Low-dimensional compact embeddings of symmetric Sobolev spaces with applications

Abstract

If Ω is an unbounded domain in ℝN and p > N, the Sobolev space W1,p(Ω) is not compactly embedded into L∈(Ω). Nevertheless, we prove that if Ω is a strip-like domain, then the subspace of W1,p(Ω) consisting of the cylindrically symmetric functions is compactly embedded into L∈(Ω). As an application, we study a Neumann problem involving the p-Laplacian operator and an oscillating nonlinearity, proving the existence of infinitely many weak solutions. Analogous results are obtained for the case of partial symmetry.