Some Stability and Instability Criteria for Ideal Plane Flows

We investigate stability and instability of steady ideal plane flows for an arbitrary bounded domain. First, we obtain some general criteria for linear and nonlinear stability. Second, we find a sufficient condition for the existence of a growing mode to the linearized equation. Third, we construct a steady flow which is nonlinearly and linearly stable in the L² norm of vorticity but linearly unstable in the L² norm of velocity.     

Navier-Stokes equations and area of interfaces

We present new a priori estimates for the vorticity of solutions of the three dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. These estimates imply that theL ¹ norm of the vorticity is a priori bounded in time and that the time average of the 4/(3+) power of theL ^4/(3+) spatial norm of the gradient of the vorticity is a priori bounded. Using these bounds we construct global Leray weak solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations which satisfy these inequalities. In particular it follows that vortex sheet, vortex line and even more general vortex structures with arbitrarily large vortex strengths are initial data which give rise to global weak solutions of this type of the Navier-Stokes equations. Next we apply these inequalities in conjunction with geometric measure theoretical arguments to study the two dimensional Hausdorff measure of level sets of the vorticity magnitude. We obtain a priori bounds on an average such measure, >. When expressed in terms of the Reynolds number and the Kolmogorov dissipation length , these bounds are

Algebraic Rate of Decay for the Excess Free Energy and Stability of Fronts for a Nonlocal Phase Kinetics Equation with a Conservation Law. I

This is the first of two papers devoted to the study of a nonlocal evolution equation that describes the evolution of the local magnetization in a continuum limit of an Ising spin system with Kawasaki dynamics and Kac potentials. We consider subcritical temperatures, for which there are two local equilibria, and begin the proof of a local nonlinear stability result for the minimum free energy profiles for the magnetization at the interface between regions of these two different local equilibria; i.e., the fronts. We shall show in the second paper that an initial perturbation v ₀ of a front that is sufficiently small in L ² norm, and sufficiently localized that x ² v ₀(x)² dx<, yields a solution that relaxes to another front, selected by a conservation law, in the L ¹ norm at an algebraic rate that we explicitly estimate. There we also obtain rates for the relaxation in the L ² norm and the rate of decrease of the excess free energy. Here we prove a number of estimates essential for this result. Moreover, the estimates proved here suffice to establish the main result in an important special case.on leave from     

Decay of Weak Solutions to the 2D Dissipative Quasi-Geostrophic Equation

We address the decay of the norm of weak solutions to the 2D dissipative quasi-geostrophic equation. When the initial data θ₀ is in L ² only, we prove that the L ² norm tends to zero but with no uniform rate, that is, there are solutions with arbitrarily slow decay. For θ₀ in L ^p ∩ L ², with 1 ≤ p < 2, we are able to obtain a uniform decay rate in L ². We also prove that when the norm of θ₀ is small enough, the L ^q norms, for , have uniform decay rates. This result allows us to prove decay for the L ^q norms, for , when θ₀ is in . The second author was partially supported by NSF grant DMS-0600692.     

Scale-wise coherent vorticity extraction for conditional statistical modeling of homogeneous isotropic two-dimensional turbulence

Classical statistical theories of turbulence have shown their limitations, in that they cannot predict much more than the energy spectrum in an idealized setting of statistical homogeneity and stationarity. We explore the applicability of a conditional statistical modeling approach: can we sort out what part of the information should be kept, and what part should be modeled statistically, or, in other words, “dissipated”? Our mathematical framework is the initial value problem for the two-dimensional (2D) Euler equations, which we approximate numerically by solving the 2D Navier-Stokes equations in the vanishing viscosity limit. In order to obtain a good approximation of the inviscid dynamics, we use a spectral method and a resolution going up to 8192². We introduce a macroscopic concept of dissipation, relying on a split of the flow between coherent and incoherent contributions: the coherent flow is constructed from the large wavelet coefficients of the vorticity field, and the incoherent flow from the small ones. In previous work, a unique threshold was applied to all wavelet coefficients, while here we also consider the effect of a scale by scale thresholding algorithm, called scale-wise coherent vorticity extraction. We study the statistical properties of the coherent and incoherent vorticity fields, and the transfers of enstrophy between them, and then use these results to propose, within a maximum entropy framework, a simple model for the incoherent vorticity. In the framework of this model, we show that the flow velocity can be predicted accurately in the L² norm for about 10 eddy turnover times.     

Mimetic finite difference method for the Stokes problem on polygonal meshes

Various approaches to extend finite element methods to non-traditional elements (general polygons, pyramids, polyhedra, etc.) have been developed over the last decade. The construction of basis functions for such elements is a challenging task and may require extensive geometrical analysis. The mimetic finite difference (MFD) method works on general polygonal meshes and has many similarities with low-order finite element methods. Both schemes try to preserve the fundamental properties of the underlying physical and mathematical models. The essential difference between the two schemes is that the MFD method uses only the surface representation of discrete unknowns to build the stiffness and mass matrices. Since no extension of basis functions inside the mesh elements is required, practical implementation of the MFD method is simple for polygonal meshes that may include degenerate and non-convex elements. In this article, we present a new MFD method for the Stokes problem on arbitrary polygonal meshes and analyze its stability. The method is developed for the general case of tensor coefficients, which allows us to apply it to a linear elasticity problem, as well. Numerical experiments show, for the velocity variable, second-order convergence in a discrete L² norm and first-order convergence in a discrete H¹ norm. For the pressure variable, first-order convergence is shown in the L² norm.     

Convolution Inequalities for the Boltzmann Collision Operator

We study integrability properties of a general version of the Boltzmann collision operator for hard and soft potentials in n-dimensions. A reformulation of the collisional integrals allows us to write the weak form of the collision operator as a weighted convolution, where the weight is given by an operator invariant under rotations. Using a symmetrization technique in L ^p we prove a Young’s inequality for hard potentials, which is sharp for Maxwell molecules in the L ² case. Further, we find a new Hardy-Littlewood-Sobolev type of inequality for Boltzmann collision integrals with soft potentials. The same method extends to radially symmetric, non-increasing potentials that lie in some L^s_weak{L^{s}_{weak}} or L ^s . The method we use resembles a Brascamp, Lieb and Luttinger approach for multilinear weighted convolution inequalities and follows a weak formulation setting. Consequently, it is closely connected to the classical analysis of Young and Hardy-Littlewood-Sobolev inequalities. In all cases, the inequality constants are explicitly given by formulas depending on integrability conditions of the angular cross section (in the spirit of Grad cut-off). As an additional application of the technique we also obtain estimates with exponential weights for hard potentials in both conservative and dissipative interactions.     

Universal Inequalities for Eigenvalues of the Buckling Problem on Spherical Domains

In this paper we study the eigenvalues of the buckling problem on domains in a unit sphere. We obtain universal bounds on the (k + 1)^th eigenvalue in terms of the first k eigenvalues independent of the domains. Partially supported by FEMAT. Partially supported by CNPq, Pronex and Proex.     

Bootstrap Multiscale Analysis and Localization¶in Random Media

We introduce an enhanced multiscale analysis that yields subexponentially decaying probabilities for bad events. For quantum and classical waves in random media, we obtain exponential decay for the resolvent of the corresponding random operators in boxes of side L with probability higher than 1 − e ^{− L ζ}, for any 0<ζ<1. The starting hypothesis for the enhanced multiscale analysis only requires the verification of polynomial decay of the finite volume resolvent, at some sufficiently large scale, with probability bigger than 1 − (d is the dimension). Note that from the same starting hypothesis we get conclusions that are valid for any 0 < ζ < 1. This is achieved by the repeated use of a bootstrap argument. As an application, we use a generalized eigenfunction expansion to obtain strong dynamical localization of any order in the Hilbert–Schmidt norm, and better estimates on the behavior of the eigenfunctions. Received: 29 November 2000 / Accepted: 21 June 2001     

On purely gravito-magnetic vacuum space-times

It is shown that there are no purely magnetic, vacuum, spacetime metrics where any one of the following conditions holds: (a) the ratio of any two eigenvalues of the Weyl tensor is constant, (b) both of the Riemann principal null directions, defining the time-like blade, are nonrotating, (c) the shear tensor possesses an eigenvector v ^a which is defined by one of the space-like Riemann principal directions, (d) the vorticity is parallel to v ^a , where v ^a is defined by one of the space-like Riemann principal directions.This revised version was published online in April 2005. The publishing date was inserted.     

A priori estimates for the Hill and Dirac operators

The Hill operator Ty = −y″ + q′(t)y is considered in L ²(ℝ), where q ∈ L ²(0, 1) is a periodic real potential. The spectrum of T is absolutely continuous and consists of bands separated by gaps. We obtain a priori estimates of gap lengths, effective masses, and action variables for the KDV equation. In the proof of these results, the analysis of a conformal mapping corresponding to quasimomentum of the Hill operator is used. Similar estimates for the Dirac operator are obtained.     

On the Global Regularity of a Helical-Decimated Version of the 3D Navier-Stokes Equations

We study the global regularity, for all time and all initial data in H ^1/2, of a recently introduced decimated version of the incompressible 3D Navier-Stokes (dNS) equations. The model is based on a projection of the dynamical evolution of Navier-Stokes (NS) equations into the subspace where helicity (the L ²-scalar product of velocity and vorticity) is sign-definite. The presence of a second (beside energy) sign-definite inviscid conserved quadratic quantity, which is equivalent to the H ^1/2-Sobolev norm, allows us to demonstrate global existence and uniqueness, of space-periodic solutions, together with continuity with respect to the initial conditions, for this decimated 3D model. This is achieved thanks to the establishment of two new estimates, for this 3D model, which show that the H ^1/2 and the time average of the square of the H ^3/2 norms of the velocity field remain finite. Such two additional bounds are known, in the spirit of the work of H. Fujita and T. Kato (Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 16:269–315, 1964; Rend. Semin. Mat. Univ. Padova 32:243–260, 1962), to be sufficient for showing well-posedness for the 3D NS equations. Furthermore, they are directly linked to the helicity evolution for the dNS model, and therefore with a clear physical meaning and consequences.     

The Vortex-Wave Equation with a Single Vortex as the Limit of the Euler Equation

In this article we consider the physical justification of the Vortex-Wave equation introduced by Marchioro and Pulvirenti (Mechanics, analysis and geometry: 200 years after Lagrange, North-Holland Delta Ser., Amsterdam, North-Holland, pp. 79–95, 1991), in the case of a single point vortex moving in an ambient vorticity. We consider a sequence of solutions for the Euler equation in the plane corresponding to initial data consisting of an ambient vorticity in L ¹ ∩ L ^∞ and a sequence of concentrated blobs which approach the Dirac distribution. We introduce a notion of a weak solution of the Vortex-Wave equation in terms of velocity (or primitive variables) and then show, for a subsequence of the blobs, the solutions of the Euler equation converge in velocity to a weak solution of the Vortex-Wave equation.     

A characterization of dilatation analytic integral kernels

We characterize integral operators belonging to B(L ² (ℝ³))which are dilatation analytic in the Cartesian product of two sectors S _a ⊂ ℂ as analytic functions from S _a×S_a into B(L ²(Ω)), the space of bounded operators on square integrable functions on the unit sphere Ω, which satisfy certain norm estimates uniformly on every subsector.     

Asymptotics of Karhunen-Loeve Eigenvalues and Tight Constants for Probability Distributions of Passive Scalar Transport

In this paper we study the asymptotics of the probability distribution function for a certain model of freely decaying passive scalar transport. In particular we prove rigorous large n, or semiclassical, asymptotics for the eigenvalues of the covariance of a fractional Brownian motion. Using these asymptotics, along with some standard large deviations results, we are able to derive tight asymptotics for the rate of decay of the tails of the probability density for a generalization of the Majda model of scalar intermittency originally due to Vanden Eijnden. We are also able to derive asymptotically tight estimates for the closely related problem of small L₂ ball probabilities for a fractional Brownian motion.     

Correctors for the Homogenization of Monotone Parabolic Operators

Abstract

In the homogenization of monotone parabolic partial differential equations with oscillations in both the space and time variables the gradients converges only weakly in L ^p. In the present paper we construct a family of correctors, such that, up to a remainder which converges to zero strongly in L ^p, we obtain strong convergence of the gradients in L ^p.     

Lower bounds for eigenvalues of the Dirac operator on n-spheres with SO(n)-symmetry

In this paper we derive estimates for the eigenvalues of the Dirac operator and their multiplicity on manifolds diffeomorphic to Sⁿ with an isometric SO(n)-action. Especially we prove a new lower bound for the first eigenvalue and show an example, where this new bound coincides in the limit with the known upper bounds.     

Factorization fo random Jacobi operators and Bäcklund transformations

Summary We show that a positive definite random Jacobi operatorL over an abstract dynamical systemT: XX can be factorized asL=D ², whereD is again a random Jacobi operator but defined over a new dynamical systemS: YY which is an integral extension ofT. An isospectral random Toda deformation ofL corresponds to an isospectral random Volterra deformation ofD. The factorization leads to commuting Bäcklund transformations which can be written explicitly in terms of Titchmarsh-Weyl functions. In the periodic case, the Bäcklund transformations are time 1 maps of a Toda flow with a time dependent Hamiltonian.This article was processed by the author using the Springer-Verlag TEX EconThe macro package 1991.     

Global Existence of Classical Solutions to the Fokker-Planck-BGK Equation

A kinetic model of the Fokker-Planck-Boltzmann equation is introduced by replacing the original Boltzmann collision operator with the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook collision model (BGK collision model). This model equation, which we call the Fokker-Planck-BGK equation, has many physical features that the Fokker-Planck-Boltzmann equation possesses. We first establish an L ^∞ existence result for this equation, by which we construct the approximate solutions. Then, by means of the regularizing effects of the linear Fokker-Planck operator and L ^p estimates of local Maxwellians, we obtain some uniform estimates of the approximate solutions. Finally, combining those estimates and regularizing effects, we prove by a compactness argument that the equation has a global classical solution under rather general initial conditions. Supported by the Scientific Research Foundation of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST-SRF).     

Fundamental Solutions for the Klein-Gordon Equation in de Sitter Spacetime

In this article we construct the fundamental solutions for the Klein-Gordon equation in de Sitter spacetime. We use these fundamental solutions to represent solutions of the Cauchy problem and to prove L ^p  − L ^q estimates for the solutions of the equation with and without a source term.