Thermal capacity estimates on the Allen-Cahn equation

We consider the Allen-Cahn equation in a well-known scaling regime which gives motion by mean curvature. A well-known transformation of this PDE, using its standing wave, yields a PDE the solution of which is approximately the distance function to an interface moving by mean curvature. We give bounds on this last fact in terms of thermal capacity. Our techniques hinge upon the analysis of a certain semimartingale associated with a certain PDE (the PDE for the approximate distance function) and an analogue of some results by Bañuelos and Øksendal relating lifetimes of diffusions to exterior capacities.

     

Morse index of layered solutions to the heterogeneous Allen-Cahn equation

Let u? be a single layered radially symmetric unstable solution of the Allen-Cahn equation −?²Δu=u(u−a(|x|))(1−u) over the unit ball with Neumann boundary conditions. We estimate the small eigenvalues of the linearized eigenvalue problem at u? when ? is small. As a consequence, we prove that the Morse index of u? is asymptotically given by [μ^∗+o(1)]?−(N−1)/2 with μ^∗ a certain positive constant expressed in terms of parameters determined by the Allen-Cahn equation. Our estimates on the small eigenvalues have many other applications. For example, they may be used in the search of other non-radially symmetric solutions, which will be considered in forthcoming papers.     

A two-grid finite element method for the Allen-Cahn equation with the logarithmic potential

In this paper, we present a two-grid finite element method for the Allen-Cahn equation with the logarithmic potential. This method consists of two steps. In the first step, based on a fully implicit finite element method, the Allen-Cahn equation is solved on a coarse grid with mesh size H. In the second step, a linearized system whose nonlinear term is replaced by the value of the first step is solved on a fine grid with mesh size h. We give the energy stabilities of the traditional finite element method and the two-grid finite element method. The optimal convergence order of the two-grid finite element method in H¹ norm is achieved when the mesh sizes satisfy h = O(H²). Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the validity of the proposed scheme. The results show that the two-grid method can save the CPU time while keeping the same convergence rate.     

Phase transition layers with boundary intersection for an inhomogeneous Allen–Cahn equation

We consider the nonlinear problem of inhomogeneous Allen–Cahn equation

${?}^2\mathrm{\Delta }u+V(y)u(1?u^2)=0\text{in}\mathrm{\Omega },\frac{?u}{?\nu }=0\text{on}?\mathrm{\Omega },$

where Ω is a bounded domain in ${\mathbb{R}}^2$ with smooth boundary, ? is a small positive parameter, ν denotes the unit outward normal of ?Ω, V is a positive smooth function on $\overline{\mathrm{\Omega }}$. Let Γ be a curve intersecting orthogonally with ?Ω at exactly two points and dividing Ω into two parts. Moreover, Γ satisfies stationary and non-degenerate conditions with respect to the functional ${\int }_{\mathrm{\Gamma }}{V}^{1/2}$. We can prove that there exists a solution $u_{?}$ such that: as $?\to 0$, $u_{?}$ approaches +1 in one part of Ω, while tends to ?1 in the other part, except a small neighborhood of Γ.     

On the convergence of a fourth order evolution equation to the Allen-Cahn equation

We construct special sequences of solutions to a fourth order nonlinear parabolic equation of Cahn-Hilliard/Allen-Cahn type, converging to the second order Allen-Cahn equation. We consider the evolution equation without boundary, as well as the stationary case on domains with Dirichlet boundary conditions. The proofs exploit the equivalence of the fourth order equation with a system of two second order elliptic equations with “good signs”.     

Explicit Hybrid Numerical Method for the Allen-Cahn Type Equations on Curved Surfaces

We present a simple and fast explicit hybrid numerical scheme for the motion by mean curvature on curved surfaces in three-dimensional (3D) space. We numerically solve the Allen-Cahn (AC) and conservative Allen-Cahn (CAC) equations on a triangular surface mesh. We use the operator splitting method and an explicit hybrid numerical method. For the AC equation, we solve the diffusion term using a discrete Laplace-Beltrami operator on the triangular surface mesh and solve the reaction term using the closed-form solution, which is obtained using the separation of variables. Next, for the CAC equation, we additionally solve the time-space dependent Lagrange multiplier using an explicit scheme. Our numerical scheme is computationally fast and efficient because we use an explicit hybrid numerical scheme. We perform various numerical experiments to demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of the proposed scheme.     

Multi-layered stationary solutions for a spatially inhomogeneous Allen-Cahn equation

We consider stationary solutions of a spatially inhomogeneous Allen-Cahn-type nonlinear diffusion equation in one space dimension. The equation involves a small parameter ε, and its nonlinearity has the form h(x)²f(u), where h(x) represents the spatial inhomogeneity and f(u) is derived from a double-well potential with equal well-depth. When ε is very small, stationary solutions develop transition layers. We first show that those transition layers can appear only near the local minimum and local maximum points of the coefficient h(x) and that at most a single layer can appear near each local minimum point of h(x). We then discuss the stability of layered stationary solutions and prove that the Morse index of a solution coincides with the total number of its layers that appear near the local maximum points of h(x). We also show the existence of stationary solutions having clustering layers at the local maximum points of h(x).     

Time-Periodic Solution to the Compressible Navier–Stokes/Allen–Cahn System

In this paper,we investigate the time-periodic solution to a coupled compressible Navier–Stokes/Allen–Cahn system which describes the motion of a mixture of two viscous compressible fluids with a time periodic external force in a periodic domain in R^N.The existence of the time-periodic solution to the system is established by using an approach of parabolic regularization and combining with the topology degree theory,and then the uniqueness of the period solution is obtained under some smallness and symmetry assumptions on the external force.     

Numerical Analysis of the Allen-Cahn Equation with Coarse Meshes

In this paper, we consider the finite difference semi-discretization of the Allen-Cahn equation with the diffuse interface parameter $\varepsilon$. While it is natural to make the mesh size parameter $h$ smaller than $\varepsilon$, it is desirable that $h$ is as big as possible in view of computational costs. In fact, when $h$ is bigger than $\varepsilon$ (i.e., the mesh is relatively coarse), it is observed that the numerical solution does not move at all. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the mechanism of this phenomenon. We will prove that the numerical solution converges to that of the ordinary equation without the diffusion term if $h$ is bigger than $\varepsilon$. Numerical examples are presented to support the result.     

Singly Periodic Solutions of the Allen-Cahn Equation and the Toda Lattice

The Allen-Cahn equation ? Δu = u ? u ³ in ?² has family of trivial singly periodic solutions that come from the one dimensional periodic solutions of the problem ?u″ =u ? u ³. In this paper we construct a non-trivial family of singly periodic solutions to the Allen-Cahn equation. Our construction relies on the connection between this equation and the infinite Toda lattice. We show that for each one-soliton solution to the infinite Toda lattice we can find a singly periodic solution to the Allen-Cahn equation, such that its level set is close to the scaled one-soliton. The solutions we construct are analogues of the family of Riemann minimal surfaces in ?³.     

The fractional Tikhonov regularization method for simultaneous inversion of the source term and initial value in a space-fractional Allen-Cahn equation

In this paper, we consider the inverse problem for identifying the source term and initial value simultaneously in a space-fractional Allen-Cahn equation. This problem is ill-posed, i.e., the solution of this problem does not depend continuously on the data. The fractional Tikhonov method is used to solve this problem. Under the a priori and the a posteriori regularization parameter choice rules, the error estimates between the regularization solutions and the exact solutions are obtained, respectively. Different numerical examples are presented to illustrate the validity and effectiveness of our method.     

Existence and global stability of traveling curved fronts in the Allen-Cahn equations

This paper is concerned with existence and stability of traveling curved fronts for the Allen-Cahn equation in the two-dimensional space. By using the supersolution and the subsolution, we construct a traveling curved front, and show that it is the unique traveling wave solution between them. Our supersolution can be taken arbitrarily large, which implies some global asymptotic stability for the traveling curved front.     

Analytical and numerical solutions of mathematical biology models: The Newell-Whitehead-Segel and Allen-Cahn equations

In this paper, we combine the unified and the explicit exponential finite difference methods to obtain both analytical and numerical solutions for the Newell-Whitehead-Segel–type equations which are very important in mathematical biology. The unified method is utilized to obtain various solitary wave solutions for these equations. Numerical solutions of the specific case studies are investigated by using the explicit exponential finite difference method ensures the accuracy and reliability of the proposed scheme. After obtaining the approximate solutions, convergence analysis and error estimation (the error norms and absolute errors) are presented by comparing these results with the analytical obtained solutions and other methods in the literature through tables and graphs. The obtained analytical and numerical results are in good agreement.     

Catenoidal Layers for the Allen-Cahn Equation in Bounded Domains

This paper presents a new family of solutions to the singularly perturbed Allen-Cahn equation α~2Δu + u(1- u~2) = 0 in a smooth bounded domain Ω R~3, with Neumann boundary condition and α 0 a small parameter. These solutions have the property that as α→ 0, their level sets collapse onto a bounded portion of a complete embedded minimal surface with finite total curvature intersecting ?Ω orthogonally and that is non-degenerate respect to ?Ω. The authors provide explicit examples of surfaces to which the result applies.     

一维Allen-Cahn方程紧差分格式的离散最大化原则和能量稳定性研究

本文主要研究相场模拟中的Allen-Cahn模型,考虑一维Allen-Cahn方程紧差分方法的数值逼近.建立具有O(∫τ2+h4)精度的全离散紧差分格式,证明在合理的步长比和时间步长的约束下,其数值解满足离散最大化原则,在此基础上,研究了全离散格式的能量稳定性.最后给出数值算例.     

椭圆型方程的内层和边界层渐近解

本文讨论了一类半线性椭圆型方程边值问题.利用微分不等式理论,研究了边值问题内层和边界层解的存在性和渐近性态.     

One-Dimensional Symmetry and Liouville Type Results for the Fourth Order Allen-Cahn Equation in \RN

In this paper, the authors prove an analogue of Gibbons' conjecture for the extended fourth order Allen-Cahn equation in R~N, as well as Liouville type results for some solutions converging to the same value at infinity in a given direction. The authors also prove a priori bounds and further one-dimensional symmetry and rigidity results for semilinear fourth order elliptic equations with more general nonlinearities.     

Effect of Space Dimensions on Equilibrium Solutions of Cahn-Hilliard and Conservative Allen-Cahn Equations

In this study, we investigate the effect of space dimensions on the equilibrium solutions of the Cahn-Hilliard (CH) and conservative Allen-Cahn (CAC) equations in one, two, and three dimensions. The CH and CAC equations are fourth-order parabolic partial and second-order integro-partial differential equations, respectively. The former is used to model phase separation in binary mixtures, and the latter is used to model mean curvature flow with conserved mass. Both equations have been used for modeling various interface problems. To study the space-dimension effect on both the equations, we consider the equilibrium solution profiles for symmetric, radially symmetric, and spherically symmetric drop shapes. We highlight the different dynamics obtained from the CH and CAC equations. In particular, we find that there is a large difference between the solutions obtained from these equations in three-dimensional space.     

The Cahn-Hilliard Equation and the Allen-Cahn Equation on Manifolds with Conical Singularities

We consider the Cahn-Hilliard equation on a manifold with conical singularities. We first show the existence of bounded imaginary powers for suitable closed extensions of the bilaplacian. Combining results and methods from singular analysis with a theorem of Clément and Li we then prove the short time solvability of the Cahn-Hilliard equation in L_p-Mellin-Sobolev spaces and obtain the asymptotics of the solution near the conical points. We deduce, in particular, that regularity is preserved on the smooth part of the manifold and singularities remain confined to the conical points. We finally show how the Allen-Cahn equation can be treated by simpler considerations. Again we obtain short time solvability and the behavior near the conical points.