Abundance of cusps and a converse to the Ambrosetti-Prodi theorem

Abstract

According to the Ambrosetti-Prodi theorem, the map $F(u)= - \Delta u - f(u)$ between appropriate functional spaces is a global fold. Among the hypotheses, the convexity of the function $f$ is required. We show in two different ways that, under mild conditions, convexity is indeed necessary. If $f$ is not convex, there is a point with at least four preimages under $F$. More, $F$ generically admits cusps among its critical points. We present a larger class of nonlinearities $f$ for which the critical set of $F$ has cusps. The results are true for a class of boundary conditions.