Infinite energy solutions to vortex equations governing the fractional quantum Hall effect

Abstract

In this paper, we utilize weighted Sobolev spaces to establish an existence theory for infinite energy solutions to a coupled non-linear elliptic system. This system describes the fractional quantum Hall effect in two-dimensional double-layered systems. Via variational methods in a suitable weighted Sobolev space, we prove the existence of multiple vortices over the full plane. These methods include constrained minimization of an action functional and the existence of a critical point, known as a saddle point, by way of a mountain pass theorem. Furthermore, for these solutions, which are necessarily of infinite energy, we establish exponential decay estimates.