Enclosure theorems for generalized mean curvature flows

We define a generalized notion of mean curvature for regular hypersurfaces in . This enables us to introduce a new class of geometric curvature flows for which we prove enclosure theorems, using methods of Dierkes [D] and Hildebrandt [H]. In particular, we obtain “neck-pinching” results that generalize previous observations by Ecker [E] concerning the classical mean curvature flow. Received: 8 October 2001 / Accepted: 1 March 2002 / Published online: 23 May 2002     

Motion of vortex-filaments for superconductivity

In this paper, we study the asymptotic behavior of solutions to the simplified Ginzburg–Landau model for superconductivity. We prove that, asymptotically, vortex-filaments evolves according to the mean curvature flow in the sense of weak formulation. This can be seen as a first attempt to understand the nature of the motion of vortex filaments in three dimensions with magnetic field. On the other hand, this paper revisits the pioneering work of Bethuel–Orlandi–Smets [F. Bethuel, G. Orlandi, D. Smets, Convergence of the parabolic Ginzburg–Landau equation to motion by mean curvature, Ann. of Math. 163 (2006) 37–163] in a slightly relaxed setting.     

A quasilinear parabolic perturbation of the linear heat equation

This paper studies a quasilinear perturbation, through the mean curvature flow operator, of the classical linear heat equation. The mean curvature has the effect of maintaining bounded all classical positive steady-states of the model.     

Well‐posedness of a parabolic free boundary problem driven by diffusion and surface tension

Well‐posedness and regularity results are shown for a class of free boundary problems consisting of diffusion on a free domain where the boundary movement depends on its mean curvature of the boundary and the diffusion on the boundary, and initial conditions are radially symmetric. Short‐time existence and uniqueness of solutions in a suitable Sobolev space are shown using a fixed‐point argument. Higher regularity is a posteriori. Finally, it is shown that solutions exist globally in time and converge to equilibrium if the boundary movement depends on the mean curvature of the boundary and diffusion in a specific way. A mathematical model describing the swelling of a cell due to osmosis is treated as an example. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exact solution of a degenerate fully nonlinear diffusion equation

An exact solution is given for the evolution of an initially v-shaped surface by a fully nonlinear diffusion equation. This is the unique generalized solution that is continuous but not twice differentiable. Since the profile velocity decreases faster than the reciprocal of the profile curvature, the point of infinite curvature persists for a finite positive time.     

Existence of weak solutions for a non-classical sharp interface model for a two-phase flow of viscous,incompressible fluids

We introduce a new sharp interface model for the flow of two immiscible, viscous, incompressible fluids. In contrast to classical models for two-phase flows we prescribe an evolution law for the interfaces that takes diffusional effects into account. This leads to a coupled system of Navier–Stokes and Mullins–Sekerka type parts that coincides with the asymptotic limit of a diffuse interface model. We prove the long-time existence of weak solutions, which is an open problem for the classical two-phase model. We show that the phase interfaces have in almost all points a generalized mean curvature.     

Time maps and exact multiplicity results for one-dimensional prescribed mean curvature equations

We investigate various properties of time maps for one-dimensional prescribed mean curvature equations. Using these properties, we obtain some exact multiplicity results of positive solutions and sign-changing solutions. As it turned out, these quasilinear problems show many different phenomena from semilinear problems. Our methods are based on a detailed analysis of time maps.     

Some remarks on the level set flow by anisotropic curvature

We show that almost all level sets of the unique viscosity solution for general anisotropic mean curvature flow satisfy a weak form of the flow equation. This generalizes the case of isotropic mean curvature flow studied by Evans and Spruck, in which a relation between the viscosity solution and Brakke's varifold mean curvature flow is established. Received June 4, 1998 / Accepted February 26, 1999     

Evolving a convex closed curve to another one via a length-preserving linear flow

Motivated by a recent curvature flow introduced by Professor S.-T. Yau [S.-T. Yau, Private communication on his “Curvature Difference Flow”, 2007], we use a simple curvature flow to evolve a convex closed curve to another one (under the assumption that both curves have the same length). We show that, under the evolution, the length is preserved and if the curvature is bounded above during the evolution, then an initial convex closed curve can be evolved to another given one.     

Boundary value problems for rotationally symmetric mean curvature flows

The motion of surfaces by their mean curvature has been studied by several authors from different points of view. K. A. Brake studied this problem from the geometric measure theory point of view, the parametric problem was studied by G. Huisken [5]. Nonparametric mean curavture flow with boundary conditions was studied in [6] and [7]. Rotationally symmetric mean curvature flows have been treated by G. Dziuk, B. Kawohl [3], but also by S. Altschuler, S. B. Angenent and Y. Giga [2]. In this paper we consider the case in which the initial surface has rotational symmetry and we shall generalize the results in [3] in the sense that we shall give more general boundary conditions which enforce the formation of a singularity in finite time. The proofs rely entirely on parabolic maximum principles. Received: 6 September 2006     

Existence of translating solutions to the flow by powers of mean curvature on unbounded domains

In this paper, we prove the existence of classical solutions to the Dirichlet problem of a class of quasi-linear elliptic equations on an unbounded cone and a U-type domain in Rn(n?2). This problem comes from the study of mean curvature flow or its generalization, the flow by powers of mean curvature. Our approach is a modified version of the classical Perron method, where the solutions to the minimal surface equation are used as sub-solutions and a family auxiliary functions are constructed as super-solutions.     

A degenerate and strongly coupled quasilinear parabolic system not in divergence form

This paper deals with positive solutions of degenerate and strongly coupled quasi-linear parabolic system not in divergence form: u_t=v^p(u+au), v_t=u^q (v+bv) with null Dirichlet boundary condition and positive initial condition, where p, q, a and b are all positive constants, and p, q 1. The local existence of positive classical solution is proved. Moreover, it will be proved that: (i) When min {a, b} ₁ then there exists global positive classical solution, and all positive classical solutions can not blow up in finite time in the meaning of maximum norm (we can not prove the uniqueness result in general); (ii) When min {a, b} > ₁, there is no global positive classical solution (we can not still prove the uniqueness result), if in addition the initial datum (u₀v₀) satisfies u₀ + au₀ 0, v₀+bv₀ 0 in , then the positive classical solution is unique and blows up in finite time, where ₁ is the first eigenvalue of – in with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition.This project was supported by PRC grant NSFC 19831060 and 333 Project of JiangSu Province.     

Stefan-like problems with curvature

We study a two-phase free boundary problem in which the speed of the free boundary depends also on its curvature. It is assumed that the free boundary is Lipschitz and it is proved that the solution as well as the free boundary are classical.     

On symmetries of the heat equation

Two aims are pursued in this article. The first one is methodological and consists of demonstrating the symmetry calculation techniques based on the commutation relation on the example of the quasi-linear heat equation. The second one consists of investigating the following open question: is the algebra of higher symmetries of the linear heat equation exhausted by those which may be obtained by means of the classical symmetries and well-known recursion operators? A positive solution of this question is given.     

Variational approach for a class of cooperative systems

The aim of this work is to ascertain the characterization of the existence of coexistence states for a class of cooperative systems supported by the study of an associated non-local equation through classical variational methods. Thanks to those results, we are able to obtain the blow-up behavior of the solutions in the whole domain for certain values of the main continuation parameter.     

A density function and the structure of singularities of the mean curvature flow

We study singularity formation in the mean curvature flow of smooth, compact, embedded hypersurfaces of non-negative mean curvature in ⁿ⁺¹, primarily in the boundaryless setting. We concentrate on the so-called Type I case, studied by Huisken in [Hu 90], and extend and refine his results. In particular, we show that a certain restriction on the singular points covered by his analysis may be removed, and also establish results relating to the uniqueness of limit rescalings about singular points, and to the existence of slow-forming singularities of the flow.The main new ingredient introduced, to address these issues, is a certain density function, analogous to the usual density function in the study of harmonic maps in the stationary setting. The definition of this function is based on Huisken's important monotonicity formula for mean curvature flow.     

Global stability and pattern formation in a nonlocal diffusive Lotka–Volterra competition model

A diffusive Lotka–Volterra competition model with nonlocal intraspecific and interspecific competition between species is formulated and analyzed. The nonlocal competition strength is assumed to be determined by a diffusion kernel function to model the movement pattern of the biological species. It is shown that when there is no nonlocal intraspecific competition, the dynamics properties of nonlocal diffusive competition problem are similar to those of classical diffusive Lotka–Volterra competition model regardless of the strength of nonlocal interspecific competition. Global stability of nonnegative constant equilibria are proved using Lyapunov or upper–lower solution methods. On the other hand, strong nonlocal intraspecific competition increases the system spatiotemporal dynamic complexity. For the weak competition case, the nonlocal diffusive competition model may possess nonconstant positive equilibria for some suitably large nonlocal intraspecific competition coefficients.     

Positive solutions of quasilinear parabolic systems with Dirichlet boundary condition

Coupled systems for a class of quasilinear parabolic equations and the corresponding elliptic systems, including systems of parabolic and ordinary differential equations are investigated. The aim of this paper is to show the existence, uniqueness, and asymptotic behavior of time-dependent solutions. Also investigated is the existence of positive maximal and minimal solutions of the corresponding quasilinear elliptic system. The elliptic operators in both systems are allowed to be degenerate in the sense that the density-dependent diffusion coefficients Di(ui) may have the property Di(0)=0 for some or all i=1,…,N, and the boundary condition is ui=0. Using the method of upper and lower solutions, we show that a unique global classical time-dependent solution exists and converges to the maximal solution for one class of initial functions and it converges to the minimal solution for another class of initial functions; and if the maximal and minimal solutions coincide then the steady-state solution is unique and the time-dependent solution converges to the unique solution. Applications of these results are given to three model problems, including a scalar polynomial growth problem, a coupled system of polynomial growth problem, and a two component competition model in ecology.     

Some a priori bounds for solutions of the constant Gauss curvature equation

In this work, we give a priori height and gradient estimates for solutions of the prescribed constant Gauss curvature equation in Euclidean space. We shall consider convex radial graphs with positive constant mean curvature. The estimates are established by considering in such a graph, the Riemannian metric given by the second fundamental form of the immersion.