A short proof of the existence of the solution to elliptic boundary problem

Abstract

There are several methods for proving the existence of the solution to the elliptic boundary problem $Lu=f\text{ in}D,u{|}_S=0,(\ast )$. Here $L$ is an elliptic operator of second order, $f$ is a given function, and uniqueness of the solution to problem (*) is assumed. The known methods for proving the existence of the solution to (*) include variational methods, integral equation methods, method of upper and lower solutions. In this paper a method based on functional analysis is proposed. This method is conceptually simple and technically is easy. It requires some known a priori estimates and a continuation in a parameter method.