Formal analysis of the Cauchy problem for a system associated with the (2+1)-dimensional Krichever-Novikov equation

The singularity manifold equation of the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation, the so-called Krichever-Novikov equation, has an exact linearization to an overdetermined system of partial differential equations in three independent variables. We study in detail the Cauchy problem for this system as an example for the use of the formal theory of differential equations. A general existence and uniqueness theorem is established. Formal theory is then contrasted with Janet-Riquier theory in the formulation of Reid. Finally, the implications of the results for the Krichever-Novikov equation are outlined.     

Analyticity of the Cauchy problem for two-component Hunter-Saxton systems

This paper is mainly concerned with the periodic Cauchy problem for a generalized two-component μ-Hunter-Saxton system with analytic initial data. The analyticity of its solutions is proved in both variables, globally in space and locally in time. The obtained result can be also applied to its special cases—the classical integrable two-component Hunter-Saxton system, the generalized μ-Hunter-Saxton equation and the classical Hunter-Saxton equation.     

Existence of solutions to BVP for linear differential-functional equations of elliptic type

We consider a homogeneous boundary value problem for a linear partial differential-functional equation of elliptic type. We prove the existence of a unique solution to such problem in a Sobolev space.     

The periodic Cauchy problem of the modified Hunter-Saxton equation

We prove that the periodic initial value problem for the modified Hunter-Saxton equation is locally well-posed for initial data in the space of continuously differentiable functions on the circle and in Sobolev spaces when s > 3/2. We also study the analytic regularity (both in space and time variables) of this problem and prove a Cauchy-Kowalevski type theorem. Our approach is to rewrite the equation and derive the estimates which permit application of o.d.e. techniques in Banach spaces. For the analytic regularity we use a contraction argument on an appropriate scale of Banach spaces to obtain analyticity in both time and space variables.     

Analysis of a nonlinear degenerating PDE system for phase transitions in thermoviscoelastic materials

We address the analysis of a nonlinear and degenerating PDE system, proposed by M. Frémond for modelling phase transitions in viscoelastic materials subject to thermal effects. The system features an internal energy balance equation, governing the evolution of the absolute temperature ?, an evolution equation for the phase change parameter χ, and a stress-strain relation for the displacement variable u. The main novelty of the model is that the equations for χ and u are coupled in such a way as to take into account the fact that the properties of the viscous and of the elastic parts influence the phase transition phenomenon in different ways. However, this brings about an elliptic degeneracy in the equation for u which needs to be carefully handled.In this paper, we first prove a local (in time) well-posedness result for (a suitable initial-boundary value problem for) the above mentioned PDE system, in the (spatially) three-dimensional setting. Secondly, we restrict to the one-dimensional case, in which, for the same initial-boundary value problem, we indeed obtain a global well-posedness theorem.     

Global uniqueness and reconstruction for the multi-channel Gel?fand–Calderón inverse problem in two dimensions

We study the multi-channel Gel?fand–Calderón inverse problem in two dimensions, i.e. the inverse boundary value problem for the equation −Δψ+v(x)ψ=0, x∈D, where v is a smooth matrix-valued potential defined on a bounded planar domain D. We give an exact global reconstruction method for finding v from the associated Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator. This also yields a global uniqueness results: if two smooth matrix-valued potentials defined on a bounded planar domain have the same Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator then they coincide.     

The regularized Benjamin-Ono and BBM equations: Well-posedness and nonlinear stability

Nonlinear stability of nonlinear periodic solutions of the regularized Benjamin-Ono equation and the Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equation with respect to perturbations of the same wavelength is analytically studied. These perturbations are shown to be stable. We also develop a global well-posedness theory for the regularized Benjamin-Ono equation in the periodic and in the line setting. In particular, we show that the Cauchy problem (in both periodic and nonperiodic case) cannot be solved by an iteration scheme based on the Duhamel formula for negative Sobolev indices.     

Existence and regularity of the solution of a mixed boundary value problem for the Keldysh equation with a nonlinear absorption term

The Keldysh equation is a more general form of the classic Tricomi equation from fluid dynamics. Its well-posedness and the regularity of its solution are interesting and important. The Keldysh equation is elliptic in y>0 and is degenerate at the line y=0 in R². Adding a special nonlinear absorption term, we study a nonlinear degenerate elliptic equation with mixed boundary conditions in a piecewise smooth domain—similar to the potential fluid shock reflection problem. By means of an elliptic regularization technique, a delicate a priori estimate and compact argument, we show that the solution of a mixed boundary value problem of the Keldysh equation is smooth in the interior and Lipschitz continuous up to the degenerate boundary under some conditions. We believe that this kind of regularity result for the solution will be rather useful.     

A System of Differential-Operator Equations of Different Orders in Hilbert Spaces

We consider an abstract Cauchy problem for a system of nonhomogeneous abstract differential equations in Hilbert spaces. The “main” equation is of the second order and “boundary” equations are of the first order. Existence of a solution is proved. Application to mixed (initial boundary-value) problems for one-dimensional second order hyperbolic equations and for fourth order PDEs with the time derivative in boundary conditions has been shown. The first author was partially supported by 60% funds of the University of Bologna and G.N.A.M.P.A. of INdAM; the second author was supported by the Israel Ministry of Absorption.     

On the flow of chemically reacting gaseous mixture

We consider the Cauchy problem for the system of equations governing flow of isothermal reactive mixture of compressible gases. Our main contribution is to prove sequential stability of weak solutions when the state equation essentially depends on the species concentration and the viscosity coefficients vanish on vacuum. Moreover, under additional assumption on the “cold” component of the pressure in the regions of small density, we prove the existence of weak solutions for arbitrary large initial data.     

Periodic Solutions of the Burgers-Hopf Equation with Small Parameter and its Cellular Neural Network Model

This paper deals with the periodic solutions of the Cauchy problem to the Burgers-Hopf equation containing small viscosity term. We propose at first an explicit formula for the exact solution of the Cauchy problem and then we give an approximate formula. We use CNN approach for constructing the approximate solution and we find precise estimates of the remainder term. This work was supported by the NATO Grant ICS.NR.CLG 981757.     

The Cauchy problem for the Liouville equation and Bryant surfaces

We give a construction that connects the Cauchy problem for the 2-dimensional elliptic Liouville equation with a certain initial value problem for mean curvature one surfaces in hyperbolic 3-space H³, and solve both of them. We construct the unique mean curvature one surface in H³ that passes through a given curve with a given unit normal along it, and provide diverse applications. In particular, topics such as period problems, symmetries, finite total curvature, planar geodesics, rigidity, etc. are treated for these surfaces.     

Pointwise gradient estimates of solutions to onedimensional nonlinear parabolic equations

We present here an improved version of the method introduced by the first author to derive pointwise gradient estimates for the solutions of one-dimensional parabolic problems. After considering a general qualinear equation in divergence form we apply the method to the case of a nonlinear diffusion-convection equation. The conclusions are stated first for classical solutions and then for generalized and mild solutions. In the case of unbounded initial datum we obtain several regularizing effects for t > 0. Some unilateral pointwise gradient estimates are also obtained. The case of the Dirichlet problem is also considered. Finally, we collect, in the last section, several comments showing the connections among these estimates and the study of the free boundaries associated to the solutions of the diffusion-convection equation.     

Scattering theory for the Schrödinger equation in some external time-dependent magnetic fields

We study the theory of scattering for a Schrödinger equation in an external time-dependent magnetic field in the Coulomb gauge, in space dimension 3. The magnetic vector potential is assumed to satisfy decay properties in time that are typical of solutions of the free wave equation, and even in some cases to be actually a solution of that equation. That problem appears as an intermediate step in the theory of scattering for the Maxwell-Schrödinger (MS) system. We prove in particular the existence of wave operators and their asymptotic completeness in spaces of relatively low regularity. We also prove their existence or at least asymptotic results going in that direction in spaces of higher regularity. The latter results are relevant for the MS system. As a preliminary step, we study the Cauchy problem for the original equation by energy methods, using as far as possible time derivatives instead of space derivatives.     

Ultra-analytic effect of Cauchy problem for a class of kinetic equations

The smoothing effect of the Cauchy problem for a class of kinetic equations is studied. We firstly consider the spatially homogeneous nonlinear Landau equation with Maxwellian molecules and inhomogeneous linear Fokker-Planck equation to show the ultra-analytic effects of the Cauchy problem. Those smoothing effect results are optimal and similar to heat equation. In the second part, we study a model of spatially inhomogeneous linear Landau equation with Maxwellian molecules, and show the analytic effect of the Cauchy problem.     

Blow-up solutions of second-order differential inequalities with a nonlinear memory term

We consider the Cauchy problem for second-order nonlinear ordinary differential inequalities with a nonlinear memory term. We obtain blow-up results under some conditions on the initial data. We also give an application to a semilinear hyperbolic equation in a bounded domain.     

Existence of solutions to Hamilton-Jacobi functional differential equations

This paper deals with the Cauchy problem for nonlinear first order partial functional differential equations. The unknown function is the functional variable in the equation and the partial derivatives appear in a classical sense. A theorem on the local existence of a generalized solution is proved. The initial problem is transformed into a system of functional integral equations for an unknown function and for their partial derivatives with respect to spatial variables. The existence of solutions of this system is proved by using a method of successive approximations. A method of bicharacteristics and integral inequalities are applied.     

Periodic solutions of a periodically forced and undamped beam resting on weakly elastic bearings

We study the problem of existence of periodic solutions to a partial differential equation modelling the behavior of an undamped beam subject to an external periodic force. We assume that the ordinary differential equation associated to the first two modes of vibration of the beam has a symmetric homoclinic solution. By using methods borrowed by dynamical systems theory we prove that, if the period is non resonant with the (infinitely many) internal periods of the PDE, the equation has a weak periodic solution of the same period as the external force. In particular we obtain continua of periodic solutions for the undamped beam in absence of external forces. This result may be considered as an infinite dimensional analogue of a result obtained in [16] concerning accumulation of periodic solutions to homoclinic orbits in finite dimensional reversible systems. Matteo Franca: Partially supported by G.N.A.M.P.A. – INdAM (Italy).     

Summability of divergent solutions of the n-dimensional heat equation

The Cauchy problem for n-dimensional complex heat equation is considered. The Borel summability of formal solutions is characterized in terms of analytic continuation with an appropriate growth condition of the spherical mean of the Cauchy data.