Degree and global bifurcation for elliptic equations with multivalued unilateral conditions

A bifurcation problem for an elliptic multivalued boundary value problem with a real parameter is considered. The existence of global bifurcation between two eigenvalues of a certain type of the Laplacian is proved. For a class of abstract inclusions with compact multivalued mappings in a Hilbert space, it is shown how the degree can be determined near the eigenvalues of a particular type of an associated linear single-valued problem, and the jump of the degree is proved. As a consequence, global bifurcation for such abstract inclusions is obtained. The weak formulation of the boundary value problem mentioned is a particular case.