Bifurcation of positive solutions to scalar reaction–diffusion equations with nonlinear boundary condition

The bifurcation of non-trivial steady state solutions of a scalar reaction–diffusion equation with nonlinear boundary conditions is considered using several new abstract bifurcation theorems. The existence and stability of positive steady state solutions are proved using a unified approach. The general results are applied to a Laplace equation with nonlinear boundary condition and bistable nonlinearity, and an elliptic equation with superlinear nonlinearity and sublinear boundary conditions.     

Roles of weight functions in a nonlinear nonlocal parabolic system

This paper deals with a semilinear parabolic system with coupled nonlinear nonlocal sources subject to weighted nonlocal Dirichlet boundary conditions. We establish the conditions for global and non-global solutions. It is interesting to observe that the weight functions for the nonlocal Dirichlet boundary conditions play substantial roles in determining not only whether the solutions are global or non-global, but also whether (for the non-global solutions) the blowing up occurs for any positive initial data or just for large ones.     

Characteristic boundary layers for parabolic perturbations of quasilinear hyperbolic problems

In this paper, we study the existence and nonlinear stability of the totally characteristic boundary layer for the quasilinear equations with positive definite viscosity matrix under the assumption that the boundary matrix vanishes identically on the boundary x=0. We carry out a series of weighted estimates to the boundary layer equations—Prandtl type equations to get the regularity and the far field behavior of the solutions. This allows us to perform a weighted energy estimate for the error equation to prove the stability of the boundary layers. The stability result finally implies the asymptotic limit of the viscous solutions.     

The effects of indefinite nonlinear boundary conditions on the structure of the positive solutions set of a logistic equation

We investigate a semilinear elliptic equation with a logistic nonlinearity and an indefinite nonlinear boundary condition, both depending on a parameter λ. Overall, we analyze the effect of the indefinite nonlinear boundary condition on the structure of the positive solutions set. Based on variational and bifurcation techniques, our main results establish the existence of three nontrivial non-negative solutions for some values of λ, as well as their asymptotic behavior. These results suggest that the positive solutions set contains an S-shaped component in some case, as well as a combination of a C-shaped and an S-shaped components in another case.     

On a quasilinear parabolic–elliptic chemotaxis system with logistic source

This paper deals with a quasilinear parabolic–elliptic chemotaxis system with logistic source, under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions in a smooth bounded domain. For the case of positive diffusion function, it is shown that the corresponding initial boundary value problem possesses a unique global classical solution which is uniformly bounded. Moreover, if the diffusion function is zero at some point, or a positive diffusion function and the logistic damping effect is rather mild, we proved that the weak solutions are global existence. Finally, it is asserted that the solutions approach constant equilibria in the large time for a specific case of the logistic source.     

Blow-up solutions and global solutions for nonlinear parabolic problems

This paper deals with the blow-up of positive solutions for a nonlinear parabolic equation subject to nonlinear boundary conditions. We obtain the conditions under which the solutions may exist globally or blow up in a finite time, by a new approach. Moreover, upper estimates of the “blow-up time”, blow-up rate and global solutions are obtained also.     

Bifurcation of stable equilibria and nonlinear flux boundary condition with indefinite weight

We study bifurcation and stability of positive equilibria of a parabolic problem under a nonlinear Neumann boundary condition having a parameter and an indefinite weight. The main motivation is the selection migration problem involving two alleles and no gene flux acrossing the boundary, introduced by Fisher and Fleming, and Henry?s approach to the problem.Local and global structures of the set of equilibria are given. While the stability of constant equilibria is analyzed, the exponential stability of the unique bifurcating nonconstant equilibrium solution is established. Diagrams exhibiting the bifurcation and stability structures are also furnished. Moreover the asymptotic behavior of such solutions on the boundary of the domain, as the positive parameter goes to infinity, is also provided.The results are obtained via classical tools like the Implicit Function Theorem, bifurcation from a simple eigenvalue theorem and the exchange of stability principle, in a combination with variational and dynamical arguments.     

Permanence under strong aggressions is possible

This paper analyzes the limiting behavior of the positive solutions of a general class of sublinear elliptic weighted mixed boundary value problems as the amplitude of the positive part of the lower order terms of the differential operator blows up to infinity. The main result establishes that the positive solutions approximate zero within the support of the positive part of the potential, whereas they stabilize to the positive solution of a certain elliptic mixed boundary value problem on its complement. Further, we use this result for deriving some general principles in competing species dynamics. Precisely, we shall show that in the presence of a refuge region two competing species must coexist if their reproduction rates are sufficiently large, independently of the strength of the competition. It should be emphasized that the abstract theory developed here allows measuring how large the reproduction rates should be for being permanent, providing us, simultaneously, with the limiting behavior of each of the species separately. Basically, when the pressure from the competitor grows the tackled species concentrates within its refuge. The results of this paper are substantial extensions of some pioneer results found by one of the authors in [16, Section 4]. The main ingredients in deriving the main results of this paper are the continuous dependence of the principal eigenvalue with respect to a general class of perturbations of the domain around its Dirichlet boundary – very recent result coming from [6] – and the continuous dependence of the positive solutions of the sublinear problem – coming from [7].     

A multidimensional nonlinear sixth-order quantum diffusion equation

This paper is concerned with the analysis of a sixth-order nonlinear parabolic equation whose solutions describe the evolution of the particle density in a quantum fluid. We prove the global-in-time existence of weak nonnegative solutions in two and three space dimensions under periodic boundary conditions. Moreover, we show that these solutions are smooth and classical whenever the particle density is strictly positive, and we prove the long-time convergence to the spatial homogeneous equilibrium at a universal exponential rate. Our analysis strongly uses the Lyapunov property of the entropy functional.     

Existence and uniqueness of positive solutions to the boundary blow-up problem for an elliptic system

An elliptic system is considered in a smooth bounded domain, subject to Dirichlet boundary conditions of three different types. Based on the construction of certain upper and sub-solutions, we obtain some conditions on the parameters ai,bi,ci (i=1,2) and the exponents m,n,p,q to ensure the existence of positive solutions. Furthermore, uniqueness and boundary behavior of positive solutions is also discussed.     

One-sided exact boundary null controllability of entropy solutions to a class of hyperbolic systems of conservation laws

In this paper, the one-sided exact boundary null controllability of entropy solutions is studied for a class of general strictly hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, whose negative (or positive) characteristic families are all linearly degenerate. The authors first prove the well-posedness of semi-global solutions constructed as the limit of ε-approximate front tracking solutions to the mixed initial-boundary value problem with general nonlinear boundary conditions and they establish various properties of both the ε-approximate front tracking solutions and such solutions. By means of essential modifications of the strategy suggested by the first author in [17] originally for the local exact boundary controllability in the framework of classical solutions, the one-sided local exact boundary null controllability of entropy solutions can then be realized via boundary controls acting on one side of the boundary, where the incoming characteristics are all linearly degenerate.     

Smooth zero-contact-angle solutions to a thin-film equation around the steady state

In the simplest case of a linearly degenerate mobility, we view the thin-film equation as a classical free boundary problem. Our focus is on the regularity of solutions and of their free boundary in the “complete wetting” regime, which prescribes zero slope at the free boundary. In order to rule out of the analysis possible changes in the topology of the positivity set, we zoom into the free boundary by looking at perturbations of the stationary solution. Our strategy is based on a priori energy-type estimates which provide “minimal” conditions on the initial datum under which a unique global solution exists. In fact, this solution turns out to be smooth for positive times and to converge to the stationary solution for large times. As a consequence, we obtain smoothness and large-time behavior of the free boundary.     

Multiple constant sign and nodal solutions for nonlinear elliptic equations with the p-Laplacian

We consider a nonlinear elliptic equation driven by the p-Laplacian with Dirichlet boundary conditions. Using variational techniques combined with the method of upper-lower solutions and suitable truncation arguments, we establish the existence of at least five nontrivial solutions. Two positive, two negative and a nodal (sign-changing) solution. Our framework of analysis incorporates both coercive and p-superlinear problems. Also the result on multiple constant sign solutions incorporates the case of concave-convex nonlinearities.     

The existence of large solutions of semilinear elliptic equations with negative exponents

In this work, we consider semilinear elliptic equations with boundary blow-up whose nonlinearities involve a negative exponent. Combining sub- and super-solution arguments, comparison principles and topological degree theory, we establish the existence of large solutions. Furthermore, we show the existence of a maximal large positive solution.     

Shooting with degree theory: Analysis of some weighted poly-harmonic systems

In this paper, the author establishes the existence of positive entire solutions to a general class of semilinear poly-harmonic systems, which includes equations and systems of the weighted Hardy–Littlewood–Sobolev type. The novel method used implements the classical shooting method enhanced by topological degree theory. The key steps of the method are to first construct a target map which aims the shooting method and the non-degeneracy conditions guarantee the continuity of this map. With the continuity of the target map, a topological argument is used to show the existence of zeros of the target map. The existence of zeros of the map along with a non-existence theorem for the corresponding Navier boundary value problem imply the existence of positive solutions for the class of poly-harmonic systems.     

Loss of boundary conditions for fully nonlinear parabolic equations with superquadratic gradient terms

We study whether the solutions of a fully nonlinear, uniformly parabolic equation with superquadratic growth in the gradient satisfy initial and homogeneous boundary conditions in the classical sense, a problem we refer to as the classical Dirichlet problem. Our main results are: the nonexistence of global-in-time solutions of this problem, depending on a specific largeness condition on the initial data, and the existence of local-in-time solutions for initial data $C^1$ up to the boundary. Global existence is know when boundary conditions are understood in the viscosity sense, what is known as the generalized Dirichlet problem. Therefore, our result implies loss of boundary conditions in finite time. Specifically, a solution satisfying homogeneous boundary conditions in the viscosity sense eventually becomes strictly positive at some point of the boundary.     

Effects of reactive gradient term in a multi-nonlinear parabolic problem

This paper deals with parabolic equation ut=Δu+r|∇u|−aepu subject to nonlinear boundary flux ∂u/∂η=equ, where r>1, p,q,a>0. There are two positive sources (the gradient reaction and the boundary flux) and a negative one (the absorption) in the model. It is well known that blow-up or not of solutions depends on which one dominating the model, the positive or negative sources, and furthermore on the absorption coefficient for the balance case of them. The aim of the paper is to study the influence of the reactive gradient term on the asymptotic behavior of solutions. We at first determine the critical blow-up exponent, and then obtain the blow-up rate, the blow-up set as well as the spatial blow-up profile for blow-up solutions in the one-dimensional case. It turns out that the gradient term makes a substantial contribution to the formation of blow-up if and only if r?2, where the critical r=2 is such a balance situation of the two positive sources for which the effects of the gradient reaction and the boundary source are at the same level. In addition, it is observed that the gradient term with r>2 significantly affects the blow-up rate also. In fact, the gained blow-up rates themselves contain the exponent r of the gradient term. Moreover, the blow-up rate may be discontinuous with respect to parameters included in the problem due to convection. As for the influence of gradient perturbations on spatial blow-up profiles, we only need some coefficients related to r for the profile estimates, while the exponent of the profile itself is r-independent. This seems natural for boundary blow-up solutions that the spatial profiles mainly rely on the exponent of the boundary singularity.     

The Fujita exponent for the Cauchy problem in the hyperbolic space

It is well known that the heat kernel in the hyperbolic space has a different behavior for large times than the one in the Euclidean space. The main purpose of this paper is to study its effect on the positive solutions of Cauchy problems with power nonlinearities. Existence and non-existence results for local solutions are derived. Emphasis is put on their long time behavior and on Fujita?s phenomenon. To have the same situation as for the Cauchy problem in RN, namely finite time blow up for all solutions if the exponent is smaller than a critical value and existence of global solutions only for powers above the critical exponent, we must introduce a weight depending exponentially on the time. In this respect the situation is similar to problems in bounded domains with Dirichlet boundary conditions. Important tools are estimates for the heat kernel in the hyperbolic space and comparison principles.     

Stationary viscous flows at zero surface tension

Stationary solutions of free boundary problems for the Navier-Stokes equations are considered with and without surface tension. The linearized problem in a half-space is studied. Exact solutions of the Poiseuille type are obtained. Properties of the free boundary smoothness in 3-D and 2-D cases are discussed.