A proof of the fractional Lane--Emden conjecture

Abstract

Let $n\ge2$, $0 0$. We prove a Liouville theorem for the fractional Lane--Emden system \[ (-Δ)^s u=v^p,\qquad (-Δ)^s v=u^q, \qquad u, v>0 \qquad\text{in }\R^n. \] More precisely, we show that the system does not have a strictly positive entire solution whenever \[ \frac1{p+1}+\frac1{q+1}>\frac{n-2s}{n}. \] No radial symmetry, global boundedness, finite-energy assumption, or prescribed decay at infinity is required. Our proof adapts the localized potential-kernel virial and source-layer interval-pressure method recently introduced for the classical Hénon--Lane--Emden system. The basic reason the method also works in the fractional setting is simple: the Riesz kernel associated with $(-Δ)^s$ has the same logarithmic derivative structure as the Newton kernel, with $n-2$ replaced by $n-2s$. However, two genuinely nonlocal points require special treatments. When $2s\le1$, the individual kernel-gradient terms are not locally absolutely integrable, so the two equations must be combined before the diagonal limit is taken. When $2s>n-1$, the kernel restricted to a line is not integrable at infinity, and the interval comparison must therefore be formulated using nonnegative extended integrals. After these issues are resolved, a localized virial identity, a one-dimensional interval-pair inequality, and an averaged source-layer estimate yield a universal local energy bound. The subcritical scaling then forces the same energy to diverge, giving the desired contradiction.