Positive Solutions of {Delta u}+u^{(n+2)/(n-2)}=0 on Contractible Domains

Abstract

We show that there are bounded contractible domains in R^n, n ≥ 3, on which the Dirichlet problem for the equation Δu +u^{(n+2)/(n-2)} = 0 admit positive solutions. This result, combining with the well-known nonexistence result of Pohozaev, implies that geometry of the domains plays a crucial role in the solvability of the problem.