Liouville theorems for mixed local and nonlocal indefinite equations

Abstract

We investigate the qualitative properties of positive solutions to mixed local-nonlocal equations with indefinite nonlinearities, emphasizing the interaction between classical and fractional Laplacians. We first establish maximum principles and prove strict monotonicity along the $x_1$-direction for mixed elliptic operators. By combining a mollified first eigenfunction with a suitable sub-solution, we derive nonexistence results for the mixed operator $ (-\Delta)^s - \Delta$ via a contradiction argument. These results are further extended to the parabolic setting, incorporating both the Marchaud-type fractional time derivative and the classical first-order derivative, revealing new qualitative features under dual nonlocality. A key aspect of our approach is a careful adaptation of the method of moving planes to the mixed local-nonlocal context. By addressing the distinct scaling behaviors of local and nonlocal terms, the method yields monotonicity and Liouville-type results without standard decay assumptions, and provides a framework potentially applicable to a broader class of mixed elliptic and parabolic problems.