On the Uniform Poincaré Inequality

We give a proof of the Poincaré inequality in W ^{1, p} (Ω) with a constant that is independent of Ω ? , where  is a set of uniformly bounded and uniformly Lipschitz domains in ? ⁿ . As a byproduct, we obtain the following: The first non vanishing eigenvalues λ₂(Ω) of the standard Neumann (variational) boundary value problem on Ω for the Laplace operator are bounded below by a positive constant if the domains Ω vary and remain uniformly bounded and uniformly Lipschitz regular.     

Heat kernel bounds for elliptic partial differential operators in divergence form with Robin-type boundary conditions

One of the principal topics of this paper concerns the realization of self-adjoint operators L _Θ,Ω in L ²(Ω; d ⁿ x) ^m , m, n ∈ ?, associated with divergence form elliptic partial differential expressions L with (nonlocal) Robin-type boundary conditions in bounded Lipschitz domains Ω ? ? ⁿ . In particular, we develop the theory in the vector-valued case and hence focus on matrix-valued differential expressions L which act as $$Lu = - \left( {\sum\limits_{j,k = 1}^n {\partial _j } \left( {\sum\limits_{\beta = 1}^m {a_{j,k}^{\alpha ,\beta } \partial _k u_\beta } } \right)} \right)_{1 \leqslant \alpha \leqslant m} , u = \left( {u_1 , \ldots ,u_m } \right).$$ The (nonlocal) Robin-type boundary conditions are then of the form $$v \cdot ADu + \Theta [u|_{\partial \Omega } ] = 0{\text{ on }}\partial \Omega ,$$ where Θ represents an appropriate operator acting on Sobolev spaces associated with the boundary ?Ω of Ω, ν denotes the outward pointing normal unit vector on ?Ω, and $Du: = \left( {\partial _j u_\alpha } \right)_{_{1 \leqslant j \leqslant n}^{1 \leqslant \alpha \leqslant m} } .$ Assuming Θ ≥ 0 in the scalar case m = 1, we prove Gaussian heat kernel bounds for L _Θ,Ω, by employing positivity preserving arguments for the associated semigroups and reducing the problem to the corresponding Gaussian heat kernel bounds for the case of Neumann boundary conditions on ?Ω. We also discuss additional zero-order potential coefficients V and hence operators corresponding to the form sum L _Θ,Ω + V.     

Regularity of variational solutions to linear boundary value problems in Lipschitz domains

In a bounded Lipschitz domain in ?ⁿ, we consider a second-order strongly elliptic system with symmetric principal part written in divergent form. We study the Neumann boundary value problem in a generalized variational (or weak) setting using the Lebesgue spaces H _p ^σ (Ω) for solutions, where p can differ from 2 and σ can differ from 1. Using the tools of interpolation theory, we generalize the known theorem on the regularity of solutions, in which p = 2 and {σ ? 1} < 1/2, and the corresponding theorem on the unique solvability of the problem (Savaré, 1998) to p close to 2. We compare this approach with the nonvariational approach accepted in numerous papers of the modern theory of boundary value problems in Lipschitz domains. We discuss the regularity of eigenfunctions of the Dirichlet, Neumann, and Poincaré-Steklov spectral problems.     

Estimates for eigenvalues on Riemannian manifolds

In this paper, we investigate eigenvalues of the Dirichlet eigenvalue problem of Laplacian on a bounded domain Ω in an n-dimensional complete Riemannian manifold M. When M is an n-dimensional Euclidean space Rn, the conjecture of Pólya is well known: the kth eigenvalue λk of the Dirichlet eigenvalue problem of Laplacian satisfies

     

Inverse Problems of Boundary Value Problems for Annular Vibrating Membranes with Piecewise Smooth Positive Functions in the Boundary Conditions

The asymptotic expansions of the trace of the heat kernel for small positive t, where λ_ν are the eigenvalues of the negative Laplacian in Rⁿ (n=2 or 3), are studied for a general annular bounded domain Ω with a smooth inner boundary ?Ω₁ and a smooth outer boundary ?Ω₂ where a finite number of piecewise smooth Dirichlet, Neumann and Robin boundary conditions on the components Γ _j (j=1,…,m) of ?Ω₁ and on the components of ?Ω₂ are considered such that and and where the coefficients in the Robin boundary conditions are piecewise smooth positive functions. Some applications of Θ (t) for an ideal gas enclosed in the general annular bounded domain Ω are given.     

Boundary value problems for the Laplacian in convex and semiconvex domains

We study the fully inhomogeneous Dirichlet problem for the Laplacian in bounded convex domains in Rn, when the size/smoothness of both the data and the solution are measured on scales of Besov and Triebel-Lizorkin spaces. As a preamble, we deal with the Dirichlet and Regularity problems for harmonic functions in convex domains, with optimal nontangential maximal function estimates. As a corollary, sharp estimates for the Green potential are obtained in a variety of contexts, including local Hardy spaces. A substantial part of this analysis applies to bounded semiconvex domains (i.e., Lipschitz domains satisfying a uniform exterior ball condition).     

On the Dirichlet problem for the prescribed mean curvature equation over general domains

We study and solve the Dirichlet problem for graphs of prescribed mean curvature in Rn+1 over general domains Ω without requiring a mean convexity assumption. By using pieces of nodoids as barriers we first give sufficient conditions for the solvability in case of zero boundary values. Applying a result by Schulz and Williams we can then also solve the Dirichlet problem for boundary values satisfying a Lipschitz condition.     

The Dirichlet and Regularity Problems for Some Second Order Linear Elliptic Systems on Bounded Lipschitz Domains

In this paper, we investigate divergence-form linear elliptic systems on bounded Lipschitz domains in \(\mathbb {R}^{d+1}, d \ge 2\), with L² boundary data. The coefficients are assumed to be real, bounded, and measurable. We show that when the coefficients are small, in Carleson norm, compared to one that is continuous on the boundary, we obtain solvability for both the Dirichlet and regularity boundary value problems given that the coefficients satisfy a certain “pseudo-symmetry” condition.     

Fractional powers of operators corresponding to coercive problems in Lipschitz domains

Let Ω be a bounded Lipschitz domain in ? ⁿ , n ? 2, and let L be a second-order matrix strongly elliptic operator in Ω written in divergence form. There is a vast literature dealing with the study of domains of fractional powers of operators corresponding to various problems (beginning with the Dirichlet and Neumann problems) with homogeneous boundary conditions for the equation Lu = f, including the solution of the Kato square root problem, which arose in 1961. Mixed problems and a class of problems for higher-order systems have been covered as well. We suggest a new abstract approach to the topic, which permits one to obtain the results that we deem to be most important in a much simpler and unified way and cover new operators, namely, classical boundary operators on the Lipschitz boundary Γ = ?Ω or part of it. To this end, we simultaneously consider two well-known operators associated with the boundary value problem.     

A note on the implicit function theorem for quasi-linear eigenvalue problems

We consider the quasi-linear eigenvalue problem −Δ_pu=λg(u) subject to Dirichlet boundary conditions on a bounded open set Ω, where g is a locally Lipschitz continuous function. Imposing no further conditions on Ω or g, we show that for λ near zero the problem has a bounded solution which is unique in the class of all small solutions. Moreover, this curve of solutions parameterized by λ depends continuously on the parameter.     

On the lifetime of a conditioned Brownian motion in the ball

Consider the Brownian motion conditioned to start in x, to converge to y, with , and to be killed at the boundary ∂Ω. Here Ω is a bounded domain in Rn. For which x and y is the lifetime of this Brownian motion maximal? One would guess for x and y being opposite boundary points and we will show that this holds true for balls in Rn. As a consequence we find the best constant for the positivity preserving property of some elliptic systems and an identity between this constant and a sum of inverse Dirichlet eigenvalues.     

Blowing up boundary conditions for a nonlocal nonlinear diffusion equation in several space dimensions

We analyze boundary value problems prescribing Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions for a nonlocal nonlinear diffusion operator which is analogous to the porous medium equation in a bounded smooth domain Ω∈R^N with N≥1. First, we prove existence and uniqueness of solutions and the validity of a comparison principle for these problems. Next, we impose boundary data that blow up in finite time and study the behavior of the solutions.     

Saddle points and overdetermined problems for the Helmholtz equation

In a seminal 1971 paper, James Serrin showed that the only open, smoothly bounded domain in ⁿ on which the positive Dirichlet eigenfunction of the Laplacian has constant (nonzero) normal derivative on the boundary, is then-dimensional ball. The positivity of the eigenfunction is crucial to his proof. To date it is an open conjecture that the same result is true for Dirichlet eigenvalues other than the least. We show that for simply connected, plane domains, the absence of saddle points is a condition sufficient to validate this conjecture. This condition is also sufficient to prove Schiffer's conjecture: the only simply connected planar domain, on the boundary of which a nonconstant Neumann eigenfunction of the Laplacian can take constant value, is the disc.     

Inequalities for lower-order eigenvalues of a fourth-order elliptic operator

In this paper, we investigate the Dirichlet weighted eigenvalues problem of a fourth-order elliptic operator with variable coefficients on a bounded domain with smooth boundary in ? ⁿ . We establish some inequalities for lower-order eigenvalues of this problem. In particular, our results contain an inequality for eigenvalues of the biharmonic operator derived by Cheng, Huang, and Wei.     

Positive periodic solutions for a system of anisotropic parabolic equations

We consider a system of two degenerate parabolic equations with nonlocal terms and Dirichlet boundary conditions. More precisely, the degeneracy in each equation of the system is of the type r(x)-Laplacian where r(x) is a function depending on x∈Ω, where Ω is a bounded smooth domain of Rn. The system models the diffusion and the interaction between two different biological species sharing the same territory Ω. The paper provides conditions on the parameters of the problem that guarantee the coexistence of a T-periodic non-negative solution (u,v) with both non-trivial u,v.     

Boundary Problems for Harmonic Functions and Norm Estimates for Inverses of Singular Integrals in Two Dimensions

In this paper, we establish sharp well-posedness results for tangential derivative problems for the Laplacian with data in L ^p , 1 < p < ∞, on curvilinear polygons. Furthermore, we produce norm estimates/formulas for inverses of singular integral operators relevant for the Dirichlet, Neumann, tangential derivative, and transmission boundary value problems associated with the Laplacian in a distinguished subclass of Lipschitz domains in two dimensions. Our approach relies on Calderón-Zygmund theory and Mellin transform techniques.     

Symmetry theorems for the overdetermined eigenvalue problems

The well-known Schiffer conjecture saying that for a smooth bounded domain Ω⊂Rn, if there exists a positive Neumann eigenvalue such that the corresponding Neumann eigenfunction u is constant on the boundary of Ω, then Ω is a ball. In this paper, we shall prove that the Schiffer conjecture holds if and only if the third order interior normal derivative of the corresponding Neumann eigenfunction is constant on the boundary. We also prove a similar result to the Berenstein conjecture for the overdetermined Dirichlet eigenvalue problem.     

Asymptotic behaviour of nonlocal reaction-diffusion equations

The existence of a global attractor in L²(Ω) is established for a reaction-diffusion equation on a bounded domain Ω in R^d with Dirichlet boundary conditions, where the reaction term contains an operator F:L²(Ω)→L²(Ω) which is nonlocal and possibly nonlinear. Existence of weak solutions is established, but uniqueness is not required. Compactness of the multivalued flow is obtained via estimates obtained from limits of Galerkin approximations. In contrast with the usual situation, these limits apply for all and not just for almost all time instants.     

On a new Kato class and positive solutions of Dirichlet problems for the fractional Laplacian in bounded domains

The purpose of this paper is to extend some results of the potential theory of an elliptic operator to the fractional Laplacian (−Δ)^α/2, 0<α<2, in a bounded C^1,1 domain D in Rⁿ. In particular, we introduce a new Kato class K_α(D) and we exploit the properties of this class to study the existence of positive solutions of some Dirichlet problems for the fractional Laplacian.