Boundary value problems for some fully nonlinear elliptic equations

We consider a Yamabe-type problem on locally conformally flat compact manifolds with boundary. The main technique we used is to derive boundary C ² estimates directly from boundary C ⁰ estimates. We will control the third derivatives on the boundary instead of constructing a barrier function. This result is a generalization of the work by Escobar.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis><Superscript>1,<Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis></Superscript> Theory for the Prescribed Mean Curvature Equation with Dirichlet Data

In this work we study solutions of the prescribed mean curvature equation over a general domain that do not necessarily attain the given boundary data. With such a solution we can naturally associate a current with support in the closed cylinder above the domain and with boundary given by the prescribed boundary data and which inherits a natural minimizing property. Our main result is that its support is a C ^1,α manifold-with-boundary, with boundary equal to the prescribed boundary data, provided that both the initial domain and the prescribed boundary data are of class C ^1,α .     

Recovery of the C ∞ jet from the boundary distance function

For a compact Riemannian manifold with boundary, we want to find the metric structure from knowledge of distances between boundary points. This is called the ??boundary rigidity problem??. If the boundary is not concave, which means locally not all shortest paths lie entirely in the boundary, then we are able to find the Taylor series of the metric tensor (C ^?? jet) at the boundary (see Lassas et?al. (Math Ann 325:767?C793, 2003), Uhlmann et?al. (Adv Appl Math 31:379?C387, 2003)). In this paper we give a new reconstruction procedure for the C ^?? jet at non-concave points on the boundary using the localized boundary distance function. A closely related problem is the ??lens rigidity problem??, which asks whether the lens data determine metric structure uniquely. Lens data include information of boundary distance function, the lengths of all geodesics, and the locations and directions where geodesics hit the boundary. We give the first examples that show that lens data cannot uniquely determine the C ^?? jet. The example include two manifolds with the same boundary and the same lens data, but different C ^?? jets. With some additional careful work, we can find examples with different C ¹ jets, which means the boundaries in the two lens-equivalent manifolds have different second fundamental forms.     

Bifurcation diagrams and caustics of simple quasi border singularities

Quasi boundary and quasi corner singularities of functions are discussed. They correspond to the classifications of Lagrangian projections with a boundary or a corner. The geometry of bifurcation diagrams and caustics of simple quasi boundary and quasi corner singularities in R³ and R⁴ are described.     

The multidirectional Neumann problem in ℝ4

The Neumann problem as formulated in Lipschitz domains with L^p boundary data is solved for harmonic functions in any compact polyhedral domain of ℝ⁴ that has a connected 3-manifold boundary. Energy estimates on the boundary are derived from new polyhedral Rellich formulas together with a Whitney type decomposition of the polyhedron into similar Lipschitz domains. The classical layer potentials are thereby shown to be semi-Fredholm. To settle the onto question a method of continuity is devised that uses the classical 3-manifold theory of E. E. Moise in order to untwist the polyhedral boundary into a Lipschitz boundary. It is shown that this untwisting can be extended to include the interior of the domain in local neighborhoods of the boundary. In this way the flattening arguments of B. E. J. Dahlberg and C. E. Kenig for the H¹_at Neumann problem can be extended to polyhedral domains in ℝ⁴. A compact polyhedral domain in ℝ⁶ of M. L. Curtis and E. C. Zeeman, based on a construction of M. H. A. Newman, shows that the untwisting and flattening techniques used here are unavailable in general for higher dimensional boundary value problems in polyhedra.     

Existence of solutions of Two-Phase free boundary problems for fully nonlinear elliptic equations of second order

In this article, we have established existence of a solution to the 2 -phase free boundary problem for some fully nonlinear elliptic equations and also shown the free boundary has finite Hⁿ⁻¹ Hausdorff measure and a normal in a measuretheoretic sense Hⁿ⁻¹ almost everywhere. The regularity theory developed in [9] and [10] for this free boundary problem then leads to the fact that the free boundary is locally a C^1,α surface near Hⁿ⁻¹-a.e. point.     

Construction of Solutions and L^1-error Estimates of Viscous Methods for Scalar Conservation Laws with Boundary

This paper is concerned with an initial boundary value problem for strictly convex conservation laws whose weak entropy solution is in the piecewise smooth solution class consisting of finitely many discontinuities. By the structure of the weak entropy solution of the corresponding initial value problem and the boundary entropy condition developed by Bardos-Leroux Nedelec, we give a construction method to the weak entropy solution of the initial boundary value problem. Compared with the initial value problem, the weak entropy solution of the initial boundary value problem includes the following new interaction type： an expansion wave collides with the boundary and the boundary reflects a new shock wave which is tangent to the boundary. According to the structure and some global estimates of the weak entropy solution, we derive the global L^1-error estimate for viscous methods to this initial boundary value problem by using the matching travelling wave solutions method. If the inviscid solution includes the interaction that an expansion wave collides with the boundary and the boundary reflects a new shock wave which is tangent to the boundary, or the inviscid solution includes some shock wave which is tangent to the boundary, then the error of the viscosity solution to the inviscid solution is bounded by O（ε^1/2） in L^1-norm; otherwise, as in the initial value problem, the L^1-error bound is O（ε｜ In ε｜）.     

Necessary and sufficient conditions for unique determination of plane domains

We say that a domain U ? ?ⁿ is uniquely determined from the relative metric of its Hausdorff boundary (the relative metric is the extension by continuity of the intrinsic metric of the domain to the boundary) if every domain V ? ?ⁿ with the Hausdorff boundary isometric in the relative metric to the Hausdorff boundary of U is isometric to U too (in the Euclidean metrics). In this article we state some necessary and sufficient conditions for a plane domain to be uniquely determined from the relative metric of its Hausdorff boundary.     

On the regularity of a free boundary near contact points with a fixed boundary

We investigate the regularity of a free boundary near contact points with a fixed boundary, with C1,1 boundary data, for an obstacle-like free boundary problem. We will show that under certain assumptions on the solution, and the boundary function, the free boundary is uniformly C¹ up to the fixed boundary. We will also construct some examples of irregular free boundaries.     

Maximum Principles for Boundary-Degenerate Second Order Linear Elliptic Differential Operators

We prove weak and strong maximum principles, including a Hopf lemma, for C ² subsolutions to equations defined by linear, second-order, linear, elliptic partial differential operators whose principal symbols vanish along a portion of the domain boundary. The boundary regularity property of the C ² subsolutions along this boundary vanishing locus ensures that these maximum principles hold irrespective of the sign of the Fichera function. Boundary conditions need only be prescribed on the complement in the domain boundary of the principal symbol's vanishing locus. We obtain uniqueness and a priori maximum principle estimates for C ² solutions to boundary value and obstacle problems defined by these boundary-degenerate elliptic operators with partial Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions. We also prove weak maximum principles and uniqueness for W ^{1, 2} solutions to the corresponding variational equations and inequalities defined with the aide of weighted Sobolev spaces. The domain is allowed to be unbounded when the operator coefficients and solutions obey certain growth conditions.     

Estimating ∇u in terms of div u,curl u,either (ν, u) or ν×u and the topology

In the present paper we prove C^α-estimates for ∇ u using components of boundary values of u , div u , curl u and quantities given by components of boundary values of u as well as boundary values of elements belonging to de Rhams cohomology modules. The vector field u is defined on a bounded set G¯⊂ℝ³, meanwhile the cohomology group will be defined with regard to ℝ³−G. Our inequalities turn out to be a priori estimates concerning well-known boundary value problems for vector fields. © 1997 by B. G. Teubner Stuttgart–John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Generalized Stokes resolvent equations in an infinite layer with mixed boundary conditions

In this paper we prove unique solvability of the generalized Stokes resolvent equations in an infinite layer Ω₀ = ℝ^{n –1} × (–1, 1), n ≥ 2, in L^q ‐Sobolev spaces, 1 < q < ∞, with slip boundary condition of on the “upper boundary” ∂Ω⁺₀ = ℝ^{n –1} × {1} and non‐slip boundary condition on the “lower boundary” ∂Ω^–₀ = ℝ^{n –1} × {–1}. The solution operator to the Stokes system will be expressed with the aid of the solution operators of the Laplace resolvent equation and a Mikhlin multiplier operator acting on the boundary. The present result is the first step to establish an L^q ‐theory for the free boundary value problem studied by Beale [9] and Sylvester [22] in L ²‐spaces. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Scattering metrics and geodesic flow at infinity

Any compact ? ^∞ manifold with boundary admits a Riemann metric on its interior taking the form x ⁻⁴ dx ² +x ⁻² h′ near the boundary, where x is a boundary defining function and h′ is a smooth symmetric 2-cotensor restricting to be positive-definite, and hence a metric, h, on the boundary. The scattering theory associated to the Laplacian for such a ‘scattering metric’ was discussed by the first author and here it is shown, as conjectured, that the scattering matrix is a Fourier integral operator which quantizes the geodesic flow on the boundary, for the metric h, at time π. To prove this the Poisson operator, of the associated generalized boundary problem, is constructed as a Fourier integral operator associated to a singular Legendre manifold. Oblatum 24-VII-1995     

Elliptic boundary value problems with λ-dependent boundary conditions

In this paper second order elliptic boundary value problems on bounded domains Ω⊂Rn with boundary conditions on ∂Ω depending nonlinearly on the spectral parameter are investigated in an operator theoretic framework. For a general class of locally meromorphic functions in the boundary condition a solution operator of the boundary value problem is constructed with the help of a linearization procedure. In the special case of rational Nevanlinna or Riesz-Herglotz functions on the boundary the solution operator is obtained in an explicit form in the product Hilbert space L²(Ω)⊕(L²m(∂Ω)), which is a natural generalization of known results on λ-linear elliptic boundary value problems and λ-rational boundary value problems for ordinary second order differential equations.     

A criterion for the unique determination of domains in Euclidean spaces by the metrics of their boundaries induced by the intrinsic metrics of the domains

We say that a domain U ⊂ ℝ ⁿ is uniquely determined by the relative metric (which is the extension by continuity of the intrinsic metric of the domain on its boundary) of its Hausdorff boundary if any domain V ⊂ ℝ ⁿ such that its Hausdorff boundary is isometric in the relative metric to the Hausdorff boundary of U, is isometric to U in the Euclidean metric. In this paper, we obtain the necessary and sufficient conditions for the uniqueness of determination of a domain by the relative metric of its Hausdorff boundary.     

Randverteilungen von Nullösungen hypoelliptischer Differentialgleichungen

In this paper a distributional boundary value is defined for solutions f (defined on ?ⁿ⁺¹\?ⁿ) of a partially hypoelliptic differential operator (on ?ⁿ⁺¹)with constant coefficients. Then the following is equivalent:

1. f has a distributional boundary value.
2. f can be continued to ?ⁿ⁺¹ as a distribution. For hypoelliptic operators this is equivalent to:
3. f ist a locally slowly growing function. A topology is given on this function space, that makes the boundary value mapping a topological homomorphism.

     

A numerical comparison of Chebyshev methods for solving fourth order semilinear initial boundary value problems

In solving semilinear initial boundary value problems with prescribed non-periodic boundary conditions using implicit-explicit and implicit time stepping schemes, both the function and derivatives of the function may need to be computed accurately at each time step. To determine the best Chebyshev collocation method to do this, the accuracy of the real space Chebyshev differentiation, spectral space preconditioned Chebyshev tau, real space Chebyshev integration and spectral space Chebyshev integration methods are compared in the L² and W^2,2 norms when solving linear fourth order boundary value problems; and in the L^∞([0,T];L²) and L^∞([0,T];W^2,2) norms when solving initial boundary value problems. We find that the best Chebyshev method to use for high resolution computations of solutions to initial boundary value problems is the spectral space Chebyshev integration method which uses sparse matrix operations and has a computational cost comparable to Fourier spectral discretization.     

Steady transonic shocks and free boundary problems in infinite cylinders for the Euler equations

We establish the existence and stability of multidimensional transonic shocks (hyperbolic‐elliptic shocks) for the Euler equations for steady compressible potential fluids in infinite cylinders. The Euler equations, consisting of the conservation law of mass and the Bernoulli law for velocity, can be written as a second order nonlinear equation of mixed elliptic‐hyperbolic type for the velocity potential. The transonic shock problem in an infinite cylinder can be formulated into the following free boundary problem: The free boundary is the location of the multidimensional transonic shock which divides two regions of C^1,α flow in the infinite cylinder, and the equation is hyperbolic in the upstream region where the C^1,α perturbed flow is supersonic. We develop a nonlinear approach to deal with such a free boundary problem in order to solve the transonic shock problem in unbounded domains. Our results indicate that there exists a solution of the free boundary problem such that the equation is always elliptic in the unbounded downstream region, the uniform velocity state at infinity in the downstream direction is uniquely determined by the given hyperbolic phase, and the free boundary is C^1,α, provided that the hyperbolic phase is close in C^1,α to a uniform flow. We further prove that, if the steady perturbation of the hyperbolic phase is C^2,α, the free boundary is C^2,α and stable under the steady perturbation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals Inc.     

Well-posedness of the Hydrodynamic Model for Semiconductors

This paper concerns the well-posedness of the hydrodynamic model for semiconductor devices, a quasi-linear elliptic–parbolic–hyperbolic system. Boundary conditions for elliptic and parabolic equations are Dirichlet conditions while boundary conditions for the hyperbolic equations are assumed to be well-posed in L² sense. Maximally strictly dissipative boundary conditions for the hyperbolic equations satisfy the assumption of well-posedness in L² sense. The well-posedness of the model under the boundary conditions is demonstrated.     

Finite difference schemes for the singularly perturbed reaction-diffusion equation in the case of spherical symmetry

The boundary value problem for the singularly perturbed reaction-diffusion parabolic equation in a ball in the case of spherical symmetry is considered. The derivatives with respect to the radial variable appearing in the equation are written in divergent form. The third kind boundary condition, which admits the Dirichlet and Neumann conditions, is specified on the boundary of the domain. The Laplace operator in the differential equation involves a perturbation parameter ?², where ? takes arbitrary values in the half-open interval (0, 1]. When ? → 0, the solution of such a problem has a parabolic boundary layer in a neighborhood of the boundary. Using the integro-interpolational method and the condensing grid technique, conservative finite difference schemes on flux grids are constructed that converge ?-uniformly at a rate of O(N ^?2ln² N + N ₀ ^?1 ), where N + 1 and N ₀ + 1 are the numbers of the mesh points in the radial and time variables, respectively.