Abstract.We study the nonlinear eigenvalue problem -Au = Xm(x)\uf~~u iniî, -=0 onc*C2, where p > 1 , À e R. p OnFor fn m(x) < 0, we prove that the first positive eigenvalue À, exists and is simple and unique, in the sense that it is the only eigenvalue with a positive eigenfunction.In the case jnm(x) = 0 , we prove that A0 = 0 is the only eigenvalue with a positive eigenfunction.