A Liouville Theorem and Radial Symmetry for dual fractional parabolic equations

Abstract

In this paper, we first study the dual fractional parabolic equation \begin{equation*} \partial^\alpha_t u(x,t)+(-\Delta)^s u(x,t) = f(u(x,t))\ \ \mbox{in}\ \ B_1(0)\times\R , \end{equation*} subject to the vanishing exterior condition. We show that for each $t\in\R$, the positive bounded solution $u(\cdot,t)$ must be radially symmetric and strictly decreasing about the origin in the unit ball in $\R^n$. To overcome the challenges caused by the dual non-locality of the operator $\partial^\alpha_t+(-\Delta)^s$, some novel techniques were introduced. Then we establish the Liouville theorem for the homogeneous equation in the whole space \begin{equation*}\label{B} \partial^\alpha_t u(x,t)+(-\Delta)^s u(x,t) = 0\ \ \mbox{in}\ \ \R^n\times\R . \end{equation*} We first prove a maximum principle in unbounded domains for anti-symmetric functions to deduce that $u(x,t)$ must be constant with respect to $x.$ Then it suffices for us to establish the Liouville theorem for the Marchaud fractional equation \begin{equation*} \partial^\alpha_t u(t) = 0\ \ \mbox{in}\ \ \R . \end{equation*} To circumvent the difficulties arising from the nonlocal and one-sided nature of the operator $\partial_t^\alpha$, we bring in some new ideas and simpler approaches. Instead of disturbing the anti-symmetric function, we employ a perturbation technique directly on the solution $u(t)$ itself. This method provides a more concise and intuitive route to establish the Liouville theorem for one-sided operators $\partial_t^\alpha$, including even more general Marchaud time derivatives.