arXiv subjects

Lorenzo Cavallina

Publications and source records attributed to Lorenzo Cavallina.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A discrete-time overdetermined problem for the heat equation

In this paper, we consider a parabolic counterpart of Serrin's overdetermined problem, in which the overdetermined condition (constant flux condition) is imposed only on a discrete infinite set of time values. We show that, under suitable regularity assumptions on the domain, such a discrete-time overdetermined problem admits a solution if and only if the domain is a ball. Remarkably, depending on the temporal scale, the same overdetermined condition captures either geometric or spectral information, yet both mechanisms lead to the same rigidity conclusion. We study both the case in which the constant flux condition is imposed on the boundary and the case in which the constant flux condition is imposed on an interior surface. We remark that the methods employed in our analysis do not depend on the location of the overdetermined surface but only on whether the sequence of time instants accumulates away from zero. Finally, we will show how this problem generalizes to complete Riemannian manifolds.

math.AP↗

arXiv2025

Elliptic and parabolic overdetermined problems in multi-phase settings

The present paper provides symmetry results for a class of overdetermined problems of elliptic and parabolic type in multi-phase settings, including various extensions of remarkable results obtained by S. Sakaguchi in [12, 13]. A new alternative approach to proving this type of results is presented, leveraging the weak formulation of the problem. The resulting proofs are direct and elegant, and bring several benefits, including extensions to multi-phase settings (possibly with infinitely many phases) and generalizations to rough interfaces.

math.AP↗

arXiv2025

Face 2-phase: how much overdetermination is enough to get symmetry in two-phase problems

We provide a full characterization of multi-phase problems under a large class of overdetermined Serrin-type conditions. Our analysis includes both symmetry and asymmetry (including bifurcation) results. A broad range of techniques is needed to obtain a full characterization of all the cases, including applications of results obtained via the moving planes method, approaches via integral identities in the wake of Weinberger, applications of the Crandall-Rabinowitz theorem, and the Chauchy-Kovalevskaya theorem. The multi-phase setting entails intrinsic difficulties that make it difficult to predict whether a given overdetermination will lead to symmetry or asymmetry results; the results of our analysis are significant as they answer such a question providing a full characterization of both symmetry and asymmetry results.

math.AP↗

arXiv2024

A miscellanea of qualitative and symmetry properties of the solutions to the two-phase Serrin's problem

This paper investigates the solutions to the two-phase Serrin's problem, an overdetermined boundary value problem motivated by shape optimization. Specifically, we study the torsional rigidity of composite beams, where two distinct materials interact, and examine the properties of the optimal configurations (critical shapes) under volume constraints. We first show that such a shape optimization problem admits no local minimizers. Then, using the method of moving planes, we show that the solutions exhibit no extended or narrow branches ("tentacles") away from the core. We then show that the outer boundary of a solution cannot exhibit flat parts and that the only configuration whose outer boundary contains a portion of a sphere is the one given by concentric balls. Finally, we establish that concentric balls are the only admissible configurations that solve the two-phase Serrin's problem for two distinct sets of conductivity values.

math.AP↗

arXiv2024

Visualizing Shape Functionals via Sinkhorn Multidimensional Scaling

In this paper, we present Sinkhorn multidimensional scaling (Sinkhorn MDS) as a method for visualizing shape functionals in shape spaces. This approach uses the Sinkhorn divergence to map these infinite-dimensional spaces into lower-dimensional Euclidean spaces. We establish error estimates for the embedding generated by Sinkhorn MDS compared to the unregularized case. Moreover, we validate the method through numerical experiments, including visualizations of the classical Dido's problem and two newly introduced shape functionals: the double-well and Sinkhorn cone-type shape functionals. Our results demonstrate that Sinkhorn MDS effectively captures and visualizes shapes of shape functionals.

math.OC↗

arXiv2023

Two extremum problems for Neumann eigenvalues

Neumann eigenvalues being non-decreasing with respect to domain inclusion, it makes sense to study the two shape optimization problems $\min\{μ_k(Ω):Ω\mbox{ convex},Ω\subset D, \}$ (for a given box $D$) and $\max\{μ_k(Ω):Ω\mbox{ convex},ω\subset Ω, \}$ (for a given obstacle $ω$). In this paper, we study existence of a solution for these two problems in two dimensions and we give some qualitative properties. We also introduce the notion of {\it self-domains} that are domains solutions of these extremal problems for themselves and give examples of the disk and the square. A few numerical simulations are also presented.

math.SP↗

arXiv2023

Pythagorean Theorem, Law of Sines and Law of Cosines: alternative proofs via shape derivatives

We provide an alternative unified approach for proving the Pythagorean theorem (in dimension $2$ and higher), the law of sines and the law of cosines, based on the concept of shape derivative. The idea behind the proofs is very simple: we translate a triangle along a specific direction and compute the resulting change in area. Equating the change in area to zero yields the statements of the three aforementioned theorems.

math.HO↗

arXiv2023

Symmetry and asymmetry in a multi-phase overdetermined problem

A celebrated theorem of Serrin asserts that one overdetermined condition on the boundary is enough to obtain radial symmetry in the so-called one-phase overdetermined torsion problem. It is also known that imposing just one overdetermined condition on the boundary is not enough to obtain radial symmetry in the corresponding multi-phase overdetermined problem. In this paper, we show that, in order to obtain radial symmetry in the two-phase overdetermined torsion problem, two overdetermined conditions are needed. Moreover, it is noteworthy that this pattern does not extend to multi-phase problems with three or more layers, for which we show the existence of non-radial configurations satisfying countably infinitely many overdetermined conditions on the outer boundary.

math.AP↗

arXiv2022

Why are the solutions to overdetermined problems usually "as symmetric as possible"?

In this paper, we study the symmetry properties of nondegenerate critical points of shape functionals using the implicit function theorem. We show that, if a shape functional is invariant with respect to some continuous group of rotations, then its nondegenerate critical points (bounded open sets with smooth enough boundary) share the same symmetries. We also consider the case where the shape functional exhibits translational invariance in addition to just rotational invariance. Finally, we study the applications of this result to the theory of one/two-phase overdetermined problems of Serrin-type. En passant, we give a simple proof of the fact that the ball is the only nondegenerate critical point of the Lagrangian associated to the maximization problem for the torsional rigidity under a volume constraint. We remark that the proof does not rely on either the method of moving planes or rearrangement techniques.

math.AP↗

arXiv2021

How to construct parametrized families of free boundaries near nondegenerate solutions

In this paper, we introduce the notion of variational free boundary problem. Namely, we say that a free boundary problem is variational if its solutions can be characterized as the critical points of some shape functional. Moreover, we extend the notion of nondegeneracy of a critical point to this setting. As a result, we provide a unified functional-analytical framework that allows us to construct families of solutions to variational free boundary problems whenever the shape functional is nondegenerate at some given solution. As a clarifying example, we apply this machinery to construct families of nontrivial solutions to the two-phase Serrin's overdetermined problem in both the degenerate and nondegenerate case.

math.AP↗

arXiv2021

On a two-phase Serrin-type problem and its numerical computation

We consider an overdetermined problem of Serrin-type with respect to an operator in divergence form with piecewise constant coefficients. We give sufficient condition for unique solvability near radially symmetric configurations by means of a perturbation argument relying on shape derivatives and the implicit function theorem. This problem is also treated numerically, by means of a steepest descent algorithm based on a Kohn-Vogelius functional.

math.AP↗

arXiv2021

Quantitative stability estimates for a two-phase Serrin-type overdetermined problem

In this paper, we deal with an overdetermined problem of Serrin-type with respect to a two-phase elliptic operator in divergence form with piecewise constant coefficients. In particular, we consider the case where the two-phase overdetermined problem is close to the one-phase setting. First, we show quantitative stability estimates for the two-phase problem via a one-phase stability result. Furthermore, we prove non-existence for the corresponding inner problem by the aforementioned two-phase stability result.

math.AP↗

arXiv2021

The simultaneous asymmetric perturbation method for overdetermined free boundary problems

In this paper, we introduce a new method for applying the implicit function theorem to find nontrivial solutions to overdetermined problems with a fixed boundary (given) and a free boundary (to be determined). The novelty of this method lies in the kind of perturbations considered. Indeed, we work with perturbations that exhibit different levels of regularity on each boundary. This allows us to construct solutions that would have been out of reach otherwise. Another benefit of this method lies in the improvement of the regularity gap between the free boundary and the given one. Finally, some geometric properties of the solutions, such as symmetry and convexity, are also discussed.

math.AP↗

arXiv2020

Local analysis of a two phase free boundary problem concerning mean curvature

We consider an overdetermined problem for a two phase elliptic operator in divergence form with piecewise constant coefficients. We look for domains such that the solution $u$ of a Dirichlet boundary value problem also satisfies the additional property that its normal derivative $\partial_n u$ is a multiple of the radius of curvature at each point on the boundary. When the coefficients satisfy some "non-criticality" condition, we construct nontrivial solutions to this overdetermined problem employing a perturbation argument relying on shape derivatives and the implicit function theorem. Moreover, in the critical case, we employ the use of the Crandall-Rabinowitz theorem to show the existence of a branch of symmetry breaking solutions bifurcating from trivial ones. Finally, some remarks on the one phase case and a similar overdetermined problem of Serrin type are given.

math.AP↗

arXiv2020

The double queen Dido's problem

This paper deals with a variation of the classical isoperimetric problem in dimension $N\ge 2$ for a two-phase piecewise constant density whose discontinuity interface is a given hyperplane. We introduce a weighted perimeter functional with three different weights, one for the hyperplane and one for each of the two open half-spaces in which $\mathbb{R}^N$ gets partitioned. We then consider the problem of characterizing the sets $Ω$ that minimize this weighted perimeter functional under the additional constraint that the volumes of the portions of $Ω$ in the two half-spaces are given. It is shown that the problem admits two kinds of minimizers, which will be called type I and type II, respectively. These minimizers are made of the union of two spherical domes whose angle of incidence satisfies some kind of \textquotedblleft Snell's law\textquotedblright. Finally, we provide a complete classification of the minimizers depending on the various parameters of the problem.

math.DG↗

arXiv2020

Symmetry breaking solutions for a two-phase overdetermined problem of Serrin-type

In this paper, we consider an overdetermined problem of Serrin-type for a two-phase elliptic operator with piecewise constant coefficients. We show the existence of infinitely many branches of nontrivial symmetry breaking solutions which bifurcate from any radially symmetric configuration satisfying some condition on the coefficients.

math.AP↗

arXiv2019

A characterization of a hyperplane in two-phase heat conductors

We consider the Cauchy problem for the heat diffusion equation in the whole Euclidean space consisting of two media with different constant conductivities, where initially one has temperature 0 and the other has temperature 1. Suppose that the interface is uniformly of class $C^6$. We show that if the interface has a time-invariant constant temperature, then it must be a hyperplane.

math.AP↗

arXiv2019

Two-phase heat conductors with a surface of the constant flow property

We consider a two-phase heat conductor in $\mathbb R^N$ with $N \geq 2$ consisting of a core and a shell with different constant conductivities. We study the role played by radial symmetry for overdetermined problems of elliptic and parabolic type. First of all, with the aid of the implicit function theorem, we give a counterexample to radial symmetry for some two-phase elliptic overdetermined boundary value problems of Serrin-type. Afterwards, we consider the following setting for a two-phase parabolic overdetermined problem. We suppose that, initially, the conductor has temperature 0 and, at all times, its boundary is kept at temperature 1. A hypersurface in the domain has the constant flow property if at every of its points the heat flux across surface only depends on time. It is shown that the structure of the conductor must be spherical, if either there is a surface of the constant flow property in the shell near the boundary or a connected component of the boundary of the heat conductor is a surface of the constant flow property. Also, by assuming that the medium outside the conductor has a possibly different conductivity, we consider a Cauchy problem in which the conductor has initial inside temperature $0$ and outside temperature $1$. We then show that a quite similar symmetry result holds true.

math.AP↗