Optimal control of the convective Cahn–Hilliard equation

This article studies the problem for optimal control of the convective Cahn–Hilliard equation in one-space dimension. The optimal control under boundary condition is given, the existence of optimal solution to the equation is proved and the optimality system is established.     

Complicated asymptotic behavior of solutions for the Cauchy problem of Cahn–Hilliard equation

In this paper, we study the Cauchy problem of the Cahn–Hilliard equation, and first reveal that the complicated asymptotic behavior of solutions can happen in high-order parabolic equation.     

A Gamma-convergence approach to the Cahn–Hilliard equation

We study the asymptotic dynamics of the Cahn–Hilliard equation via the “Gamma-convergence” of gradient flows scheme initiated by Sandier and Serfaty. This gives rise to an H ¹-version of a conjecture by De Giorgi, namely, the slope of the Allen–Cahn functional with respect to the H ⁻¹-structure Gamma-converges to a homogeneous Sobolev norm of the scalar mean curvature of the limiting interface. We confirm this conjecture in the case of constant multiplicity of the limiting interface. Finally, under suitable conditions for which the conjecture is true, we prove that the limiting dynamics for the Cahn–Hilliard equation is motion by Mullins–Sekerka law. Partially supported by a Vietnam Education Foundation graduate fellowship.     

The least squares spectral element method for the Cahn–Hilliard equation

The problem of numerically resolving an interface separating two different components is a common problem in several scientific and engineering applications. One alternative is to use phase field or diffuse interface methods such as the Cahn–Hilliard (C–H) equation, which introduce a continuous transition region between the two bulk phases. Different numerical schemes to solve the C–H equation have been suggested in the literature. In this work, the least squares spectral element method (LS-SEM) is used to solve the Cahn–Hilliard equation. The LS-SEM is combined with a time–space coupled formulation and a high order continuity approximation by employing C¹¹p-version hierarchical interpolation functions both in space and time. A one-dimensional case of the Cahn–Hilliard equation is solved and the convergence properties of the presented method analyzed. The obtained solution is in accordance with previous results from the literature and the basic properties of the C–H equation (i.e. mass conservation and energy dissipation) are maintained. By using the LS-SEM, a symmetric positive definite problem is always obtained, making it possible to use highly efficient solvers for this kind of problems. The use of dynamic adjustment of number of elements and order of approximation gives the possibility of a dynamic meshing procedure for a better resolution in the areas close to interfaces.     

Global solution branches for a nonlocal Allen–Cahn equation

We consider the Neumann problem of a 1D stationary Allen–Cahn equation with nonlocal term. Our previous paper [4] obtained a local branch of asymmetric solutions which bifurcates from a point on the branch of odd-symmetric solutions. This paper derives the global behavior of the branch of asymmetric solutions, and moreover, determines the set of all solutions to the nonlocal Allen–Cahn equation. Our proof is based on a level set analysis for an integral map associated with the nonlocal term.     

A Fourier spectral method for fractional-in-space Cahn–Hilliard equation

In this paper, a fractional extension of the Cahn–Hilliard (CH) phase field model is proposed, i.e. the fractional-in-space CH equation. The fractional order controls the thickness and the lifetime of the interface, which is typically diffusive in integer order case. An unconditionally energy stable Fourier spectral scheme is developed to solve the fractional equation with periodic or Neumann boundary conditions. This method is of spectral accuracy in space and of second-order accuracy in time. The main advantages of this method are that it yields high precision and high efficiency. Moreover, an extra stabilizing term is added to obey the energy decay property while maintaining accuracy and simplicity. Numerical experiments are presented to confirm the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

A numerical analysis of the Cahn–Hilliard equation with non-permeable walls

In this article we consider the numerical analysis of the Cahn–Hilliard equation in a bounded domain with non-permeable walls, endowed with dynamic-type boundary conditions. The dynamic-type boundary conditions that we consider here have been recently proposed in Ruiz Goldstein et al. (Phys D 240(8):754–766, 2011) in order to describe the interactions of a binary material with the wall. The equation is semi-discretized using a finite element method for the space variables and error estimates between the exact and the approximate solution are obtained. We also prove the stability of a fully discrete scheme based on the backward Euler scheme for the time discretization. Numerical simulations sustaining the theoretical results are presented.     

Global attractor for the Cahn–Hilliard/Allen–Cahn system

We study the coupled Cahn–Hilliard/Allen–Cahn problem with constraints, which describes the isothermal diffusion-driven phase transition phenomena in binary systems. Our aim is to show the existence–uniqueness result and to construct the global attractor for the related dynamical system.     

The Cahn–Hilliard equation with time-dependent constraint

We propose an abstract variational inequality formulation of the Cahn–Hilliard equation with a time-dependent constraint. We introduce notions of strong and weak solutions, and prove that a strong solution, if it exists, is a weak solution, and that the existence of a unique weak solution holds under an appropriate time-dependence condition on the constraint. We also show that the weak solution is a strong solution under appropriate assumptions on the data. Our abstract results can be applied to various concrete problems.     

On the 3D Cahn–Hilliard equation with inertial term

We study the modified Cahn–Hilliard equation proposed by Galenko et al. in order to account for rapid spinodal decomposition in certain glasses. This equation contains, as additional term, the second-order time derivative of the (relative) concentration multiplied by a (small) positive coefficient . Thus, in absence of viscosity effects, we are in presence of a Petrovsky type equation and the solutions do not regularize in finite time. Many results are known in one spatial dimension. However, even in two spatial dimensions, the problem of finding a unique solution satisfying given initial and boundary conditions is far from being trivial. A fairly complete analysis of the 2D case has been recently carried out by Grasselli, Schimperna and Zelik. The 3D case is still rather poorly understood but for the existence of energy bounded solutions. Taking advantage of this fact, Segatti has investigated the asymptotic behavior of a generalized dynamical system which can be associated with the equation. Here we take a step further by establishing the existence and uniqueness of a global weak solution, provided that is small enough. More precisely, we show that there exists such that well-posedness holds if (suitable) norms of the initial data are bounded by a positive function of which goes to + ∞ as tends to 0. This result allows us to construct a semigroup on an appropriate (bounded) phase space and, besides, to prove the existence of a global attractor. Finally, we show a regularity result for the attractor by using a decomposition method and we discuss the existence of an exponential attractor.      

Complete classification of local conservation laws for generalized Cahn–Hilliard–Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation

In this paper, we consider nonlinear multidimensional Cahn–Hilliard and Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equations that have many important applications in physics and chemistry, and a certain natural generalization of these two equations to which we refer to as the generalized Cahn–Hilliard–Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation. For an arbitrary number of spatial independent variables, we present a complete list of cases when the latter equation admits nontrivial local conservation laws of any order, and for each of those cases, we give an explicit form of all the local conservation laws of all orders modulo trivial ones admitted by the equation under study. In particular, we show that the original Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation admits no nontrivial local conservation laws, and find all nontrivial local conservation laws for the Cahn–Hilliard equation.     

Energy stability and convergence of the scalar auxiliary variable Fourier-spectral method for the viscous Cahn–Hilliard equation

In this paper, we develop two linear and unconditionally energy stable Fourier-spectral schemes for solving viscous Cahn–Hilliard equation based on the recently scalar auxiliary variable approach. The temporal discretizations are built upon the first-order Euler method and second-order Crank–Nicolson method, respectively. We carry out the energy stability and error analysis rigorously. Various classical numerical experiments are performed to validate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed schemes.     

Maximal regularity and asymptotic behavior of solutions for the Cahn–Hilliard equation with dynamic boundary conditions

This paper deals with the Cahn–Hilliard equation subject to the boundary conditions and the initial condition ψ(0,x) = ψ₀(x) where J = (0,∞), and Ω ⊂ ℝ ⁿ is a bounded domain with smooth boundary Γ = ∂ G, n≤ 3, and Γ _s ,σ _s ,g _s > 0, h are constants. This problem has already been considered in the recent paper of R. Racke and S. Zheng (The Cahn–Hilliard equation with dynamic boundary conditions. Adv. Diff. Eq. 8, 83–110, 2003), where global existence and uniqueness were obtained. In this paper we first obtain results on the maximal L _p -regularity of the solution. We then study the asymptotic behavior of the solution of this problem and prove the existence of a global attractor. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000) 82C26, 35B40, 35B65, 35Q99