Dimension threshold for multi-peak concentration

Determine whether the dimensional restriction n≥9 in the construction of multi-peak solutions for the zero-mass singularly perturbed problem -ε²Δu=u^p−Q(x)u^q is merely technical, or whether a different phenomenon occurs in lower dimensions.

Background

The paper proves multi-peak concentration in the whole-space zero-mass problem only for dimensions n≥9. This restriction arises from estimates controlling algebraic interactions between peaks and the associated error terms in the Lyapunov–Schmidt reduction. The authors explicitly leave unresolved whether the restriction reflects limitations of the proof or an actual change in the behavior of solutions in lower dimensions.

References

Several natural questions remain open. First, our argument requires the dimensional restriction n\geq9. This condition enters through the estimates of the algebraic interactions and of the error terms, and it would be interesting to understand whether it is merely technical or whether a different phenomenon occurs in lower dimensions.

Existence of multi-peak solutions for singularly perturbed problems in the zero-mass case  (2609.03135 - Demuth, 2 Sep 2026) in Section 1, Introduction

Several natural questions remain open. First, our argument requires the dimensional restriction n\geq9. This condition enters through the estimates of the algebraic interactions and of the error terms, and it would be interesting to understand whether it is merely technical or whether a different phenomenon occurs in lower dimensions. Second, the present construction requires q to lie above the threshold q_1>n/(n-2). It is natural to ask whether concentration near arbitrary nondegenerate critical points persists throughout the larger range \frac{n}{n-2}<q<p. Finally, in the classical positive-mass problem, semiclassical concentration can be obtained under substantially weaker geometric assumptions than nondegeneracy of an isolated critical point. It would therefore be interesting to investigate the zero-mass problem in the presence of degenerate critical points or critical manifolds of Q.

Existence of multi-peak solutions for singularly perturbed problems in the zero-mass case  (2609.03135 - Demuth, 2 Sep 2026) in Section 1, Introduction