SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

Glen Wheeler

Publications and source records attributed to Glen Wheeler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

On ideal lemniscates, butterflies, and circular waves

We prove the existence of infinitely many lemniscate-like, butterfly-like, and circular-wave critical points for the length-penalised ideal energy. For the lemniscate and butterfly family, we use a staged direct minimisation process to establish existence. A boundary-layer analysis reveals critical points near two Fresnel phases: $3\pi/4$ modulo $2\pi$, corresponding to lemniscates, and $7\pi/4$ modulo $2\pi$, which are the butterflies. The family of circular waves bifurcates, in a sense, from multiply-covered circles. We use an adapted shooting method to establish their existence.

math.DG

Pinchoff by surface diffusion

We construct surface diffusion flows $f:\mathbb{T}^2\times[0,T)\to\mathbb{R}^3$ that drive smooth closed embedded tori to pinchoff in finite time. The flow remains embedded for $t\in[0,T)$ and develops a curvature singularity only at a distinguished point $p$ as $t\nearrow T$. Away from $(p,T)$ the flow converges smoothly as $t\nearrow T$. We characterise the singularity profile: If $A(t)$ denotes the radius of the waist, and the surface is given locally near the waist by the rotation of a radial graph $(z,t)\mapsto r(z,t)$, then there exists a constant $\mu>0$ and smooth function $U:\mathbb R\to\mathbb R$ such that \[ A(t)=\{4\mu(T-t)\}^{1/4}(1+o(1)), \qquad A(t)^{-1}r(A(t)\zeta,t)\stackrel{C^\infty_{loc}}{\longrightarrow} U(\zeta). \] Here $U$ is a rigorous realisation of the classical fundamental positive even conical similarity profile first computed numerically by Wong, Miksis, Voorhees and Davis and subsequently analysed by Bernoff, Bertozzi and Witelski.

math.DG

Concentration-compactness for the geometric polyharmonic heat flow

We develop a concentration-compactness theory for geometric evolution equations of arbitrarily high order, using the geometric polyharmonic heat flow of closed immersed surfaces in \(\R^3\) as the model case. The flow is the \((2p+2)\)-order normal evolution \[ \partial_t f=(-1)^{p+1}\Delta^p H\,\nu,\qquad p\geq1, \] which includes the surface diffusion flow when \(p=1\). We prove localised energy estimates with sharp cut-off bookkeeping, interior estimates, a lifespan/concentration alternative, tracefree-curvature \(\varepsilon\)-regularity estimates, and a gap theorem for stationary solutions. These tools are then combined with a blowup argument, the preservation of signed enclosed volume, and the monotonicity of area to rule out singularities below a small tracefree-curvature threshold. Consequently, for connected initial immersions satisfying \(\|A^o\|_2^2<\varepsilon\), where \(\varepsilon>0\) depends only on the order of the flow, the solution exists for all time and converges exponentially in \(C^\infty\) to a round sphere with the preserved enclosed volume.

math.AP

Minimal equators and homological systoles in Berger projective spaces

Gil-Medrano asked whether real projective subspaces remain minimal and volume-minimising under Berger deformations in dimensions greater than three. We answer the minimality question and make substantial progress on the corresponding minimisation problem. The fundamental observation is that the full linear geometry of a real subspace $V\subset\mathbb{C}^N$ is controlled by the single skew-adjoint endomorphism $A_V=\operatorname{pr}_VJ|_V$. For every non-round Berger metric, this yields a complete classification: $\mathbb{RP}(V)$ is minimal if and only if $V$ is a linear CR subspace, equivalently if all of its multiple K\"ahler angles are $0$ or $\pi/2$. Thus the answer to Gil-Medrano's minimality question is negative in general, although every equatorial hypersurface remains minimal. The same structure determines the critical points and global extrema of the linear volume functional. Combining it with projective integral geometry, we also compute exact mod-two homological systoles in the pure stretched and squashed regimes. Our final contribution is a conjecture that all remaining cases consist of mixed CR equators.

math.DG

A simply connected nilpotent Lie group with a closed geodesic

We give a six-dimensional simply connected nilpotent Lie group together with a left-invariant Riemannian metric admitting a nonconstant closed geodesic. The example gives a positive answer to B\"ohm--Lafuente's question asking whether a homogeneous Riemannian manifold diffeomorphic to Euclidean space can have a closed geodesic.

math.DG

On the generalised ideal flow of closed planar curves

For each integer $m\ge0$ we study the $m$-ideal energy \[ E_m[\gamma]:=\frac12\int_\gamma k_{s^m}^2\,ds \] on closed immersed planar curves, where $k$ is signed curvature and $s$ is arclength; $k^2_{s^m} := (k_{s^m})^2$. The $m$-ideal energies contain Euler's elastic energy and the Dirichlet energy for the curvature scalar as special cases ($m=0,1$). We completely classify the closed smooth critical points of $E_m$ for all $m\ge1$: they are precisely the round multiply-covered circles. For the steepest descent $L^2(ds)$-gradient flow of $E_m$, the \emph{$m$-ideal flow}, we prove that for each nonzero turning number there is a curvature-oscillation threshold such that every canonical relaxed flow starting from $W^{2,2}$ initial data below this threshold is immortal and exponentially asymptotic in the smooth topology to a round multiply-covered circle. We also prove that every immortal canonical relaxed trajectory with bounded unnormalised length converges to the corresponding circle. We furthermore treat rough initial data of class $W^{2,2}$; such data typically has infinite $E_m$ energy when $m\ge1$. In the small-curvature-oscillation basin, every such curve generates a unique canonical relaxed length-normalised flow, smooth for every positive time, continuously dependent on the initial data, and smoothly convergent to the multiply-covered circle. These results are known in the $m=0$ case, substantially strengthen existing work in the $m=1$ case, and are new for $m>1$.

math.DG

Scale-critical curve diffusion flows

We introduce and study a one-parameter family of curve diffusion flows with a scale-critical cubic curvature term for closed immersed planar curves. We first classify all closed stationary solutions, showing that they are precisely circles or a unique family of ``super-lemniscates''. We then analyse the dynamical stability of homothetic circles. Under a sharp spectral condition, we establish, by purely variational methods, that any small perturbation of an $\omega$-fold circle monotonically approaches the unit $\omega$-circle after rescaling, translation, and reparametrisation. As a corollary, we determine the sharp ranges of the parameter for the stability of an embedded circle, and of all $\omega$-circles. We also uncover a striking arithmetic structure in the stability landscape, where the stability of $\omega$-circles depends non-monotonically on $\omega$.

math.AP

Heintze-Karcher and Reverse Alexandrov-Fenchel Inequalities via Focal Geometry

We prove a collection of reverse Alexandrov-Fenchel type inequalities in anisotropic, Euclidean, spherical, and hyperbolic settings. The unifying principle is that the relevant deficit is controlled by curvature radius data, or equivalently by the signed volume of an associated evolute or focal map. For smooth simple strictly convex curves in a smooth Minkowski plane we prove an anisotropic Hurwitz-type inequality: the anisotropic isoperimetric deficit is bounded above by the signed Euclidean area of the Minkowski evolute. For smooth closed strictly convex hypersurfaces in $\mathbb R^{n+1}$, with $E_k$ denoting the normalised $k$-th mean curvature, we establish the sharp reverse Alexandrov-Fenchel estimate \[ 0\le \frac{1}{|\mathbb S^{n}|} \left(\int_{M}E_{n-1}\,d\mu\right)^{2} -\int_{M}E_{n-2}\,d\mu \le \frac{n}{2(n+1)} \int_{M}\frac{E_{n-1}^{2}-E_{n-2}E_{n}}{E_{n}}\,d\mu . \] We also relate the deficit of the Minkowski inequality to the oriented volumes of the two focal maps. In space forms we derive a normal-graph formula for oriented volume and use it to give focal-map interpretations of the deficit of an unweighted Heintze--Karcher inequality. In dimension two this recovers evolute-area formulae. We then prove exact reverse isoperimetric identities for curves on $\mathbb S^{2}$ and strictly horoconvex curves in $\mathbb H^{2}$, in which the remainders are explicit nonnegative integrals measuring the oscillation of geodesic curvature. In the spherical case, for every smooth simple closed curve $\gamma\subset\mathbb S^2$ with length $L$ and enclosed area $A$, if $k_E$ denotes the ambient Euclidean curvature of $\gamma$, then \[ L^{2}-A(4\pi-A) \le \left(\int_{\gamma}k_E\,ds\right)^{2}-4\pi^{2}, \] with equality if and only if $\gamma$ is a geodesic circle. This relates the spherical isoperimetric deficit with the Euclidean Fenchel deficit.

math.DG

Homogeneous Sobolev gradient flow of the length functional

The well-known curve shortening flow can be formulated as the gradient flow of the length functional on the space of immersed closed planar curves, where the gradient is taken with respect to a reparametrisation-invariant $L^2$ Riemannian metric. This metric is degenerate, giving a geodesic distance of zero between any two curves. We instead consider a family of Sobolev $H^1$ metrics depending on two parameters $\lambda>0$ and $a\in \mathbb R$, where $\lambda$ sets the weight of the first-derivative term, and $a$ indexes a length normalisation which ensures that the metric is scale-homogeneous. For each such metric, the gradient of length can be written explicitly in terms of a convolution with respect to normalised arc length against the periodic Green's function of $(\lambda^2 \partial_x^2-1)$. The associated evolution is a reparametrisation invariant nonlocal ODE whose right-hand side is well-defined even on curves that are not immersed. Working in the optimal low-regularity setting $W^{1,1}(\mathbb S,\mathbb R^2)$, we prove local well-posedness using the Picard--Lindel\"of theorem and convergence to constant maps in finite time when $a<2$, and as $t\to\infty$ when $a\geq 2$. This behaviour is exhibited by round circles, which evolve self-similarly and collapse at an explicit time. We further prove that if the initial curve is an immersion, $C^1$, $C^2$, or bounds a strictly convex set, then each of these properties is preserved along the flow.

math.DG

Stabilization of solutions to a model of Langmuir-Blodgett films

We show stabilisation of solutions to one-dimensional advective Cahn-Hilliard equation modeling the Langmuir-Blodgett thin films. This problem has the structure of a gradient flow perturbed by a linear term $\beta u_x$. Through application of an abstract result by Carvalho-Langa-Robinson, we show that for small $\beta$ the equation has the structure of gradient flow in a weak sense. Combining this with the finite number of steady states implies stabilization of solutions.

math.AP

Jellyfish exist

We show the existence of infinitely many geometrically distinct homothetic expanders (jellyfish) for the elastic flow, epicyclic shrinkers for the curve diffusion flow, and epicyclic expanders for the ideal flow.

math.DG

On the basin of attraction for the free boundary free elastic flow

The free boundary free elastic flow is the steepest descent gradient flow for the elastic energy of curves meeting parallel lines perpendicularly. In this article we prove that the straight line has, measured in Euler's scale-invariant bending energy, a basin of attraction at least to the level $1.9615\, \pi$. We show that our method of proof cannot be pushed to the previously conjectured level $2\pi$, and in addition present numerical evidence that this conjecture may in fact be false.

math.AP

On the planar free elastic flow with small oscillation of curvature

The free elastic flow that begins at any closed curve exists for all time. If the initial curve is an $\omega$-fold covered circle (``$\omega$-circle'') the solution expands self-similarly. Very recently, Miura and the second author showed that (topological) $\omega$-circles that are close to multiply-covered round circles are asymptotically stable under the planar free elastic flow, which means that upon rescaling the rescaled flow converges smoothly to the stationary (in the rescaled setting) $\omega$-circle. Closeness in that work was measured via the derivative of the curvature scalar. In the present paper, we improve this by requiring closeness in terms of the curvature scalar itself. The convergence rate we obtain is sharp.

math.DG

Bushfires and Balance: Proactive versus Reactive Policies in Prescribed Burning

We introduce a new mathematical model to explore the dynamic relationship between prescribed burning and bushfire occurrence, formulated as a system of ordinary differential equations. The model admits a unique steady-state, and its stability is shown to depend critically on the policy framework governing prescribed burning. In particular, reactive policies, where prescribed burning is increased in response to bushfire events, can lead to system instability unless augmented with appropriate feedback control. Conversely, proactive policies that implement moderate, consistent prescribed burning are more effective at stabilizing the system and mitigating the frequency of bushfires. Additionally, higher vegetation regeneration rates contribute positively to equilibrium stability. While this model does not capture the full complexity of fire management, it highlights the potential risks of emotionally driven, reactive responses and underscores the value of preventive, stability-focused strategies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first mathematical analysis of preventive burning strategies and their long-term impact on bushfire mitigation.

math.OC

A curvature flow approach to dorsal closure modelling

In this paper we propose and study a curvature-based mathematical model for dorsal closure in embryonic drosophila. Using an analysis that mixes maximum-principle and integral-estimates, we establish global existence and convergence for data that mimics the initial geometry of a dorsal closure event. Further, we present a numerical approximation scheme for the flow, establishing stability, consistence, and convergence. We also give sample simulations of the flow with initial configurations that include experimentally observed data.

math.AP

The free elastic flow for closed planar curves

The free elastic flow is the $L^2$-gradient flow for Euler's elastic energy, or equivalently the Willmore flow with translation invariant initial data. In contrast to elastic flows under length penalisation or preservation, it is more challenging to study the free elastic flow's asymptotic behavior, and convergence for closed curves is lost. In this paper, we nevertheless determine the asymptotic shape of the flow for initial curves that are geometrically close to circles, possibly multiply-covered, proving that an appropriate rescaling smoothly converges to a unique round circle.

math.AP

Self-sustaining traveling fronts for a model related to bushfires

This article investigates a mathematical model for bushfire propagation, focusing on the existence and properties of translating solutions. We obtain quantitative bounds on the environmental diffusion coefficient and ignition kernels, identifying conditions under which fires either propagate across the entire region or naturally extinguish. Our analysis also reveals that vertically translating solutions do not exist, whereas traveling wave solutions with a front moving at any prescribed velocity always exist for kernels that are either of mild intensity or short range. These traveling waves exhibit unbounded profiles.

math.AP