn → u0 in E and

(u0 , v )E ≥ ∫ fu0−γ v dx, ∀0 ≤ v ∈ E .

3


Letting n → ∞ in (3.18), then we can deduce from Fatou’s lemma, Lemma 2.2 (v ) and (3.19) that

(u0 , v )E − ∫ fu0−γ v dx ≥ 0 (3.20)

3

for any 0 ≤ v ∈ E . Similar to Step 4 in the proof for Theorem 1.1, one has u0 > 0 in 3 . Selecting v = u0 in
(3.20), then we get ‖u0‖2E − ∫ 3 fu01 − γ dx ≥ 0, i.e. u0 ∈  1(0), so I0(u0) ≥ c0. Similar to Step 1 in the proof for

Theorem 1.1, for every n ∈  , there exists a unique ηn (w0) > 0 satisfying ηn (w0)w0 ∈  (2λn) , Iλn(ηn (w0)w0) =
minη > 0Iλn(ηw0). Thus,
c0 = I0(w0)
λn
= Iλn(w0) −
4
∫ ϕwt w02dx
0
3
λn
≥ Iλn(ηn (w0)w0) −
4
∫ ϕwt w02dx
0
3
λn
≥ c λn −
4
∫ ϕwt w02dx,
0
3

which yields
lim supc λn ≤ c0. (3.21)
n →+∞

On the other hand, we can obtain from (2.2) and Lemma 2.2 (ii) that
1 1
( )
c λn = Iλn u λn ≥
2
‖u λn‖2E −
1−γ
∫ fu λ1−γ dx.
n

3

According to (3.19), I0(u0) ≥ c0 and Fatou’s lemma, one has

1 ⎡ 1 ⎤
lim inf c λn ≥ lim inf ⎡ ‖u λn‖2E ⎤ + lim inf ⎢
n →∞ n →∞ ⎣ 2 ⎦ n →∞ ⎢ γ − 1
fu λ1n− γ dx⎥ ∫
⎥
⎣ 3 ⎦ (3.22)
1 1
2
≥ ‖u0‖E +
2 γ−1 3
1−γ
∫
fu0 dx = I0(u0) ≥ c0.


This combined with (3.21) leads to limn →+∞c λn = c0. So, u λn → u0 in E , limn →∞∫ 3 fu λ1n− γ dx = ∫3 fu01 − γ dx

and I0(u0) = c0 = inf  1(0)I0. Choosing v = u λn in (3.18) and letting n → +∞, we have

‖u0‖2E = ∫ fu01−γ dx, i.e. u0 ∈  (20).

3

Step 3. u0 = w0 and then u λn → w0 in E .

By (3.20) and u0 ∈  (20), similar to Step 5 in the proof for Theorem 1.1, one could further obtain that
0 < u0 ∈ E is a solution to (P0) . Then, the uniqueness of solution to (P0) implies u0 = w0. Hence u λn → w0
in E and the solution w0 is unique to problem (P0). □
1552  Shengbin Yu and Jianqing Chen

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to express our gratitude to the editor and referees for their
valuable suggestions and comments.

Funding information: This paper was supported by NNSF of China (No. 11871152, 11671085), Program
for New Century Excellent Talents in Fujian Province University (2018) and NSF of Fujian Province
(No. 2019J01089).

Authors contributions: All authors equally contributed to this manuscript and approved the final version.

Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflict of interest.

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