A non-smooth Brezis-Oswald uniqueness result

Abstract

We classify the non-negative critical points in $W^{1,p}_0(\Omega)$ of \[ J(v)=\int_\Omega H(Dv)-F(x, v)\, dx \] where $H$ is convex and positively $p$-homogeneous, while $t\mapsto \partial_tF(x, t)/t^{p-1}$ is non-increasing. Since $H$ may not be differentiable and $F$ has a one-sided growth condition, $J$ is only l.s.c. on $W^{1,p}_0(\Omega)$. We employ a weak notion of critical point for non-smooth functionals, derive sufficient regularity of the latter without an Euler-Lagrange equation available and focus on the uniqueness part of the results in \cite{BO}, through a non-smooth Picone inequality.