Research announcement an algorithm for numerical calculation of topical degree

The problem of finding a local minimum of a real differentiable function is considered from a homotopic point of view. Using a Davidenko embedding method with a particular homotopy, an ordinary differential equation is derived. Solution of this equation by Euler's rule gives rise to an iteration formula for the optimization problem. Convergence and termination properties of this formula are discussed.     

Bifurcation for a free boundary problem modeling the growth of multi-layer tumors

In this paper we study bifurcations for a free boundary problem modeling the growth of multi-layer tumors under the action of inhibitors. An important feature of this problem is that the surface tension effect of the free boundary is taken into account. By reducing this problem into an abstract bifurcation equation in a Banach space, overcoming some technical difficulties and finally using the Crandall–Rabinowitz bifurcation theorem, we prove that this problem has infinitely many branches of bifurcation solutions bifurcating from the flat solution.     

Reproductivity for a nematic liquid crystal model

In this paper we prove existence of weak solution with the reproductivity in time property, for a penalized PDE’s system related to a nematic liquid crystal model. This problem is relatively explict when time-independent Dirichlet boundary conditions are imposed for the orientation of crystal molecules. Nevertheless, for the time-dependent case, the treatment of the problem is completely different. The verification of a maximum principle for weak reproductive solutions is fundamental in the argument. Finally, the relation between reproductive and periodic in time (regular) solutions will be pointed out, differenting the 2D and 3D cases. Basically, in two-dimensional domains every reproductive solution is regular and time periodic, whereas the problem remains open for three-dimensional domains.     

A complete global solution to the pressure gradient equation

We study the domain of existence of a solution to a Riemann problem for the pressure gradient equation in two space dimensions. The Riemann problem is the expansion of a quadrant of gas of constant state into the other three vacuum quadrants. The global existence of a smooth solution was established in Dai and Zhang [Z. Dai, T. Zhang, Existence of a global smooth solution for a degenerate Goursat problem of gas dynamics, Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 155 (2000) 277-298] up to the free boundary of vacuum. We prove that the vacuum boundary is the coordinate axes.     

Homogenization of singular numbers for a non self-adjoint elliptic problem in a perforated domain

We consider the spectral problem for a non self-adjoint Dirichlet problem for a higher-order elliptic operator in a sequence of perforated domains. We establish the convergence of the singular numbers generated by the problem to the corresponding singular numbers generated by a limit problem of the same type but containing an additional term of capacity type.Research supported by the National Research Foundation of South Africa.     

Singular and degenerate anisotropic parabolic equations with a nonlinear source

The Dirichlet problem in arbitrary domain for degenerate and singular anisotropic parabolic equations with a nonlinear source term is considered. We state conditions that guarantee the existence and uniqueness of a global weak solution to the problem. A similar result is proved for the parabolic p-Laplace equation.     

Phase plane analysis and classification of solutions of a mixed sublinear-superlinear elliptic problem

In this paper, some mixed sublinear-superlinear critical problem extending the famous problem of Brezis–Nirenberg are analysed. The existence of solutions is discussed. A phase plane analysis is performed in order to transform the problem into an ordinary differential equation. Finally, a full classification of radial solutions according to their behavior at the origin is performed for subcritical, critical and supercritical cases.     

On a singular two dimensional nonlinear evolution equation with nonlocal conditions

This paper deals with a nonclassical initial boundary value problem for a two dimensional parabolic equation with Bessel operator. We prove the existence and uniqueness of the weak solution of the given nonlinear problem. We start by solving the associated linear problem. After writing this latter in its operator form, we establish an a priori bound from which we deduce the uniqueness of the strong solution. For the solvability of the associated linear problem, we prove that the range of the operator generated by the considered problem is dense. On the basis of the obtained results of the linear problem, we apply an iterative process to establish the existence and uniqueness of the nonlinear problem.     

Subsonic solutions to compressible transonic potential problems for isothermal self-similar flows and steady flows

We establish boundary and interior gradient estimates, and show that no supersonic bubble appears inside of a subsonic region for transonic potential flows for both self-similar isothermal and steady problems. We establish an existence result for the self-similar isothermal problem, and improve the Hopf maximum principle to show that the flow is strictly elliptic inside of the subsonic region for the steady problem.     

Stability of a Generalized Sobolev System

The linear stability problem of the rotational motion of a rigid body around a fixed point containing an inner cavity filled up with an ideal fluid is considered. In this paper, we also assume that the fluid is rotating. The effect of the angular velocities of the rigid body and the fluid in the stability problem is studied. The case of a cavity ellipsoidal is presented in detail.     

Secular growth estimates for hyperbolic systems

We consider a model problem for the secular growth, which covers all the cases likely to happen in multi-scales BKW expansions for nonlinear hyperbolic systems. This model problem consists in studying the growth in time of the solution of a nonhomogeneous hyperbolic system whose source term is a product of various functions which solve homogeneous hyperbolic systems. The secular growth is due to resonances, that we try to control. When this is not possible, other tools such as decay properties or Strichartz estimates must be used.     

Regularity near the initial state in the obstacle problem for a class of hypoelliptic ultraparabolic operators

This paper is devoted to a proof of regularity, near the initial state, for solutions to the Cauchy-Dirichlet and obstacle problem for a class of second order differential operators of Kolmogorov type. The approach used here is general enough to allow us to consider smooth obstacles as well as non-smooth obstacles.     

The problem of Dirichlet for anisotropic quasilinear degenerate elliptic equations

We consider the Dirichlet problem for a class of anisotropic degenerate elliptic equations. New a priori estimates for solutions and for the gradient of solutions are established. Based on these estimates sufficient conditions guaranteeing the solvability of the problem are formulated. The results are new even in the semilinear case when the principal part is the Laplace operator.     

On the singular set of the parabolic obstacle problem

This paper is devoted to regularity results and geometric properties of the singular set of the parabolic obstacle problem with variable right-hand side. Making use of a monotonicity formula for singular points, we prove the uniqueness of blow-up limits at singular points. These results apply to parabolic obstacle problem with variable coefficients.     

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.     

On a phase-change problem arising from inductive heating

In this paper we study a phase-change problem arising from induction heating. The mathematical model consists of time-harmonic Maxwell’s system in a quasi-stationary field coupled with nonlinear heat conduction. The enthalpy form is used to characterize the phase-change in the material. It is shown that the problem has a global solution. Moreover, it is shown that the solution is unique and regular in one-space dimension even with an unbounded resistivity. This work is supported in part by a NSF grant: DMS-0102261     

Global entropy solutions to a class of quasi-linear wave equations with large time-oscillating sources

This research explores the Cauchy problem for a class of quasi-linear wave equations with time dependent sources. It can be transformed into the Cauchy problem of hyperbolic integro-differential systems of nonlinear balance laws. We introduce the generalized Glimm scheme in new version and study its stability which is proved by Glimm-type interaction estimates in a dissipativity assumption. The generalized solutions to the perturbed Riemann problems, the building blocks of generalized Glimm scheme, are constructed by Riemann problem method modeled on the source free equations. The global existence for the Lipschitz continuous solutions and weak solutions to the systems is established by the consistency of scheme and the weak convergence of source. Finally, the weak solutions are also the entropy solutions which satisfy the entropy inequality.     

Existence and uniqueness analysis of a detached shock problem for the potential flow

We study a problem for two-dimensional steady potential and isentropic Euler equations in a bounded domain, where an artificial detached shock interacts with a wedge. Using the stream function, we obtain a free boundary problem for the subsonic state and the detached artificial shock curve and we prove that such configuration admits a unique solution in certain weighted Hölder spaces. The proof is based on various Hölder and Schauder estimates for second-order elliptic equations and fixed point theorems. Moreover, we pose an energy principle and remark that the physical attached shock is the minimizer of the energy functional.     

Solution of the Dirichlet and Neumann problems for a modified Helmholtz equation in Besov spaces on an annulus

Here we study Dirichlet and Neumann problems for a special Helmholtz equation on an annulus. Our main aim is to measure smoothness of solutions for the boundary datum in Besov spaces. We shall use operator theory to solve this problem. The most important advantage of this technique is that it enables to consider equations in vector-valued settings. It is interesting to note that optimal regularity of this problem will be a special case of our main result.