Bernoulli jets and the zero mean curvature equation

We consider an elliptic PDE problem related with fluid mechanics. We show that level sets of rescaled solutions satisfy the zero mean curvature equation in a suitable weak viscosity sense. In particular, such level sets cannot be touched from below (above) by a convex (concave) paraboloid in a suitably small neighborhood.     

Simply connected orthogonal polygons as unions of two orthogonally starshaped sets

Let S be a simply connected orthogonal polygon in the plane. The set S is a union of two sets which are starshaped via staircase paths (i.e., orthogonally starshaped) if and only if for every three points of S, at least two of these points see (via staircase paths) a common point of S. Moreover, the simple connectedness condition cannot be deleted.     

The dimension of the kernel in an intersection of starshaped sets

We establish the following Helly-type theorem: Let ${\cal K}$ be a family of compact sets in $\mathbb{R}^d$. If every d + 1 (not necessarily distinct) members of ${\cal K}$ intersect in a starshaped set whose kernel contains a translate of set A, then $\cap \{ K : K\; \hbox{in}\; {\cal K} \}$ also is a starshaped set whose kernel contains a translate of A. An analogous result holds when ${\cal K}$ is a finite family of closed sets in $\mathbb{R}^d$. Moreover, we have the following planar result: Define function f on $\{0, 1, 2\}$ by f(0) = f(2) = 3, f(1) = 4. Let ${\cal K}$ be a finite family of closed sets in the plane. For k = 0, 1, 2, if every f(k) (not necessarily distinct) members of ${\cal K}$ intersect in a starshaped set whose kernel has dimension at least k, then $\cap \{K : K\; \hbox{in}\; {\cal K}\}$ also is a starshaped set whose kernel has dimension at least k. The number f(k) is best in each case.Received: 4 June 2002     

Optimal summability of solutions to nonlinear elliptic problems

The strongest possible norms in a priori estimates for solutions to a class of second-order nonlinear elliptic boundary value problems are exhibited.     

Smoothness of generalized solutions for higher-order elliptic equations with nonlocal boundary conditions

The smoothness of generalized solutions for higher-order elliptic equations with nonlocal boundary conditions is studied in plane domains. Necessary and sufficient conditions upon the right-hand side of the problem and nonlocal operators under which the generalized solutions possess an appropriate smoothness are established.     

Determining starshaped sets and unions of starshaped sets by their sections

Let S be a compact set in R^d. Let p be a fixed point of S and let k be a fixed integer, 1 k <d. Then S is starshaped with p ker S if and only if for every k-dimensional flat F through p, F S is starshaped. Moreover, an analogue of this result holds for unions of starshaped sets as well.     

The dimension of the kernel in finite and infinite intersections of starshaped sets

Summary. We establish the following Helly-type result for infinite families of starshaped sets in Define the function f on {1, 2} by f(1) = 4, f(2) = 3. Let be a fixed positive number, and let be a uniformly bounded family of compact sets in the plane. For k = 1, 2, if every f(k) (not necessarily distinct) members of intersect in a starshaped set whose kernel contains a k-dimensional neighborhood of radius , then is a starshaped set whose kernel is at least k-dimensional. The number f(k) is best in each case. In addition, we present a few results concerning the dimension of the kernel in an intersection of starshaped sets in Some of these involve finite families of sets, while others involve infinite families and make use of the Hausdorff metric.     

Schauder estimates for elliptic operators with applications to nodal sets

In this paper we first give a priori estimates on asymptotic polynomials of solutions to elliptic equations at nodal points. This leads to a pointwise version of Schauder estimates. As an application we discuss the structure of nodal sets of solutions to elliptic equations with nonsmooth coefficients.     

The application of the auxiliary equation technique to a generalized mKdV equation with variable coefficients

The auxiliary differential equation technique is employed to investigate a generalized mKdV equation with variable coefficients. The Jacobi elliptic function wave-like solutions of the equation are expressed under several circumstances. The degenerated soliton-like and trigonometric function solutions are discussed in detail as the modulus of the Jacobi elliptic wave-like solutions tends to 1 and 0, respectively.     

Liouville-type theorems and decay estimates for solutions to higher order elliptic equations

Liouville-type theorems are powerful tools in partial differential equations. Boundedness assumptions of solutions are often imposed in deriving such Liouville-type theorems. In this paper, we establish some Liouville-type theorems without the boundedness assumption of nonnegative solutions to certain classes of elliptic equations and systems. Using a rescaling technique and doubling lemma developed recently in Polá?ik et al. (2007) [20], we improve several Liouville-type theorems in higher order elliptic equations, some semilinear equations and elliptic systems. More specifically, we remove the boundedness assumption of the solutions which is required in the proofs of the corresponding Liouville-type theorems in the recent literature. Moreover, we also investigate the singularity and decay estimates of higher order elliptic equations.     

Unions of three starshaped sets in R2

LetS be a compact, simply connected set inR ². If every boundary point ofS is clearly visible viaS from at least one of the three pointsa, b, c, thenS is a union of three starshaped sets whose kernels containa, b, c, respectively. The result fails when the number three is replaced by four.As a partial converse, ifS is a union of three starshaped sets whose kernels containa, b, c, respectively, then the set of points in the boundary ofS clearly visible from at least one ofa, b, orc is dense in the boundary ofS.Supported in part by NSF grant DMS-8705336.     

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 the existence of periodic weak solutions of Navier-Stokes equations in regions with periodically moving boundaries

We prove the existence of periodic weak solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations in regions with moving boundaries using the elliptic regularization.     

Asymptotic regularity conditions for the strong convergence towards weak limit sets and weak attractors of the 3D Navier-Stokes equations

The asymptotic behavior of solutions of the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations is considered on bounded smooth domains with no-slip boundary conditions and on periodic domains. Asymptotic regularity conditions are presented to ensure that the convergence of a Leray-Hopf weak solution to its weak ω-limit set (weak in the sense of the weak topology of the space H of square-integrable divergence-free velocity fields with the appropriate boundary conditions) are achieved also in the strong topology. It is proved that the weak ω-limit set is strongly compact and strongly attracts the corresponding solution if and only if all the solutions in the weak ω-limit set are continuous in the strong topology of H. Corresponding results for the strong convergence towards the weak global attractor of Foias and Temam are also presented. In this case, it is proved that the weak global attractor is strongly compact and strongly attracts the weak solutions, uniformly with respect to uniformly bounded sets of weak solutions, if and only if all the global weak solutions in the weak global attractor are strongly continuous in H.     

Uniform convergence of sequences of solutions of two-dimensional linear elliptic equations with unbounded coefficients

This paper deals with the behavior of two-dimensional linear elliptic equations with unbounded (and possibly infinite) coefficients. We prove the uniform convergence of the solutions by truncating the coefficients and using a pointwise estimate of the solutions combined with a two-dimensional capacitary estimate. We give two applications of this result: the continuity of the solutions of two-dimensional linear elliptic equations by a constructive approach, and the density of the continuous functions in the domain of the Γ-limit of equicoercive diffusion energies in dimension two. We also build two counter-examples which show that the previous results cannot be extended to dimension three.     

Conformally invariant fully nonlinear elliptic equations and isolated singularities

We study properties of solutions with isolated singularities to general conformally invariant fully nonlinear elliptic equations of second order. The properties being studied include radial symmetry and monotonicity of solutions in the punctured Euclidean space and the asymptotic behavior of solutions in a punctured ball. Some results apply to more general situations including more general fully nonlinear elliptic equations of second order, and some have been used in a companion paper to establish comparison principles and Liouville type theorems for degenerate elliptic equations.     

A Helly theorem for intersections of orthogonally starshaped sets

Let $\cal{F}$ be a finite family of simply connected orthogonal polygons in the plane. If every three (not necessarily distinct) members of $\cal{F}$ have a nonempty intersection which is starshaped via staircase paths, then the intersection $\cap \{F : F\; \hbox{in}\; \cal{F}\}$ is a (nonempty) simply connected orthogonal polygon which is starshaped via staircase paths. Moreover, the number three is best possible, even with the additional requirement that the intersection in question be nonempty. The result fails without the simple connectedness condition.     

Criteria for validity of the maximum modulus principle for solutions of linear strongly elliptic second order systems

Necessary and sufficient conditions for validity of the classical maximum modulus principle for solutions of linear strongly elliptic order systems are found.     

Sign-changing solutions of critical growth nonlinear elliptic systems

In this paper, we are concerned with the existence of sign-changing solutions of a class of nonlinear elliptic systems with critical growth.     

A Helly-type theorem for countable intersections of starshaped sets

Let k and d be fixed integers, 0kd, and let be a collection of sets in If every countable subfamily of has a starshaped intersection, then is (nonempty and) starshaped as well. Moreover, if every countable subfamily of has as its intersection a starshaped set whose kernel is at least k-dimensional, then the kernel of is at least k-dimensional, too. Finally, dual statements hold for unions of sets.Received: 3 April 2004