Convexity and all‐time C∞‐regularity of the interface in flame propagation

We consider the following one‐phase free boundary problem: Find (u, Ω) such that Ω = {u > 0} and with Q_T = ?ⁿ × (0, T). Under the condition that Ω_o is convex and log u_o is concave, we show that the convexity of Ω(t) and the concavity of log u(·, t) are preserved under the flow for 0 ≤ t ≤ T as long as ?Ω(t) and u on Ω(t) are smooth. As a consequence, we show the existence of a smooth‐up‐to‐the‐interface solution, on 0 < t < T_c, with T_c denoting the extinction time of Ω(t). We also provide a new proof of a short‐time existence with C^2,α initial data on the general domain. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.