Very weak solutions to elliptic equations with nonlinear Neumann boundary conditions

Consider the equation −Δu = 0 in a bounded smooth domain , complemented by the nonlinear Neumann boundary condition ∂_ν u = f(x, u) − u on ∂Ω. We show that any very weak solution of this problem belongs to L ^∞(Ω) provided f satisfies the growth condition |f(x, s)| ≤ C(1 + |s| ^p ) for some p ∈ (1, p*), where . If, in addition, f(x, s) ≥ −C + λs for some λ > 1, then all positive very weak solutions are uniformly a priori bounded. We also show by means of examples that p* is a sharp critical exponent. In particular, using variational methods we prove the following multiplicity result: if N ∈ {3, 4} and f(x, s) =  s ^p then there exists a domain Ω and such that our problem possesses at least two positive, unbounded, very weak solutions blowing up at a prescribed point of ∂Ω provided . Our regularity results and a priori bounds for positive very weak solutions remain true if the right-hand side in the differential equation is of the form h(x, u) with h satisfying suitable growth conditions.     

Fast and slow decay solutions for supercritical elliptic problems in exterior domains

We consider the elliptic problem Δu  +  u ^p  =  0, u  >  0 in an exterior domain, under zero Dirichlet and vanishing conditions, where is smooth and bounded in , N ≥ 3, and p is supercritical, namely . We prove that this problem has infinitely many solutions with slow decay at infinity. In addition, a solution with fast decay O(|x|^2-N ) exists if p is close enough from above to the critical exponent.     

On <Emphasis Type="Italic">Γ</Emphasis>-convergence of quadratic functionals in the plane

In this paper, we prove that if a sequence of homeomorphisms , with bounded planar domains, of Sobolev space has uniformly equibounded distortions in EXP(Ω) and weakly converges to f in then the matrices A(x, f _j ) of the corresponding Laplace-Beltrami operators Γ-converge in the Orlicz–Sobolev space , where Q(t) = t ²log(e + t), to the matrix A(x, f) of the Laplace-Beltrami operator associated to f.      

Generalized motion of level sets by functions of their curvatures on Riemannian manifolds

We consider the generalized evolution of compact level sets by functions of their normal vectors and second fundamental forms on a Riemannian manifold M. The level sets of a function evolve in such a way whenever u solves an equation u _t  + F(Du, D ² u) = 0, for some real function F satisfying a geometric condition. We show existence and uniqueness of viscosity solutions to this equation under the assumptions that M has nonnegative curvature, F is continuous off {Du = 0}, (degenerate) elliptic, and locally invariant by parallel translation. We then prove that this approach is geometrically consistent, hence it allows to define a generalized evolution of level sets by very general, singular functions of their curvatures. For instance, these assumptions on F are satisfied when F is given by the evolutions of level sets by their mean curvature (even in arbitrary codimension) or by their positive Gaussian curvature. We also prove that the generalized evolution is consistent with the classical motion by the corresponding function of the curvature, whenever the latter exists. When M is not of nonnegative curvature, the same results hold if one additionally requires that F is uniformly continuous with respect to D ² u. Finally we give some counterexamples showing that several well known properties of the evolutions in are no longer true when M has negative sectional curvature. D. Azagra was supported by grants MTM-2006-03531 and UCM-CAM-910626. M. Jimenez-Sevilla was supported by a fellowship of the Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia, Spain. F. Macià was supported by program “Juan de la Cierva” and projects MAT2005-05730-C02-02 of MEC (Spain) and PR27/05-13939 UCM-BSCH (Spain).     

The semiflow of a reaction diffusion equation with a singular potential

We study the semiflow defined by a semilinear parabolic equation with a singular square potential . It is known that the Hardy-Poincaré inequality and its improved versions, have a prominent role on the definition of the natural phase space. Our study concerns the case 0 < μ ≤ μ*, where μ* is the optimal constant for the Hardy-Poincaré inequality. On a bounded domain of , we justify the global bifurcation of nontrivial equilibrium solutions for a reaction term f(s) = λs − |s|^2γ s, with λ as a bifurcation parameter. We remark some qualitative differences of the branches in the subcritical case μ < μ* and the critical case μ = μ*. The global bifurcation result is used to show that any solution , initiating form initial data tends to the unique nonnegative equilibrium.     

Fourth order equations of critical Sobolev growth. Energy function and solutions of bounded energy in the conformally flat case

Given (M,g) a smooth compact Riemannian manifold of dimension n ≥ 5, we consider equations like

Analysis of degenerate elliptic operators of Grušin type

We analyse degenerate, second-order, elliptic operators H in divergence form on L ₂(R ⁿ  × R ^m ). We assume the coefficients are real symmetric and a ₁ H _δ  ≥ H ≥ a ₂ H _δ for some a ₁, a ₂ > 0 where

Optimal initial value conditions for the existence of local strong solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations

Consider the instationary Navier–Stokes system in a smooth bounded domain with vanishing force and initial value . Since the work of Kiselev and Ladyzhenskaya (Am. Math. Soc. Transl. Ser. 2 24:79–106, 1963) there have been found several conditions on u ₀ to prove the existence of a unique strong solution with u(0) = u ₀ in some time interval [0, T), 0 < T ≤ ∞, where the exponents 2 < s < ∞, 3 < q < ∞ satisfy . Indeed, such conditions could be weakened step by step, thus enlarging the corresponding solution classes. Our aim is to prove the following optimal result with the weakest possible initial value condition and the largest possible solution class: Given u ₀, q, s as above and the Stokes operator A ₂, we prove that the condition is necessary and sufficient for the existence of such a local strong solution u. The proof rests on arguments from the recently developed theory of very weak solutions.     

A weighted eigenvalue problem for the p-Laplacian plus a potential

Let Δ _p denote the p-Laplacian operator and Ω be a bounded domain in . We consider the eigenvalue problem

Marcinkiewicz estimates for solutions of some elliptic problems with nonregular data

The method introduced by Ennio De Giorgi and Guido Stampacchia for the study of the regularity (L ^p , Marcinkiewicz or C ^0,α ) of the weak solutions of Dirichlet problems hinges on the handle of inequalities concerning the integral of on the subsets where |u(x)| is greater than k. In this framework, here we give a contribution with the study of the Marcinkiewicz regularity of the gradient of infinite energy solutions of Dirichlet problems with nonregular data. Dedicated to Juan Luis Vazquez for his 60th birthday (“El verano del Patriarca”, see [19]).     

On a semigroup generated by a convex combination of two Feller generators

Let be a locally compact Hausdorff space. Let A and B be two generators of Feller semigroups in with related Feller processes {X _A (t), t ≥ 0} and {X _B (t), t ≥ 0} and let α and β be two non-negative continuous functions on with α + β = 1. Assume that the closure C of C ₀ = αA + βB with generates a Feller semigroup {T _C (t), t ≥ 0} in . It is natural to think of a related Feller process {X _C (t), t ≥ 0} as that evolving according to the following heuristic rules. Conditional on being at a point , with probability α(p) the process behaves like {X _A (t), t ≥ 0} and with probability β(p) it behaves like {X _B (t), t ≥ 0}. We provide an approximation of {T _C (t), t ≥ 0} via a sequence of semigroups acting in that supports this interpretation. This work is motivated by the recent model of stochastic gene expression due to Lipniacki et al. [17].     

Pointwise convergence for semigroups in vector-valued <Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis></Superscript> spaces

Suppose that {T _t  : t  ≥  0} is a symmetric diffusion semigroup on L ²(X) and denote by its tensor product extension to the Bochner space , where belongs to a certain broad class of UMD spaces. We prove a vector-valued version of the Hopf–Dunford–Schwartz ergodic theorem and show that this extends to a maximal theorem for analytic continuations of on . As an application, we show that such continuations exhibit pointwise convergence.     

On the long time behaviour of solutions to dissipative wave equations in \mathbb{R}^{2}

In this paper we present a parabolic approach to studying the diffusive long time behaviour of solutions to the Cauchy problem:

On the vector space of 0-configurations

Let α be a rational-valued set-function on then-element sexX i.e. α(B) εQ for everyB ⫅X. We say that α defines a 0-configuration with respect toA⫅2 ^x if for everyA εA we have α(B)=0. The 0-configurations form a vector space of dimension 2 ⁿ − |A| (Theorem 1). Let 0 ≦t<k ≦n and letA={A ⫅X: |A| ≦t}. We show that in this case the 0-configurations satisfying α(B)=0 for |B|>k form a vector space of dimension , we exhibit a basis for this space (Theorem 4). Also a result of Frankl, Wilson [3] is strengthened (Theorem 6).     

Singular solutions of some nonlinear parabolic equations with spatially inhomogeneous absorption

We study the limit behaviour of solutions of with initial data k δ ₀ when k → ∞, where h is a positive nondecreasing function and p > 1. If h(r) = r ^β , β > N(p − 1) − 2, we prove that the limit function u _∞ is an explicit very singular solution, while such a solution does not exist if β ≤  N(p − 1) − 2. If lim inf _{r→ 0} r ² ln (1/h(r))  >  0, u _∞ has a persistent singularity at (0, t) (t ≥  0). If , u _∞ has a pointwise singularity localized at (0, 0).     

Unbounded solutions of differential equations of second order

In this paper, the existence of unbounded solutions for the following nonlinear asymmetric oscillator

Affine restriction for radial surfaces

Suppose dμ is affine surface measure on a convex radial surface Γ(x) = (x, γ(|x|)), a ≤ |x| < b, in . Under appropriate smoothness and growth conditions on γ, we prove and Fourier restriction estimates for Γ.     

Characterization of balls by Riesz-potentials

For a bounded convex domain and consider the unit- density Riesz-potential . We show in this paper that u  =  const. on ∂G if and only if G is a ball. This result corresponds to a theorem of L.E. Fraenkel, where the ball is characterized by the Newtonian-potential (α = 2) of unit density being constant on ∂G. In the case α = N the kernel |x − y| ^α-N is replaced by  − log|x − y| and a similar characterization of balls is given. The proof relies on a recent variant of the moving plane method which is suitable for Green-function representations of solutions of (pseudo-)differential equations of higher-order.      

A priori bounds and a Liouville theorem on a half-space for higher-order elliptic Dirichlet problems

We consider the 2m-th order elliptic boundary value problem Lu = f (x, u) on a bounded smooth domain with Dirichlet boundary conditions on ∂Ω. The operator L is a uniformly elliptic operator of order 2m given by . For the nonlinearity we assume that , where are positive functions and q > 1 if N ≤ 2m, if N > 2m. We prove a priori bounds, i.e, we show that for every solution u, where C > 0 is a constant. The solutions are allowed to be sign-changing. The proof is done by a blow-up argument which relies on the following new Liouville-type theorem on a half-space: if u is a classical, bounded, non-negative solution of ( − Δ) ^m u  =  u ^q in with Dirichlet boundary conditions on and q > 1 if N ≤ 2m, if N > 2m then .