General Uniqueness Results and Variation Speed for Blow-Up Solutions of Elliptic Equations

Let be a smooth bounded domain in R^N. We prove general uniquenessresults for equations of the form – u = au – b(x)f(u) in , subject to u = on . Our uniqueness theorem is establishedin a setting involving Karamata's theory on regularly varyingfunctions, which is used to relate the blow-up behavior of u(x)with f(u) and b(x), where b 0 on and a certain ratio involvingb is bounded near . A key step in our proof of uniqueness usesa modification of an iteration technique due to Safonov. 2000Mathematics Subject Classification 35J25 (primary), 35B40, 35J60(secondary).     

A bifurcation problem governed by the boundary condition II

In this work we consider the problem u = a(x)u^p in on , where is a smooth bounded domain, isthe outward unit normal to , is regarded as a parameter and0 < p < 1. We consider both cases where a(x) > 0 in or a(x) is allowed to vanish in a whole subdomain ₀ of . Ourmain results include existence of non-negative non-trivial solutionsin the range 0 < < ₁, where ₁ is characterized by meansof an eigenvalue problem, uniqueness and bifurcation from infinityof such solutions for small , and the appearance of dead coresfor large enough .     

On the laplace equation with non-linear dynamical boundary conditions

The main part of the paper deals with local existence and globalexistence versus blow-up for solutions of the Laplace equationin bounded domains with a non-linear dynamical boundary condition.More precisely, we study the problem consisting in: (1) theLaplace equation in (0, ) x ; (2) a homogeneous Dirichlet condition(0, ) x ₀; (3) the dynamical boundary condition ; (4) the initial condition u(0, x) = u₀ (x) on . Here is a regular and bounded domain in Rⁿ, with n 1, and₀ and ₁ endow a measurable partition of . Moreover, m>1,2 p < r, where r = 2 (n – 1) / (n – 2) whenn 3, r = when n = 1,2, and u₀ H^1/2 , u₀ = 0 on ₀. The final part of the paper deals with a refinement of a globalnon-existence result by Levine, Park and Serrin, which is appliedto the previous problem. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification35K55 (primary), 35K90, 35K77 (secondary).     

Skeletons and Central Sets

Let be an open proper subset of Rⁿ. Its skeleton is the setof points with more than one nearest neighbour in the complementof its central set is the set of centres in maximal open ballsincluded in . Intuitively, if we think of as a land mass inwhich height is proportional to distance from the sea, its skeletonand central set can be thought of as corresponding to ridgesin the mountains of . In this note I discuss the metric andtopological properties of such sets. I show that any skeletonin Rⁿ is F, and has dimension at most n – 1, by any ofthe usual measures of dimension; that if is bounded and connected,its skeleton and central set are connected; and that separatesRⁿ iff its skeleton does iff its central set does. Any centralset in Rⁿ is a G set of topological dimension at most n –1. In the plane, I show that both skeletons and central setsare locally path-connected, and indeed include many paths offinite length. For any , its central set includes its skeleton;I give examples to show that the central set can be significantlylarger than the skeleton. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification:54F99.     

Convex Regions in the Plane and their Domes

We make a detailed study of the relation of a euclidean convexregion C Dome (). The dome is the relative boundary, in theupper halfspace model of hyperbolic space, of the hyperbolicconvex hull of the complement of . The first result is to provethat the nearest point retraction r: Dome () is 2-quasiconformal.The second is to establish precise estimates of the distortionof r near . 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 30C75,30F40, 30F45, 30F60.     

Global Branch of Solutions for Non-Linear Schrodinger Equations with Deepening Potential Well

We consider the stationary non-linear Schrödinger equation where > 0 and the functionsf and g are such that and for some bounded open set R^N. We use topological methods to establish the existenceof two connected sets D^± of positive/negative solutionsin R x W², ^p R^N where that cover the interval (, ()) in the sense that and furthermore, The number () is characterized as the unique value of in theinterval (, ) for which the asymptotic linearization has a positiveeigenfunction. Our work uses a degree for Fredholm maps of indexzero. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 35J60, 35B32,58J55.     

The Model Plasma Problem: Existence of a Solution Branch

We are interested in the model plasma problem –u = u⁺in ,u = –d on , _au⁺ dx=j where is a bounded domain in with boundary ; here, j isa given positive number, the function u and the positive number are the unknowns of the problem, and d is a real parameter.Using a variant of the implicit function theorem, we can provethe existence of a global solution branch parametrized by d.The method has the advantage that it can be used for analysingthe approximation of the above problem by a finite-element method.     

Approximation of exact controllability problem involving parabolic differential equations

In this paper we examine computation of optimal control u^* ofthe exact controllability problem (referred to as the constraintproblem) governed by the following type of linear parabolicdifferential equations: (y/t) + Ay = u in Q y = 0 on y(0) = y₀ on where A is the second-order elliptic differential operator, is a bounded domain in ^k with smooth boundary , Q = (0, T)x , = (0, T) x and T > 0. This is achieved by approximatingu^* through a sequence {u_n} of controls corresponding to unconstrainedproblems involving a penalty function arising from the controllabilityconstraint.     

Fitted and Unfitted Finite-Element Methods for Elliptic Equations with Smooth Interfaces

This paper considers the finite-element approximation of theelliptic interface problem: -?(u) + cu = f in Rⁿ (n = 2 or3), with u = 0 on , where is discontinuous across a smoothsurface in the interior of . First we show that, if the meshis isoparametrically fitted to using simplicial elements ofdegree k - 1, with k 2, then the standard Galerkin method achievesthe optimal rate of convergence in the H¹ and L² norms overthe approximations _l⁴ of _l where _{l 2}. Second, since itmay be computationally inconvenient to fit the mesh to , weanalyse a fully practical piecewise linear approximation ofa related penalized problem, as introduced by Babuska (1970),based on a mesh that is independent of . We show that, by choosingthe penalty parameter appropriately, this approximation convergesto u at the optimal rate in the H¹ norm over _l⁴ and in the L²norm over any interior domain _l^* satisfying _l^* _l^** _l⁴ for somedomain _l^**. Present address: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences,University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH     

Nodal Solutions of a p-Laplacian Equation

We prove that the p-Laplacian problem –_p u = f(x, u),with u on a bounded domain R^N, with p > 1 arbitrary, has a nodal solution providedthat f : x R R is subcritical, and f(x, t) / |t|^p –² is superlinear. Infinitely many nodal solutions are obtainedif, in addition, f(x, –t) = –f(x, t). 2000 MathematicsSubject Classification 35J20, 35J65, 58E05.     

Dynamics of projective morphisms having identical canonical heights

Let , :^{N N} be morphisms of degree at least 2 whose canonicalheights and are identical. We draw various conclusions aboutthe Green functions, Julia sets, and canonical local heightsof and . We use this information to completely characterize and in the following cases: (i) and are polynomial mapsin one variable; (ii) is the dth-power map; (iii) is a Lattèsmap.     

Properties of Removable Singularities for Hardy Spaces of Analytic Functions

Removable singularities for Hardy spaces H^p() = {f Hol(): |f|^p u in for some harmonic u}, 0 < p < are studied. A setE = is a weakly removable singularity for H^p(\E) if H^p(\E) Hol(), and a strongly removable singularity for H^p(\E) if H^p(\E)= H^p(). The two types of singularities coincide for compactE, and weak removability is independent of the domain . The paper looks at differences between weak and strong removability,the domain dependence of strong removability, and when removabilityis preserved under unions. In particular, a domain and a setE that is weakly removable for all H^p, but not strongly removablefor any H^p(\E), 0 < p < , are found. It is easy to show that if E is weakly removable for H^p(\E)and q > p, then E is also weakly removable for H^q(\E). Itis shown that the corresponding implication for strong removabilityholds if and only if q/p is an integer. Finally, the theory of Hardy space capacities is extended, anda comparison is made with the similar situation for weightedBergman spaces.     

Finite Element Approximation of a Rigid Punch Indenting a Membrane

Optimal order H¹ and L error bounds are obtained for a continuouspiecewise linear finite element approximation of an obstacleproblem, where the obstacle's height as well as the contactzone, _c, are a priori unknown. The problem models the indentationof a membrane by a rigid punch. For R², given ,g R⁺ and an obstacle defined over E we consider the minimization of |v|²_1,+gµover (v, µ) H¹₀() x R subject to v+µ on E. In additionwe show under certain nondegeneracy conditions that dist (_c,^h_c)Ch ln 1/h, where ^h_c is the finite element approximation to_c. Finally we show that the resulting algebraic problem canbe solved using a projected SOR algorithm.     

On the Pair Correlation of Zeros of the Riemann Zeta-Function

To study the distribution of pairs of zeros of the Riemann zeta-function,Montgomery introduced the function where is real and T 2, and ' denote the imaginary parts ofzeros of the Riemann zeta-function, and w(u) = 4/(4 + u²). Assumingthe Riemann Hypothesis, Montgomery proved an asymptotic formulafor F() when || 1, and made the conjecture that F() = 1 + o(1)as T for any bounded with || 1. In this paper we use anapproximation for the prime indicator function together witha new mean value theorem for long Dirichlet polynomials andtails of Dirichlet series to prove that, assuming the GeneralizedRiemann Hypothesis for all Dirichlet L-functions, then for any > 0 we have uniformlyfor and all T T₀(). 1991Mathematics Subject Classification: primary 11M26; secondary11P32.     

Multi-Bubble Solutions for Slightly Super-Critical Elliptic Problems in Domains with Symmetries

The aim of this paper is to show the existence of solutionswith an arbitrarily large number of bubbles for the slightlysuper-critical elliptic problem in , subject to the conditions that u > 0 in , and u = 0on , where > 0 is a small parameter and R^N is a boundeddomain with certain symmetries, for instance an annulus or atorus in R³. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 35J25 (primary);35J20, 35J60 (secondary).     

On A Minimization Problem for Vector Fields in L1

This paper treats the problem of minimizing the norm of vectorfields in L¹ with prescribed divergence. The ridge of . playsan important role in the analysis, and in the case where R²is a polygonal domain, the ridge is thoroughly analysed andsome examples are presented. In the case where Rⁿ is a Lipschitzdomain and the divergence is a finite positive Borel measure,the infimum is calculated, and it is shown that if an extremalexists, then it is of the form ₁ = –Fd, where F is a nonnegativefunction and d(x) is the distance from x to the boundary .Finally, if R² is a polygonal domain and the measure is representedby a nonnegative continuous function, then an explicit expressionfor the extremal is given, and it is proven that this extremalis unique.     

Logarithmic Convexity for Supremum Norms of Harmonic Functions

We prove the following convexity property for supremum normsof harmonic functions. Let be a domain in Rⁿ, ₀ and E a subdomainand a compact sebset of ,respectively. Then there exists a constant = (E, ₀, ) (0, 1) such that for all harmonic functions u on, the inequality is valid.The case of concentric balls E plays a key role in the proof.For positive harmonic funcitons ono osuch balls, we determinethe sharp constant in the inequlity.     

On the Behaviour of the First Eigenfunction of the p-Laplacian Near its Critical Points

In this paper, the behaviour of the positive eigenfunction of in u_| = 0, p > 1, isstudied near its critical points. Under some convexity and symmetryassumptions on , is seen to have a unique critical point atx = 0; also, the behaviour of both and is determined nearby.Positive solutions u to some general problems –_pu = f(u)in , u_| = 0, are also considered, with some convexity restrictionson u. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 35B05 (primary),35J65, 35J70 (secondary).     

On the Asphericity of Length Five Relative Group Presentations

We investigate asphericity of the relative group presentation G,t |atbtctdtet=1 and prove it aspherical provided thesubgroupof G generated by ab^–1, bc^–1, cd^–1, de^–1is neither finite cyclic nor a finite triangle group. We alsoprove a similar result for the closely related relative grouppresentation G,s,t | sßst=1=tts^–1. 2000 MathematicsSubject Classification: 20F05, 57M05.     

Elliptic Problems Involving Phase Boundaries Satisfying a Curvature Condition

Two theorems related to equilibrium free-boundary problems arepresented. One arises as a time-independent solution to thephase-field equations. The other is the relevant time-independentproblem for the Stefan model, modified for the surface tensioneffect. It also serves as a preliminary result for the phase-fieldformulation. Under appropriate conditions, we prove that, givenan appropriate positive constant and a smooth function u: R;,where is an annular domain in R², there exists a curve suchthat u(x)=—K(x) for all x , where K is the curvature.Using this result, we prove the existence of solutions to O=²+ ?(—³) + 2u that have a transition layer behaviour (from=—1 to =+1) for small and make the transition on thecurve . This proves there exist solutions to the phase fieldmodel that satisfy a Gibbs-Thompson relation.