The inverse problem of the calculus of variations for scalar fourth-order ordinary differential equations

A simple invariant characterization of the scalar fourth-order ordinary differential equations which admit a variational multiplier is given. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a multiplier are expressed in terms of the vanishing of two relative invariants which can be associated with any fourth-order equation through the application of Cartan's equivalence method. The solution to the inverse problem for fourth-order scalar equations provides the solution to an equivalence problem for second-order Lagrangians, as well as the precise relationship between the symmetry algebra of a variational equation and the divergence symmetry algebra of the associated Lagrangian.

     

Symmetry of minimizers for some nonlocal variational problems

We present a new approach to study the symmetry of minimizers for a large class of nonlocal variational problems. This approach which generalizes the Reflection method is based on the existence of some integral identities. We study the identities that lead to symmetry results, the functionals that can be considered and the function spaces that can be used. Then we use our method to prove the symmetry of minimizers for a class of variational problems involving the fractional powers of Laplacian, for the generalized Choquard functional and for the standing waves of the Davey-Stewartson equation.     

Overdetermined anisotropic elliptic problems

A symmetry result is established for solutions to overdetermined anisotropic elliptic problems in variational form, which extends Serrin’s theorem dealing with the isotropic radial case. The involved anisotropy arises from replacing the Euclidean norm of the gradient with an arbitrary norm in the associated variational integrals. The resulting symmetry of the solutions is that of the so-called Wulff shape.     

椭圆方程的变换群与变分恒等式

讨论了椭圆方程的变换群与变分恒等式的关系,利用变分对称群的性质得到一类变分恒等式.通过计算变分对称群得到了寻找非星形区域方法并举例进行了说明.     

A finite element model of temperature distribution in the human torso

A finite element model is developed for the calculation of steady state temperature distribution throughout the human torso. The torso is considered as a cylinder and the differential equations of the model are expressed in their equivalent variational form. The solution is approximated using a rational finite element basis which fully exploits symmetry.     

On the use of the rotation minimizing frame for variational systems with Euclidean symmetry

We study variational systems for space curves, for which the Lagrangian or action principle has a Euclidean symmetry, using the Rotation Minimizing frame, also known as the Normal, Parallel, or Bishop frame. Such systems have previously been studied using the Frenet–Serret frame. However, the Rotation Minimizing frame has many advantages, and can be used to study a wider class of examples. We achieve our results by extending the powerful symbolic invariant calculus for Lie group–based moving frames, to the Rotation Minimizing frame case. To date, the invariant calculus has been developed for frames defined by algebraic equations. By contrast, the Rotation Minimizing frame is defined by a differential equation. In this paper, we derive the recurrence formulae for the symbolic invariant differentiation of the symbolic invariants. We then derive the syzygy operator needed to obtain Noether's conservation laws as well as the Euler–Lagrange equations directly in terms of the invariants, for variational problems with a Euclidean symmetry. We show how to use the six Noether laws to ease the integration problem for the minimizing curve, once the Euler–Lagrange equations have been solved for the generating differential invariants. Our applications include variational problems used in the study of strands of proteins, nucleid acids, and polymers.     

Error analysis of variational integrators of unconstrained Lagrangian systems

An error analysis of variational integrators is obtained, by blowing up the discrete variational principles, all of which have a singularity at zero time-step. Divisions by the time step lead to an order that is one less than observed in simulations, a deficit that is repaired with the help of a new past–future symmetry. G. W. Patrick is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Reseach Council, Canada.     

Analysis of the time fractional nonlinear diffusion equation from diffusion process

Under investigation in this paper is a time fractional nonlinear diffusion equation which can be utilized to express various diffusion processes. The symmetry of this considered equation has been obtained via fractional Lie group approach with the sense of Riemann-Liouville (R-L) fractional derivative. Based on the symmetry, this equation can be changed into an ordinary differential equation of fractional order. Moreover, some new invariant solutions of this considered equation are found. Lastly, utilising the Noether theorem and the general form of Noether type theorem, the conservation laws are yielded to the time fractional nonlinear diffusion equation, respectively. Our discovery that there are no conservation laws under the general form of Noether type theorem case. This result tells us the symmetry of this equation is not variational symmetry of the considered functional. These rich results can give us more information to interpret this equation.     

The Neumann problem for the Hénon equation,trace inequalities and Steklov eigenvalues

We consider the Neumann problem for the Hénon equation. We obtain existence results and we analyze the symmetry properties of the ground state solutions. We prove that some symmetry and variational properties can be expressed in terms of eigenvalues of a Steklov problem. Applications are also given to extremals of certain trace inequalities.     

Divergence symmetries of semilinear polyharmonic equations involving critical nonlinearities

It is shown that a Lie point symmetry of the semilinear polyharmonic equations involving nonlinearities of power or exponential type is a variational/divergence symmetry if and only if the equation parameters assume critical values. The corresponding conservation laws for critical polyharmonic semilinear equations are established.     

Radial symmetry and symmetry breaking for some interpolation inequalities

We analyze the radial symmetry of extremals for a class of interpolation inequalities known as Caffarelli?CKohn?CNirenberg inequalities, and for a class of weighted logarithmic Hardy inequalities which appear as limiting cases of the first ones. In both classes we show that there exists a continuous surface that splits the set of admissible parameters into a region where extremals are symmetric and a region where symmetry breaking occurs. In previous results, the symmetry breaking region was identified by showing the linear instability of the radial extremals. Here we prove that symmetry can be broken even within the set of parameters where radial extremals correspond to local minima for the variational problem associated with the inequality. For interpolation inequalities, such a symmetry breaking phenomenon is entirely new.     

Symmetry of minimizers of some fractional problems

We establish the existence and symmetry of all minimizers of a constrained variational problem involving the fractional gradient. This problem is closely connected to some fractional kinetic equations.     

Variational formula and overdetermined problem for the principle eigenvalue of k-Hessian operator

We first deduce the first variational formula and some overdetermined problems for the principle eigenvalue of the k-Hessian operator, and then prove Serrin type symmetry result for our overdetermined problems.     

A Lie symmetry analysis and explicit solutions of the two‐dimensional ∞‐Polylaplacian

In this work, we consider the Lie point symmetry analysis of a strongly nonlinear partial differential equation of third order, the ∞‐Polylaplacian, in two spatial dimensions. This equation is a higher order generalization of the ∞‐Laplacian, also known as Aronsson's equation, and arises as the analog of the Euler–Lagrange equations of a second‐order variational principle in L^∞. We obtain its full symmetry group, one‐dimensional Lie subalgebras and the corresponding symmetry reductions to ordinary differential equations. Finally, we use the Lie symmetries to construct new invariant ∞‐Polyharmonic functions.     

DEFORMING SOLUTIONS OF GEOMETRIC VARIATIONAL PROBLEMS WITH VARYING SYMMETRY GROUPS

We prove an equivariant implicit function theorem for variational problems that are invariant under a varying symmetry group (corresponding to a bundle of Lie groups). Motivated by applications to families of geometric variational problems lacking regularity, several non-smooth extensions of the result are discussed. Among such applications is the submanifold problem of deforming the ambient metric preserving a given variational property of a prescribed family of submanifolds, e.g., constant mean curvature, up to the action of the corresponding ambient isometry groups.     

On the Liapunov-Movchan and the energy theories of stability

The asymptotic stability result obtained by Pritchard for the Benard and Taylor problems employing the Liapunov-Movchan theory is optimized by using inequalities and variational techniques. The equivalence between this result and the one obtained by the energy theory is demonstrated. Future applications as related to the symmetry of the operators are discussed.     

Variational principles for variational inequalities

This paper describes, and analyzes, variational principles for the solutions of finite dimensional variational inequalities on closed convex sets. No symmetry conditions are required for the function. A saddle point characterization of the solutions is also described. The relevant functionals are explicitly described for some particular examples.     

The least prior deviation quasi-Newton update

We propose a new choice for the parameter in the Broyden class and derive and discuss properties of the resulting self-complementary quasi-Newton update. Our derivation uses a variational principle that minimizes the extent to which the quasi-Newton relation is violated on a prior step. We discuss the merits of the variational principle used here vis-a-vis the other principle in common use, which minimizes deviation from the current Hessian or Hessian inverse approximation in an appropriate Frobenius matrix norm. One notable advantage of our principle is an inherent symmetry that results in the same update being obtained regardless of whether the Hessian matrix or the inverse Hessian matrix is updated.We describe the relationship of our update to the BFGS, SR1 and DFP updates under particular assumptions on line search accuracy, type of function being minimized (quadratic or nonquadratic) and norm used in the variational principle.Some considerations concerning implementation are discussed and we also give a numerical illustration based on an experimental implementation using MATLAB.Corresponding author.     

Variational Approach to the Orbital Stability of Standing Waves of the Gross-Pitaevskii Equation

This paper is concerned with the mathematical analysis of a masssubcritical nonlinear Schrödinger equation arising from fiber optic applications. We show the existence and symmetry of minimizers of the associated constrained variational problem. We also prove the orbital stability of such solutions referred to as standing waves and characterize the associated orbit. In the last section, we illustrate our results with few numerical simulations.     

Noether's theorem on time scales

We show that for any variational symmetry of the problem of the calculus of variations on time scales there exists a conserved quantity along the respective Euler-Lagrange extremals.