Maximum principles for weak solutions of degenerate elliptic equations with a uniformly elliptic direction

For second order linear equations and inequalities which are degenerate elliptic but which possess a uniformly elliptic direction, we formulate and prove weak maximum principles which are compatible with a solvability theory in suitably weighted versions of L²-based Sobolev spaces. The operators are not necessarily in divergence form, have terms of lower order, and have low regularity assumptions on the coefficients. The needed weighted Sobolev spaces are, in general, anisotropic spaces defined by a non-negative continuous matrix weight. As preparation, we prove a Poincaré inequality with respect to such matrix weights and analyze the elementary properties of the weighted spaces. Comparisons to known results and examples of operators which are elliptic away from a hyperplane of arbitrary codimension are given. Finally, in the important special case of operators whose principal part is of Grushin type, we apply these results to obtain some spectral theory results such as the existence of a principal eigenvalue.     

Nonexistence of Solutions of Elliptic Differential Inequalities in Conic Domains

We study some nonexistence problems for the solutions of semilinear elliptic differential inequalities and systems of second order in conic domains. The proof is based on the trial function method developed by Mitidieri and Pokhozhaev without recourse to comparison theorems and to the maximum principle.     

关于二阶半线性椭圆方程的Dirichlet边值问题一个注记(英文)

本文研究二阶半线性椭圆方程的Dirichlet边值问题.利用山路引理和最小作用原理,获得了在新条件下具有Dirichlet边值问题的二阶半线性椭圆方程的弱解的存在性的结果.     

Harnack不等式

在最高项系数无界的条件下讨论了二阶椭圆型微分方程弱解的局部极大值原理及Ｈａｒｎａｃｋ不等式．     

Positive solutions for large elliptic systems of interacting species groups by cone index methods

This article considers the existence of positive solutions for various systems of four nonlinear coupled elliptic partial differential equations subjected to zero Dirichlet boundary conditions. In applications, the components can be interpreted as concentrations of four interacting populations or chemicals. The species are divided into two groups which interact in prey-predator or cooperating Volterra-Lotka type of relations. Within each group, the species can interact in other possibilities. Topological cone index method is used for proving the existence of positive coexistence solutions. Sufficient conditions are found in terms of the signs of the principal eigenvalues of various simple related operators.     

A discrete maximum principle for the weak Galerkin finite element method on nonuniform rectangular partitions

This article establishes a discrete maximum principle (DMP) for the approximate solution of convection–diffusion–reaction problems obtained from the weak Galerkin (WG) finite element method on nonuniform rectangular partitions. The DMP analysis is based on a simplified formulation of the WG involving only the approximating functions defined on the boundary of each element. The simplified weak Galerkin (SWG) method has a reduced computational complexity over the usual WG, and indeed provides a discretization scheme different from the WG when the reaction terms are present. An application of the SWG on uniform rectangular partitions yields some 5- and 7-point finite difference schemes for the second order elliptic equation. Numerical experiments are presented to verify the DMP and the accuracy of the scheme, particularly the finite difference scheme.     

Maximum Principles for Boundary-Degenerate Second Order Linear Elliptic Differential Operators

We prove weak and strong maximum principles, including a Hopf lemma, for C ² subsolutions to equations defined by linear, second-order, linear, elliptic partial differential operators whose principal symbols vanish along a portion of the domain boundary. The boundary regularity property of the C ² subsolutions along this boundary vanishing locus ensures that these maximum principles hold irrespective of the sign of the Fichera function. Boundary conditions need only be prescribed on the complement in the domain boundary of the principal symbol's vanishing locus. We obtain uniqueness and a priori maximum principle estimates for C ² solutions to boundary value and obstacle problems defined by these boundary-degenerate elliptic operators with partial Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions. We also prove weak maximum principles and uniqueness for W ^{1, 2} solutions to the corresponding variational equations and inequalities defined with the aide of weighted Sobolev spaces. The domain is allowed to be unbounded when the operator coefficients and solutions obey certain growth conditions.     

The family index theorem and bifurcation of solutions of nonlinear elliptic BVP

We obtain some new bifurcation criteria for solutions of general boundary value problems for nonlinear elliptic systems of partial differential equations. The results are of different nature from the ones that can be obtained via the traditional Lyapunov–Schmidt reduction. Our sufficient conditions for bifurcation are derived from the Atiyah–Singer family index theorem and therefore they depend only on the coefficients of derivatives of leading order of the linearized differential operators. They are computed explicitly from the coefficients without the need of solving the linearized equations. Moreover, they are stable under lower order perturbations.     

The strong maximum principle revisited

In this paper we first present the classical maximum principle due to E. Hopf, together with an extended commentary and discussion of Hopf's paper. We emphasize the comparison technique invented by Hopf to prove this principle, which has since become a main mathematical tool for the study of second order elliptic partial differential equations and has generated an enormous number of important applications. While Hopf's principle is generally understood to apply to linear equations, it is in fact also crucial in nonlinear theories, such as those under consideration here.In particular, we shall treat and discuss recent generalizations of the strong maximum principle, and also the compact support principle, for the case of singular quasilinear elliptic differential inequalities, under generally weak assumptions on the quasilinear operators and the nonlinearities involved. Our principal interest is in necessary and sufficient conditions for the validity of both principles; in exposing and simplifying earlier proofs of corresponding results; and in extending the conclusions to wider classes of singular operators than previously considered.The results have unexpected ramifications for other problems, as will develop from the exposition, e.g.

(i)

two point boundary value problems for singular quasilinear ordinary differential equations (Sections 3 and 4);

(ii)

the exterior Dirichlet boundary value problem (Section 5);

(iii)

the existence of dead cores and compact support solutions, i.e. dead cores at infinity (Section 7);

(iv)

Euler-Lagrange inequalities on a Riemannian manifold (Section 9);

(v)

comparison and uniqueness theorems for solutions of singular quasilinear differential inequalities (Section 10).

The case of p-regular elliptic inequalities is briefly considered in Section 11.     

Renormalization group and asymptotics of solutions of nonlinear parabolic equations

We present a general method for studying long-time asymptotics of nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations. The method does not rely on a priori estimates such as the maximum principle. It applies to systems of coupled equations, to boundary conditions at infinity creating a front, and to higher (possibly fractional) differential linear terms. We present in detail the analysis for nonlinear diffusion-type equations with initial data falling off at infinity and also for data interpolating between two different stationary solutions at infinity. In an accompanying paper, [5], the method is applied to systems of equations where some variables are “slaved,” such as the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A family of degenerate elliptic operators: Maximum principle and its consequences

In this paper we investigate the validity and the consequences of the maximum principle for degenerate elliptic operators whose higher order term is the sum of k eigenvalues of the Hessian. In particular we shed some light on some very unusual phenomena due to the degeneracy of the operator. We prove moreover Lipschitz regularity results and boundary estimates under convexity assumptions on the domain. As a consequence we obtain the existence of solutions of the Dirichlet problem and of principal eigenfunctions.     

On the weak discontinuity surfaces and tapes of equation systems in fluid mechanics

The weak discontinuity surfaces for a system of quasi-linear differential equations of higher order are developed. The classification of equation systems in fluid mechanics is based on the propagative weak discontinuity surfaces. Types of equations for different flow models are discussed. The conclusion is as follows:(a) For incompressible nonviscous flow, incompressible viscous flow and compressible viscous flow, the types of equations are all parabolic in the unsteady case and elliptic in the steady case.(b) For compressible nonviscous flow, the type of equations is hyperbolic in the unsteady case or steady supersonic case, and the type is elliptic in the steady subsonic case.     

Overdetermined Elliptic Systems

We consider linear overdetermined systems of partial differential equations. We show that the introduction of weights classically used for the definition of ellipticity is not necessary, as any system that is elliptic with respect to some weights becomes elliptic without weights during its completion to involution. Furthermore, it turns out that there are systems which are not elliptic for any choice of weights but whose involutive form is nevertheless elliptic. We also show that reducing the given system to lower order or to an equivalent system with only one unknown function preserves ellipticity.     

Generalizations and Properties of the Principal Eigenvalue of Elliptic Operators in Unbounded Domains

Using three different notions of the generalized principal eigenvalue of linear second‐order elliptic operators in unbounded domains, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions for the validity of the maximum principle, as well as for the existence of positive eigenfunctions for the Dirichlet problem. Relations between these principal eigenvalues, their simplicity, and several other properties are further discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

EXISTENCE OF TWO POSITIVE SOLUTIONS TO SINGULAR ELLIPTIC SYSTEMS WITH WEIGHTS

In this paper,a class of singular elliptic systems involving weight functions and nonlinear terms are studied. By the fibering method introduced by Pohozaev and the strong maximum principle,the existence of two positive solutions to the elliptic systems are obtained.     

GRW时空中具有常$k$阶平均曲率的类空超曲面的高度估计

本文利用广义的Omori-Yau极大值原则,得到了广义的Robertson-Walker(GRW)时空中具有常高阶平均曲率并且边界包含在一slice中的类空超曲面的高度估计.同时利用这些结果得到了一些拓扑方面的结论.最后对拉普拉斯算子和一些椭圆型的微分算子利用Omori-Yau极大值原则,得到了一些更广泛的非存在性的结果.     

Kleine periodische Lösungen bei nichtlinearen stark-elliptischen Systemen von partiellen Differentialgleichungen I

Strongly elliptic systems of nonlinear partial differential equations are considered in the case when the derivatives of the solutions occuring in the nonlinear terms have the same order as those in the linear principal part. The existence of periodic solutions for such systems is investigated. It is shown that this problem can be reduced to the study of algebraic bifurcation equations, whose small solutions correspond to the classical solutions of the given problem. A discussion of the bifurcation equations will be given in a forthcoming paper.     

具有奇异项的拟线性椭圆型方程组无穷多弱解的存在性

本文在一定条件下讨论了一类具有奇异项的,被两个pLaplacian算子控制的拟线性椭圆型方程组Dirichlet问题无穷多弱解的存在性.     

Existence of solutions to various rock types odel model of two-phase flow in porous media

We study the flow of two immiscible and incompressible fluids through a porous media c,onsisting of different rock types: capillary pressure and relative permeablities curves are different in each type of porous media. This process can be formulated as a coupled system of partial differential equations which includes an elliptic pressurevelocity equation and a nonlinear degenerated parabolic saturation equation. Moreover the transmission conditions are nonlinear and the saturation is discontinuous at interfaces separating different media. A change of unknown leads to a new formulation of this problem. We derive a weak form for this new problem, which is a combination of a mixed formulation for the elliptic pressure-velocity equation and a standard variational formulation for the new parabolic equation. Under some realistic assumptions, we prove the existence of weak solutions to the implicit system given by time discretization.     

Quasilinear elliptic inequalities on complete Riemannian manifolds

We prove maximum and comparison principles for weak distributional solutions of quasilinear, possibly singular or degenerate, elliptic differential inequalities in divergence form on complete Riemannian manifolds. A new definition of ellipticity for nonlinear operators on Riemannian manifolds is introduced, covering the standard important examples. As an application, uniqueness results for some related boundary value problems are presented.