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.     

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).     

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.     

基于抛物线插值的Allen-Cahn方程时间两重网格有限元算法

本文运用抛物线插值的时间两重网格(TT-M)有限元(FE)算法求解非线性Allen-Cahn方程.首先,对非线性Allen-Cahn方程,在空间和时间上分别采用有限元方法以及二阶θ格式进行离散.其次,使用抛物线插值的时间两重网格有限元算法求解Allen-Cahn方程.同时,在粗细时间步长上,对数值解进行了稳定性分析和误...     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Vanishing viscosity limit for a coupled Navier-Stokes/Allen-Cahn system

In this paper, we study the vanishing viscosity limit for a coupled Navier-Stokes/Allen-Cahn system in a bounded domain. We first show the local existence of smooth solutions of the Euler/Allen-Cahn equations by modified Galerkin method. Then using the boundary layer function to deal with the mismatch of the boundary conditions between Navier-Stokes and Euler equations, and assuming that the energy dissipation for Navier-Stokes equation in the boundary layer goes to zero as the viscosity tends to zero, we prove that the solutions of the Navier-Stokes/Allen-Cahn system converge to that of the Euler/Allen-Cahn system in a proper small time interval. In addition, for strong solutions of the Navier-Stokes/Allen-Cahn system in 2D, the convergence rate is cν1/2.     

奇摄动拟线性椭圆型方程边值问题的内层现象

本文研究一类奇摄动拟线性椭圆型方程Dirichlet问题的内层现象,利用偏微分不等式理论,通过构造具有内层校正的上、下解函数,给出了奇摄动问题内层现象的解的存在性及其余项估计。     

Mixed states for an Allen-Cahn type equation,II

This paper continues the recent study of an Allen-Cahn model PDE [1] by eliminating a strong spatial reversibility condition and by weakening certain nondegeneracy conditions on families of basic heteroclinic solutions, enabling us to obtain multibump solutions in a much more general setting. As in [1], novel minimization arguments play a key role in finding solutions.Received: 7 April 2003, Accepted: 7 October 2003, Published online: 24 November 2003Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 35J80, 58E30Paul H. Rabinowitz: This research was sponsored in part by the National Science Foundation under grant #MCS-8110556. Any reproduction for the purpose of the U.S. government is permitted.     

Sharp-interface limit of the Allen-Cahn action functional in one space dimension

We analyze the sharp-interface limit of the action minimization problem for the stochastically perturbed Allen-Cahn equation in one space dimension. The action is a deterministic functional which is linked to the behavior of the stochastic process in the small noise limit. Previously, heuristic arguments and numerical results have suggested that the limiting action should “count” two competing costs: the cost to nucleate interfaces and the cost to propagate them. In addition, constructions have been used to derive an upper bound for the minimal action which was proved optimal on the level of scaling. In this paper, we prove that for d = 1, the upper bound achieved by the constructions is in fact sharp. Furthermore, we derive a lower bound for the functional itself, which is in agreement with the heuristic picture. To do so, we characterize the sharp-interface limit of the space-time energy measures. The proof relies on an extension of earlier results for the related elliptic problem. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000) 49J45, 35R60, 60F10     

Maximal attractor for an Ostwald ripening model

We consider a family of phase-field models that couples a Cahn-Hilliard with several Allen-Cahn equations. We show that such family of phase-field models possesses a maximal attractor with finite fractal dimension.     

The heterogeneous Allen-Cahn equation in a ball: Solutions with layers and spikes

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. Based on our estimate of the small eigenvalues of the linearized eigenvalue problem at u? when ? is small, we construct solutions of the form u?+v?, with v? non-radially symmetric and close to zero in the unit ball except near one point x₀ such that |x₀| is close to a nondegenerate critical point of a(r). Such a solution has a sharp layer as well as a spike.