Quasistatic crack growth in finite elasticity with Lipschitz data

We extend the recent existence result of Dal Maso and Lazzaroni (Ann Inst H Poincaré Anal Non Linéaire 27:257–290, 2010) for quasistatic evolutions of cracks in finite elasticity, allowing for boundary conditions and external forces with discontinuous first derivatives.     

On some conjectures proposed by Haı̈m Brezis

Druet (Ann. Inst. H. Poincaré Anal. Non Linèaire 19(2) (2002) 125) solved two conjectures proposed by Haı̈m Brezis (Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 39 (1986) 17) about “low”-dimension phenomena for some elliptic problem with critical Sobolev exponent. In Druet (Ann. Inst. H. Poincaré Anal. Non Linèaire 19(2) (2002) 125), the proof of one of the two conjectures is reduced to an asymptotic analysis which is carried over with very general techniques involving pointwise estimates. We propose here a different and simpler approach in the blow-up analysis based on integral estimates and on a careful expansion of the energy functional.     

Symmetry and monotonicity of least energy solutions

We give a simple proof of the fact that for a large class of quasilinear elliptic equations and systems the solutions that minimize the corresponding energy in the set of all solutions are radially symmetric. We require just continuous nonlinearities and no cooperative conditions for systems. Thus, in particular, our results cannot be obtained by using the moving planes method. In the case of scalar equations, we also prove that any least energy solution has a constant sign and is monotone with respect to the radial variable. Our proofs rely on results in Brothers and Ziemer (J Reine Angew Math 384:153–179, 1988) and Mariş (Arch Ration Mech Anal, 192:311–330, 2009) and answer questions from Brézis and Lieb (Comm Math Phys 96:97–113, 1984) and Lions (Ann Inst H Poincaré Anal Non Linéaire 1:223–283, 1984).     

Well-posedness for a mean field model of Ginzburg–Landau vortices with opposite degrees

In this paper we analyze the hydrodynamic equations for Ginzburg–Landau vortices as derived by E (Phys. Rev. B. 50(3):1126–1135, 1994). In particular, we are interested in the mean field model describing the evolution of two patches of vortices with equal and opposite degrees. Many results are already available for the case of a single density of vortices with uniform degree. This model does not take into account the vortex annihilation, hence it can also be seen as a particular instance of the signed measures system obtained in Ambrosio et al. (Ann. Inst. H. Poincaré Anal. Non Linéaire 28(2):217–246, 2011) and related to the Chapman et al. (Eur. J. Appl. Math. 7(2):97–111, 1996) formulation. We establish global existence of L ^p solutions, exploiting some optimal transport techniques introduced in this context in Ambrosio and Serfaty (Commun. Pure Appl. Math. LXI(11):1495–1539, 2008). We prove uniqueness for L ^∞ solutions, as expected by analogy with the incompressible Euler equations in fluidodynamics. We also consider the corresponding Dirichlet problem in a bounded domain. Moreover, we show some simple examples of 1-dimensional dynamic.     

Marino—Prodi perturbation type results and Morse indices of minimax critical points for a class of functionals in Banach spaces

In this work, we study a class of Euler functionals defined in Banach spaces, associated with quasilinear elliptic problems involving p-Laplace operator (p > 2). First we obtain perturbation results in the spirit of the remarkable paper by Marino and Prodi (Boll. U.M.I. (4) 11(Suppl. fasc. 3): 1–32, 1975), using the new definition of nondegeneracy given in (Ann. Inst. H. Poincaré: Analyse Non Linéaire. 2:271–292, 2003). We also extend Morse index estimates for minimax critical points, introduced by Lazer and Solimini (Nonlinear Anal. T.M.A. 12:761–775, 1988) in the Hilbert case, to our Banach setting. Mathematics Subject Classification (1991) 58E05, 35B20, 35J60, 35J70     

Metrics with equatorial singularities on the sphere

Motivated by optimal control of affine systems stemming from mechanics, metrics on the two-sphere of revolution are considered; these metrics are Riemannian on each open hemisphere, whereas one term of the corresponding tensor becomes infinite on the equator. Length-minimizing curves are computed, and structure results on the cut and conjugate loci are given, extending those in Bonnard et al. (Ann Inst H Poincaré Anal Non Linéaire 26(4):1081–1098, 2009). These results rely on monotonicity and convexity properties of the quasi-period of the geodesics; such properties are studied on an example with elliptic transcendency. A suitable deformation of the round sphere allows to reinterpretate the equatorial singularity in terms of concentration of curvature and collapsing of the sphere onto a two-dimensional billiard.     

Curvature estimates for graphs with prescribed mean curvature and flat normal bundle

We consider graphs with prescribed mean curvature and flat normal bundle. Using techniques of Schoen et al. (Acta Math 134:275–288, 1975) and Ecker and Huisken (Ann Inst H Poincaré Anal Non Linèaire 6:251–260, 1989), we derive the interior curvature estimate

Stability of the traveling waves for the derivative Schrödinger equation in the energy space

In this paper, we continue the study of the dynamics of the traveling waves for nonlinear Schrödinger equation with derivative (DNLS) in the energy space. Under some technical assumptions on the speed of each traveling wave, the stability of the sum of two traveling waves for DNLS is obtained in the energy space by Martel–Merle–Tsai’s analytic approach in Martel et al. (Commun Math Phys 231(2):347–373, 2002, Duke Math J 133(3):405–466, 2006). As a by-product, we also give an alternative proof of the stability of the single traveling wave in the energy space in Colin and Ohta (Ann Inst Henri Poincaré Anal Non Linéaire 23(5):753–764, 2006), where Colin and Ohta made use of the concentration-compactness argument.     

A Renewal Theorem for Strongly Ergodic Markov Chains in Dimension <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> ≥ 3 and Centered Case

In dimension d ≥ 3, we present a general assumption under which the renewal theorem established by Spitzer (1964) for i.i.d. sequences of centered nonlattice r.v. holds true. Next we appeal to an operator-type procedure to investigate the Markov case. Such a spectral approach has been already developed by Babillot (Ann Inst Henri Poincaré, Sect B, Tome 24(4):507–569, 1988), but the weak perturbation theorem of Keller and Liverani (Ann Sc Norm Super Pisa CI Sci XXVIII(4):141–152, 1999) enables us to greatly weaken the moment conditions of Babillot (Ann Inst Henri Poincaré, Sect B, Tome 24(4):507–569, 1988). Our applications concern the v-geometrically ergodic Markov chains, the ρ-mixing Markov chains, and the iterative Lipschitz models, for which the renewal theorem of the i.i.d. case extends under the (almost) expected moment condition.     

On the convergence of Newton-type methods under mild differentiability conditions

We introduce the new idea of recurrent functions to provide a new semilocal convergence analysis for Newton-type methods, under mild differentiability conditions. It turns out that our sufficient convergence conditions are weaker, and the error bounds are tighter than in earlier studies in some interesting cases (Chen, Ann Inst Stat Math 42:387–401, 1990; Chen, Numer Funct Anal Optim 10:37–48, 1989; Cianciaruso, Numer Funct Anal Optim 24:713–723, 2003; Cianciaruso, Nonlinear Funct Anal Appl 2009; Dennis 1971; Deuflhard 2004; Deuflhard, SIAM J Numer Anal 16:1–10, 1979; Gutiérrez, J Comput Appl Math 79:131–145, 1997; Hernández, J Optim Theory Appl 109:631–648, 2001; Hernández, J Comput Appl Math 115:245–254, 2000; Huang, J Comput Appl Math 47:211–217, 1993; Kantorovich 1982; Miel, Numer Math 33:391–396, 1979; Miel, Math Comput 34:185–202, 1980; Moret, Computing 33:65–73, 1984; Potra, Libertas Mathematica 5:71–84, 1985; Rheinboldt, SIAM J Numer Anal 5:42–63, 1968; Yamamoto, Numer Math 51: 545–557, 1987; Zabrejko, Numer Funct Anal Optim 9:671–684, 1987; Zinc̆ko 1963). Applications and numerical examples, involving a nonlinear integral equation of Chandrasekhar-type, and a differential equation are also provided in this study.     

On a class of secant-like methods for solving nonlinear equations

We provide a semilocal convergence analysis for a certain class of secant-like methods considered also in Argyros (J Math Anal Appl 298:374–397, 2004, 2007), Potra (Libertas Mathematica 5:71–84, 1985), in order to approximate a locally unique solution of an equation in a Banach space. Using a combination of Lipschitz and center-Lipschitz conditions for the computation of the upper bounds on the inverses of the linear operators involved, instead of only Lipschitz conditions (Potra, Libertas Mathematica 5:71–84, 1985), we provide an analysis with the following advantages over the work in Potra (Libertas Mathematica 5:71–84, 1985) which improved the works in Bosarge and Falb (J Optim Theory Appl 4:156–166, 1969, Numer Math 14:264–286, 1970), Dennis (SIAM J Numer Anal 6(3):493–507, 1969, 1971), Kornstaedt (1975), Larsonen (Ann Acad Sci Fenn, A 450:1–10, 1969), Potra (L’Analyse Numérique et la Théorie de l’Approximation 8(2):203–214, 1979, Aplikace Mathematiky 26:111–120, 1981, 1982, Libertas Mathematica 5:71–84, 1985), Potra and Pták (Math Scand 46:236–250, 1980, Numer Func Anal Optim 2(1):107–120, 1980), Schmidt (Period Math Hung 9(3):241–247, 1978), Schmidt and Schwetlick (Computing 3:215–226, 1968), Traub (1964), Wolfe (Numer Math 31:153–174, 1978): larger convergence domain; weaker sufficient convergence conditions, finer error bounds on the distances involved, and a more precise information on the location of the solution. Numerical examples further validating the results are also provided.     

Random Block Matrices and Matrix Orthogonal Polynomials

In this paper we consider random block matrices, which generalize the general beta ensembles recently investigated by Dumitriu and Edelmann (J. Math. Phys. 43:5830–5847, 2002; Ann. Inst. Poincaré Probab. Stat. 41:1083–1099, 2005). We demonstrate that the eigenvalues of these random matrices can be uniformly approximated by roots of matrix orthogonal polynomials which were investigated independently from the random matrix literature. As a consequence, we derive the asymptotic spectral distribution of these matrices. The limit distribution has a density which can be represented as the trace of an integral of densities of matrix measures corresponding to the Chebyshev matrix polynomials of the first kind. Our results establish a new relation between the theory of random block matrices and the field of matrix orthogonal polynomials, which have not been explored so far in the literature.     

A note on simultaneous preconditioning and symmetrization of non‐symmetric linear systems

Motivated by the theory of self‐duality that provides a variational formulation and resolution for non‐self‐adjoint partial differential equations (Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré (C) Anal Non Linéaire 2007; 24 :171–205; Selfdual Partial Differential Systems and Their Variational Principles. Springer: New York, 2008), we propose new templates for solving large non‐symmetric linear systems. The method consists of combining a new scheme that simultaneously preconditions and symmetrizes the problem, with various well‐known iterative methods for solving linear and symmetric problems. The approach seems to be efficient when dealing with certain ill‐conditioned, and highly non‐symmetric systems. The numerical and theoretical results are provided to show the efficiency of our approach. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Positive and sign-changing clusters around saddle points of the potential for nonlinear elliptic problems

We study the existence and asymptotic behavior of positive and sign-changing multipeak solutions for the equation $$ -\varepsilon^2\Delta v+V(x)v=f(v)\quad{\rm in}\,\,\,\mathbb{R}^N, $$ where ?? is a small positive parameter, f a superlinear, subcritical and odd nonlinearity, V a uniformly positive potential. No symmetry on V is assumed. It is known (Kang and Wei in Adv Differ Equ 5:899?C928, 2000) that this equation has positive multipeak solutions with all peaks approaching a local maximum of V. It is also proved that solutions alternating positive and negative spikes exist in the case of a minimum (see D??Aprile and Pistoia in Ann Inst H. Poincaré Anal Non Linéaire 26:1423?C1451, 2009). The aim of this paper is to show the existence of both positive and sign-changing multipeak solutions around a nondegenerate saddle point of V.     

A profile decomposition approach to the L^\infty _t(L^{3}_x) Navier–Stokes regularity criterion

In this paper we continue to develop an alternative viewpoint on recent studies of Navier–Stokes regularity in critical spaces, a program which was started in the recent work by Kenig and Koch (Ann Inst H Poincaré Anal Non Linéaire 28(2):159–187, 2011). Specifically, we prove that strong solutions which remain bounded in the space ${L^3(\mathbb R ^3)}$ do not become singular in finite time, a known result established by Escauriaza et al. (Uspekhi Mat Nauk 58(2(350)):3–44, 2003) in the context of suitable weak solutions. Here, we use the method of “critical elements” which was recently developed by Kenig and Merle to treat critical dispersive equations. Our main tool is a “profile decomposition” for the Navier–Stokes equations in critical Besov spaces which we develop here. As a byproduct of this tool, assuming a singularity-producing initial datum for Navier–Stokes exists in a critical Lebesgue or Besov space, we show there is one with minimal norm, generalizing a result of Rusin and Sverak (J Funct Anal 260(3):879–891, 2011).     

Cut Points and Diffusions in Random Environment

In this article we investigate the asymptotic behavior of a new class of multidimensional diffusions in random environment. We introduce cut times in the spirit of the work done by Bolthausen et al. (Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré 39(5):527–555, 2003) in the discrete setting providing a decoupling effect in the process. This allows us to take advantage of an ergodic structure to derive a strong law of large numbers with possibly vanishing limiting velocity and a central limit theorem under the quenched measure.     

A Two-Phase Parabolic Free Boundary Problem with Coefficients Below the Lipschitz Threshold

We study the regularity of a parabolic free boundary problem of two-phase type with coefficients below the Lipschitz threshold. For the Lipschitz coefficient case one can apply a monotonicity formula to prove the optimal ${C_x^{1,1}\cap C_t^{0,1}}$ -regularity of the solution and that the free boundary is, near the so-called branching points, the union of two graphs that are Lipschitz in time and C ¹ in space. In our case, the same monotonicity formula does not apply in the same way. Instead we use scaling arguments similar to the ones used for the elliptic case in Edquist et al. (Ann Inst Henri Poincareé, Anal Non Linéaire 26(6):2359?C2372, 2009) to prove the optimal regularity. However, whenever the spatial gradient does not vanish on the free boundary, we are in the parabolic setting faced with some extra difficulties, that forces us to strain our assumptions slightly.     

A Bilinear Pseudodifferential Calculus

In this paper we construct a new class of bilinear pseudodifferential operators which contains both the Coifman-Meyer class as well as the non-translation invariant class closely related both to the bilinear Hilbert transform and previously studied in Bényi et al. (J. Geom. Anal. 16(3):431–453, 2006), Bényi et al. (J. Anal. Math., 2009), Bernicot (Anal. PDE 1:1–27, 2008) as well as the bilinear Marcinkiewicz class studied in Grafakos and Kalton (Stud. Math. 146(2):115–156, 2001). We prove boundedness on Sobolev spaces for these operators as well as establish a symbolic calculus that exhibits the nice behavior of our new class under transposition and composition with linear operators.