Entire large solutions for semilinear elliptic equations

We analyze the semilinear elliptic equation $\Delta u=\rho(x) f(u)$, $u>0$ in ${\mathbf R}^D$ $(D\ge3)$, with a particular emphasis put on the qualitative study of entire large solutions, that is, solutions $u$ such that $\lim_{|x|\rightarrow +\infty}u(x)=+\infty$. Assuming that $f$ satisfies the Keller-Osserman growth assumption and that $\rho$ decays at infinity in a suitable sense, we prove the existence of entire large solutions. We then discuss the more delicate questions of asymptotic behavior at infinity, uniqueness and symmetry of solutions.