Dual variational methods and nonvanishing for the nonlinear Helmholtz equation

Abstract: We set up a dual variational framework to detect real standing wave solutions of the nonlinear Helmholtz equation $$ -\Delta u-k^2 u =Q(x)|u|^{p-2}u,\qquad u \in W^{2,p}(\mathbb{R}^N) $$ with $N\geq 3$, $\frac{2(N+1)}{(N-1)}< p<\frac{2N}{N-2}$ and nonnegative $Q \in L^\infty(\mathbb{R}^N)$. We prove the existence of nontrivial solutions for periodic $Q$ as well as in the case where $Q(x)\to 0$ as $|x|\to\infty$. In the periodic case, a key ingredient of the approach is a new nonvanishing theorem related to an associated integral equation. The solutions we study are superpositions of outgoing and incoming waves and are characterized by a nonlinear far field relation.