The nonlinear heat equation with absorption: Effects of variable coefficients

We consider the nonnegative solutions to the nonlinear degenerate parabolic equation u_t = (D(x, t)u^{m − 1}u_x)_x − b(x, t)u^p with m > 1, 0 < p < 1, and positive D(x, t), b(x, t). After obtaining the uniqueness and Hölder regularity results, we investigate the dependence of such phenomena as extinction in finite time and instantaneous shrinking of the support on the behaviour of D(x, t) and b(x, t).