On a nonlinear hyperbolic variational equation: II. The zero-viscosity and dispersion limits

We consider viscosity and dispersion regularizations of the nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equation (u _t+uu_x)_x=1/2u _x ² with the simplest initial data such that u _x blows up in finite time. We prove that the zero-viscosity limit selects a unique global weak solution of the partial differential equation without viscosity. We also present numerical experiments which indicate that the zero-dispersion limit selects a different global weak solution of the same initial-value problem.     

Asymptotic Variational Wave Equations

We investigate the equation (u _t +(f(u)) _x ) _x =f ^{′ ′}(u) (u _x )²/2 where f(u) is a given smooth function. Typically f(u)=u ²/2 or u ³/3. This equation models unidirectional and weakly nonlinear waves for the variational wave equation u _tt − c(u) (c(u)u _x ) _x =0 which models some liquid crystals with a natural sinusoidal c. The equation itself is also the Euler–Lagrange equation of a variational problem. Two natural classes of solutions can be associated with this equation. A conservative solution will preserve its energy in time, while a dissipative weak solution loses energy at the time when singularities appear. Conservative solutions are globally defined, forward and backward in time, and preserve interesting geometric features, such as the Hamiltonian structure. On the other hand, dissipative solutions appear to be more natural from the physical point of view.We establish the well-posedness of the Cauchy problem within the class of conservative solutions, for initial data having finite energy and assuming that the flux function f has a Lipschitz continuous second-order derivative. In the case where f is convex, the Cauchy problem is well posed also within the class of dissipative solutions. However, when f is not convex, we show that the dissipative solutions do not depend continuously on the initial data.     

Global Dynamics of Blow-up Profiles in One-dimensional Reaction Diffusion Equations

We consider reaction diffusion equations of the prototype form u _t = u _xx + λ u + |u| ^p-1 u on the interval 0 < x < π, with p > 1 and λ > m ². We study the global blow-up dynamics in the m-dimensional fast unstable manifold of the trivial equilibrium u ≡ 0. In particular, sign-changing solutions are included. Specifically, we find initial conditions such that the blow-up profile u(t, x) at blow-up time t = T possesses m + 1 intervals of strict monotonicity with prescribed extremal values u ₁, . . . ,u _m . Since u _k = ± ∞ at blow-up time t = T, for some k, this exhausts the dimensional possibilities of trajectories in the m-dimensional fast unstable manifold. Alternatively, we can prescribe the locations x = x ₁, . . . ,x _m of the extrema, at blow-up time, up to a one-dimensional constraint. The proofs are based on an elementary Brouwer degree argument for maps which encode the shapes of solution profiles via their extremal values and extremal locations, respectively. Even in the linear case, such an “interpolation of shape” was not known to us. Our blow-up result generalizes earlier work by Chen and Matano (1989), J. Diff. Eq. 78, 160–190, and Merle (1992), Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 45(3), 263–300 on multi-point blow-up for positive solutions, which were not constrained to possess global extensions for all negative times. Our results are based on continuity of the blow-up time, as proved by Merle (1992), Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 45(3), 263–300, and Quittner (2003), Houston J. Math. 29(3), 757–799, and on a refined variant of Merle’s continuity of the blow-up profile, as addressed in the companion paper Matano and Fiedler (2007) (in preparation). Dedicated to Palo Brunovsky on the occasion of his birthday.     

Symmetry of Mountain Pass Solutions of Some Vector Field Equations

We prove radial symmetry (or axial symmetry) of the mountain pass solution of variational elliptic systems − AΔu(x) + ∇ F(u(x)) = 0 (or − ∇.(A(r) ∇ u(x)) + ∇ F(r,u(x)) = 0,) u(x) = (u ₁(x),...,u _N (x)), where A (or A(r)) is a symmetric positive definite matrix. The solutions are defined in a domain Ω which can be , a ball, an annulus or the exterior of a ball. The boundary conditions are either Dirichlet or Neumann (or any one which is invariant under rotation). The mountain pass solutions studied here are given by constrained minimization on the Nehari manifold. We prove symmetry using the reflection method introduced in Lopes [(1996), J. Diff. Eq. 124, 378–388; (1996), Eletron. J. Diff. Eq. 3, 1–14].     

Global Semigroup of Conservative Solutions of the Nonlinear Variational Wave Equation

We prove the existence of a global semigroup for conservative solutions of the nonlinear variational wave equation u _tt − c(u)(c(u)u _x ) _x  = 0. We allow for initial data u| _{t = 0} and u _t | _t=0 that contain measures. We assume that 0 < k^-1 \leqq c(u) \leqq k{0 < \kappa^{-1} \leqq c(u) \leqq \kappa}. Solutions of this equation may experience concentration of the energy density (u_t²+c(u)²u_x²)dx{(u_t^2+c(u)^2u_x^2){\rm d}x} into sets of measure zero. The solution is constructed by introducing new variables related to the characteristics, whereby singularities in the energy density become manageable. Furthermore, we prove that the energy may focus only on a set of times of zero measure or at points where c′(u) vanishes. A new numerical method for constructing conservative solutions is provided and illustrated with examples.     

Threshold Solutions and Sharp Transitions for Nonautonomous Parabolic Equations on $${\mathbb{R}^N}$$

This paper is devoted to a class of nonautonomous parabolic equations of the form u _t = Δu + f(t, u) on \mathbbR^N{\mathbb{R}^N} . We consider a monotone one-parameter family of initial data with compact support, such that for small values of the parameter the corresponding solutions decay to zero, whereas for large values they exhibit a different behavior (either blowup in finite time or locally uniform convergence to a positive constant steady state). We are interested in the set of intermediate values of the parameter for which neither of these behaviors occurs. We refer to such values as threshold values and to the corresponding solutions as threshold solutions. We prove that the transition from decay to the other behavior is sharp: there is just one threshold value. We also describe the behavior of the threshold solution: it is global, bounded, and asymptotically symmetric in the sense that all its limit profiles, as t → ∞, are radially symmetric about the same center. Our proofs rely on parabolic Liouville theorems, asymptotic symmetry results for nonlinear parabolic equations, and theorems on exponential separation and principal Floquet bundles for linear parabolic equations.     

Dynamical Structure of Some Nonlinear Degenerate Diffusion Equations

We consider degenerate reaction diffusion equations of the form u _t ?=???u ^m ?+?f(x, u), where f(x, u) ~ a(x)u ^p with 1??? p m. We assume that a(x)?>?0 at least in some part of the spatial domain, so that ${u \equiv 0}$ is an unstable stationary solution. We prove that the unstable manifold of the solution ${u \equiv 0 }$ has infinite Hausdorff dimension, even if the spatial domain is bounded. This is in marked contrast with the case of non-degenerate semilinear equations. The above result follows by first showing the existence of a solution that tends to 0 as ${t\to -\infty}$ while its support shrinks to an arbitrarily chosen point x* in the region where a(x)?>?0, then superimposing such solutions, to form a family of solutions of arbitrarily large number of free parameters. The construction of such solutions will be done by modifying self-similar solutions for the case where a is a constant.     

Spinodal Decomposition for the¶Cahn-Hilliard Equation in Higher Dimensions:¶Nonlinear Dynamics

This paper addresses the phenomenon of spinodal decomposition for the Cahn-Hilliard equation

On the structure of continua and the mathematical properties of algebraic elastodynamic of a triclinic structural system

This paper is neither laudatory nor derogatory but it simply contrasts with what might be called elastostatic (or static topology), a proposition of the famous six equations. The extension strains and the shearing strains which were derived by A.L. Cauchy, are linearly expressed in terms of nine partial derivatives of the displacement function (u _i ,u _j ,u _h )=u(x ⁱ ,x ^j ,x ^k ) and it is impossible for the inverse proposition to sep up a system of the above six equations in expressing the nine components of matrix (∂(u _i ,u _j ,u _h )/∂(x ⁱ ,x ^j ,x ^k )). This is due to the fact that our geometrical representations of deformation at a given point are as yet incomplete^[1]. On the other hand, in more geometrical language this theorem is not true to any triangle, except orthogonal, for “squared length” in space^[2]. The purpose of this paper is to describe some mathematic laws of algebraic elastodynamics and the relationships between the above-mentioned important questions.     

Finite-dimensional description of convective Reaction-Diffusion equations

We are concerned with the asymptotic dynamics of a certain type of semilinear parabolic equation, namely,u _t=u _xx+(f(u))_x+g(u)+h(x) on the interval [0,L]. Under the general condition we prove that this equation admits a dissipative dynamical system and it possesses the global attractor. But for largeL > 0, we do not know whether or not an inertial manifold exists. Here we introduce a nonlinear change of variables so that we transform the above equation to a reaction diffusion system which possesses exactly the same asymptotic dynamics. We then prove the existence of an inertial manifold for the transformed equation; thereby we find the ordinary differential equation which describes completely the long-time dynamics of the orginal equation.     

The Critical Dimension for a Fourth Order Elliptic Problem with Singular Nonlinearity

We study the regularity of the extremal solution of the semilinear biharmonic equation ${{\Delta^2} u=\frac{\lambda}{(1-u)^2}}We study the regularity of the extremal solution of the semilinear biharmonic equation D² u=\fracl(1-u)²{{\Delta^2} u=\frac{\lambda}{(1-u)^2}}, which models a simple micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device on a ball B ì \mathbbR^N{B\subset{\mathbb{R}}^N}, under Dirichlet boundary conditions u=?_n u=0{u=\partial_\nu u=0} on ?B{\partial B}. We complete here the results of Lin and Yang [14] regarding the identification of a “pull-in voltage” λ* > 0 such that a stable classical solution u _λ with 0 < u _λ < 1 exists for l ? (0,l^*){\lambda\in (0,\lambda^*)}, while there is none of any kind when λ > λ*. Our main result asserts that the extremal solution u_l^*{u_{\lambda^*}} is regular (sup_B u_l^* < 1 ){({\rm sup}_B u_{\lambda^*} <1 )} provided N \leqq 8{N \leqq 8} while u_l^*{u_{\lambda^*}} is singular (sup_B u_l^* = 1){({\rm sup}_B u_{\lambda^*} =1)} for N \geqq 9{N \geqq 9}, in which case 1-C₀|x|^4/3 \leqq u_l^* (x) \leqq 1-|x|^4/3{1-C_0|x|^{4/3} \leqq u_{\lambda^*} (x) \leqq 1-|x|^{4/3}} on the unit ball, where C₀:=(\fracl^*[`(l)])<sup>\frac</sup>13{C_0:=\left(\frac{\lambda^*}{\overline{\lambda}}\right)^\frac{1}{3}} and [`(l)]: = \frac89(N-\frac23)(N- \frac83){\bar{\lambda}:= \frac{8}{9}\left(N-\frac{2}{3}\right)\left(N- \frac{8}{3}\right)}.     

On a nonlinear hyperbolic variational equation: I. Global existence of weak solutions

We study the nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equation, (u _t+uu_x)_x=1/2u _x ² . This partial differential equation is the canonical asymptotic equation for weakly nonlinear solutions of a class of hyperbolic equations derived from variational principles. In particular, it describes waves in a massive director field of a nematic liquid crystal.Global smooth solutions of the partial differential equation do not exist, since their derivatives blow up in finite time, while weak solutions are not unique. We therefore define two distinct classes of admissible weak solutions, which we call dissipative and conservative solutions. We prove the global existence of each type of admissible weak solution, provided that the derivative of the initial data has bounded variation and compact support. These solutions remain continuous, despite the fact that their derivatives blow up.There are no a priori estimates on the second derivatives in any L ^p space, so the existence of weak solutions cannot be deduced by using Sobolev-type arguments. Instead, we prove existence by establishing detailed estimates on the blowup singularity for explicit approximate solutions of the partial differential equation.We also describe the qualitative properties of the partial differential equation, including a comparison with the Burgers equation for inviscid fluids and a number of illustrative examples of explicit solutions. We show that conservative weak solutions are obtained as a limit of solutions obtained by the regularized method of characteristics, and we prove that the large-time asymptotic behavior of dissipative solutions is a special piecewise linear solution which we call a kink-wave.     

W2,p Estimates for the Parabolic¶Monge-Ampère Equation

When u is a solution to the equation ?u _t det D _x ² u=f with f positive, continuous, and f _t satisfying certain growth conditions, we establish estimates in L ^∞ for u _t and show that D _x ² u satisfies uniform interior estimates in L ^p for 0相似文献   

Entire Solutions with Merging Fronts to Reaction–Diffusion Equations

We deal with a reaction–diffusion equation u _t = u _xx + f(u) which has two stable constant equilibria, u = 0, 1 and a monotone increasing traveling front solution u = φ(x + ct) (c > 0) connecting those equilibria. Suppose that u = a (0 < a < 1) is an unstable equilibrium and that the equation allows monotone increasing traveling front solutions u = ψ₁(x + c ₁ t) (c ₁ < 0) and ψ₂(x + c ₂ t) (c ₂ > 0) connecting u = 0 with u = a and u = a with u = 1, respectively. We call by an entire solution a classical solution which is defined for all . We prove that there exists an entire solution such that for t≈ − ∞ it behaves as two fronts ψ₁(x + c ₁ t) and ψ₂(x + c ₂ t) on the left and right x-axes, respectively, while it converges to φ(x + ct) as t→∞. In addition, if c > − c ₁, we show the existence of an entire solution which behaves as ψ₁( − x + c ₁ t) in and φ(x + ct) in for t≈ − ∞.     

Darboux problem for a differential equation with fractional derivative

We find conditions for the unique solvability of the problem u _xy (x, y) = f(x, y, u(x, y), (D ₀ ^r u)(x, y)), u(x, 0) = u(0, y) = 0, x ∈ [0, a], y ∈ [0, b], where (D ₀ ^r u)(x, y) is the mixed Riemann-Liouville derivative of order r = (r ₁, r ₂), 0 < r ₁, r ₂ < 1, in the class of functions that have the continuous derivatives u _xy (x, y) and (D ₀ ^r u)(x, y). We propose a numerical method for solving this problem and prove the convergence of the method. __________ Translated from Neliniini Kolyvannya, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 456–467, October–December, 2005.     

On the Linearization of Semilinear Wave Equations

We consider the class of wave equations u _tt−u _xx=f(u, u _t, u _x). By using the differential invariants, with respect to the equivalence transformation algebra of this class, we characterize subclasses of linearizable equations. Wide classes of general solutions for some nonlinear forms of f(u, u _t, u _x) are found.     

Homogeneous diffusion in ℝ with power-like nonlinear diffusivity

We study the nonnegative solutions of the initial-value problem u_t=(u^r|u_x|^p-1u_x)_x,u(x, 0)L ¹(), where p>0, r+p>0. The local velocity of propagation of the solutions is identified as V = -v_x| v_x|^p-1 where v =cu (with r +p - 1)/p and c (r +p/(r +p- 1)) is the nonlinear potential. Our main result is the a priori estimate (v_x|v_x|^p-1)_x-

Vorticities in a LES Model for 3D Periodic Turbulent Flows

This paper is devoted to the study of a LES model to simulate turbulent 3D periodic flow. We focus our attention on the vorticity equation derived from this LES model for small values of the numerical grid size δ. We obtain entropy inequalities for the sequence of corresponding vorticities and corresponding pressures independent of δ, provided the initial velocity u₀ is in L_x² while the initial vorticity ω₀ = ∇ × u₀ is in L_x¹. When δ tends to zero, we show convergence, in a distributional sense, of the corresponding equations for the vorticities to the classical 3D equation for the vorticity.     

On nonlinear problems of mixed type: A qualitative theory using infinite-dimensional center manifolds

We consider the equation a(y)u_xx+div_y(b(y)_yu)+c(y)u=g(y, u) in the cylinder (–l,l)×, being elliptic where b(y)>0 and hyperbolic where b(y)<0. We construct self-adjoint realizations in L₂() of the operatorAu= (1/a) div_y(b_yu)+(c/a) in the case ofb changing sign. This leads to the abstract problem u_xx+Au=g(u), whereA has a spectrum extending to + as well as to –. For l= it is shown that all sufficiently small solutions lie on an infinite-dimensional center manifold and behave like those of a hyperbolic problem. Anx-independent cross-sectional integral E=E(u, u_x) is derived showing that all solutions on the center manifold remain bounded forx ±. For finitel, all small solutionsu are close to a solution on the center manifold such that u(x)-(x) Ce ^-(1-|x|) for allx, whereC and are independent ofu. Hence, the solutions are dominated by hyperbolic properties, except close to the terminal ends {±1}×, where boundary layers of elliptic type appear.     

Partial Regularity for Weak Heat Flows into a General Compact Riemannian Manifold

In this paper the partial regularity of the weak heat flow of harmonic maps from a Riemannian manifold M into a general compact Riemannian manifold N without boundary is considered. Partial results have been obtained for target manifolds that are spheres [12, 4] or homogeneous spaces [6]. The proofs in these special cases relied heavily on the geometry of these manifolds, and cannot be applied to the general case. We prove in this article that the singular set Sing(u) of the stationary weak heat flow satisfies H ⁿ _ρ (Sing(u))=0, with n=dimension M, where H ⁿ _ρ is the Hausdorff measure with respect to parabolic metric . (Accepted October 8, 2002) Published online March 12, 2003 Communicated by L. Ambrosio