A level set approach for computing discontinuous solutions of Hamilton-Jacobi equations

We introduce two types of finite difference methods to compute the L-solution and the proper viscosity solution recently proposed by the second author for semi-discontinuous solutions to a class of Hamilton-Jacobi equations. By regarding the graph of the solution as the zero level curve of a continuous function in one dimension higher, we can treat the corresponding level set equation using the viscosity theory introduced by Crandall and Lions. However, we need to pay special attention both analytically and numerically to prevent the zero level curve from overturning so that it can be interpreted as the graph of a function. We demonstrate our Lax-Friedrichs type numerical methods for computing the L-solution using its original level set formulation. In addition, we couple our numerical methods with a singular diffusive term which is essential to computing solutions to a more general class of HJ equations that includes conservation laws. With this singular viscosity, our numerical methods do not require the divergence structure of equations and do apply to more general equations developing shocks other than conservation laws. These numerical methods are generalized to higher order accuracy using weighted ENO local Lax-Friedrichs methods as developed recently by Jiang and Peng. We verify that our numerical solutions approximate the proper viscosity solutions obtained by the second author in a recent Hokkaido University preprint. Finally, since the solution of scalar conservation law equations can be constructed using existing numerical techniques, we use it to verify that our numerical solution approximates the entropy solution.

     

Rotating Navier-Stokes Equations in $${\mathbb R}^{3}_{+}$$ with Initial Data Nondecreasing at Infinity: The Ekman Boundary Layer Problem

We prove time local existence and uniqueness of solutions to a boundary layer problem in a rotating frame around the stationary solution called the Ekman spiral. We choose initial data in the vector-valued homogeneous Besov space for 2 <  p <  ∞. Here the L ^p -integrability is imposed in the normal direction, while we may have no decay in tangential components, since the Besov space contains nondecaying functions such as almost periodic functions. A crucial ingredient is theory for vector-valued homogeneous Besov spaces. For instance we provide and apply an operator-valued bounded H ^∞-calculus for the Laplacian in for a general Banach space .     

Evolving Graphs by Singular Weighted Curvature

A new notion of solutions is introduced to study degenerate nonlinear parabolic equations in one space dimension whose diffusion effect is so strong at particular slopes of the unknowns that the equation is no longer a partial differential equation. By extending the theory of viscosity solutions, a comparison principle is established. For periodic continuous initial data a unique global continuous solution (periodic in space) is constructed. The theory applies to motion of interfacial curves by crystalline energy or more generally by anisotropic interfacial energy with corners when the curves are the graphs of functions. Even if the driving force term (homogeneous in space) exists, the initial-value problem is solvable for general nonadmissible continuous (periodic) initial data. (Accepted July 5, 1996)     

On a lower bound for the extinction time of surfaces moved by mean curvature

This paper considers a generalized evolution of a compact closed (hyper)-surface moved by its mean curvature. By a comparison of a shrinking ball the surface extincts in a finite time. An estimate of the extinction time from above is given by L. C. Evans and J. Spruck. In this paper we give an estimate from blow. In fact we proved that the extinction time is estimated from below by to times the square of the volume of a set enclosed by the initial surface over the initial area of the surface. The constant two is optimal.Partly supported by the Inamori Foundation     

Mean curvature flow through singularities for surfaces of rotation

In this paper, we study generalized “viscosity” solutions of the mean curvature evolution which were introduced by Chen, Giga, and Goto and by Evans and Spruck. We devote much of our attention to solutions whose initial value is a compact, smooth, rotationally symmetric hypersurface given by rotating a graph around an axis. Our main result is the regularity of the solution except at isolated points in spacetime and estimates on the number of such points.     

Hamilton-Jacobi Equations with Discontinuous Source Terms

We study the initial-value problem for a Hamilton-Jacobi equation whose Hamiltonian is discontinuous with respect to state variables. Our motivation comes from a model describing the two dimensional nucleation in crystal growth phenomena. A typical equation has a semicontinuous source term. We introduce a new notion of viscosity solutions and prove among other results that the initial-value problem admits a unique global-in-time uniformly continuous solution for any bounded uniformly continuous initial data. We also give a representation formula of the solution as a value function by the optimal control theory with a semicontinuous running cost function.