Regularizing effects for ut + Aϑ(u) = 0 in L1

Various initial-boundary value problems and Cauchy problems can be written in the form $\text{du}\text{dt}\text{+ A?(u) = 0}$, where ?:R→$\text{R}$ is nondecreasing and A is the linear generator of strongly continuous nonexpansive semigroup e^?tA in an L¹ space. For example, if A = ?Δ (subject, perhaps, to suitable boundary conditions) we obtain equations arising in flow in a porous medium or plasma physics (depending on the choice of ?) while if $\text{A =}\text{?}\text{?x}$ acting in L¹($\text{R}$) we have a scalar conservation law. In this paper we show that if M, m > 0 and m?′² ? ν??′' ? M?′², where ν ? {1,?1}, then (roughly speaking), the norm of $\text{t}\text{du}\text{dt}$ may be estimated in terms of the initial data u₀ in L¹. Such estimates give information about the regularity of solutions, asymptotic behaviour, etc., in applications. Side issues, such as the introduction of sufficiently regular approximate problems on which estimates can be made and the assignment of a precise meaning to the operator A?, are also dealt with. These considerations are of independent interest.