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Tristan Buckmaster

Publications and source records attributed to Tristan Buckmaster.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Resolving Sharp Gradients of Unstable Singularities to Machine Precision via Neural Networks

Recent work introduced a robust computational framework combining embedded mathematical structures, advanced optimization, and neural network architecture, leading to the discovery of multiple unstable self-similar solutions for key fluid dynamics equations, including the Incompressible Porous Media (IPM) and 2D Boussinesq systems. While this framework confirmed the existence of these singularities, an accuracy level approaching double-float machine precision was only achieved for stable and 1st unstable solutions of the 1D C\'ordoba-C\'ordoba-Fontelos model. For highly unstable solutions characterized by extreme gradients, the accuracy remained insufficient for validation. The primary obstacle is the presence of sharp solution gradients. Those gradients tend to induce large, localized PDE residuals during training, which not only hinder convergence, but also obscure the subtle signals near the origin required to identify the correct self-similar scaling parameter lambda of the solutions. In this work, we introduce a gradient-normalized PDE residual re-weighting scheme to resolve the high-gradient challenge while amplifying the critical residual signals at the origin for lambda identification. Coupled with the multi-stage neural network architecture, the PDE residuals are reduced to the level of round-off error across a wide spectrum of unstable self-similar singularities previously discovered. Furthermore, our method enables the discovery of new highly unstable singularities, i.e. the 4th unstable solution for IPM equations and a novel family of highly unstable solitons for the Nonlinear Schr\"odinger equations. This results in achieving high-gradient solutions with high precision, providing an important ingredient for bridging the gap between numerical discovery and computer-assisted proofs for unstable phenomena in nonlinear PDEs.

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Discovery of Unstable Singularities

Whether singularities can form in fluids remains a foundational unanswered question in mathematics. This phenomenon occurs when solutions to governing equations, such as the 3D Euler equations, develop infinite gradients from smooth initial conditions. Historically, numerical approaches have primarily identified stable singularities. However, these are not expected to exist for key open problems, such as the boundary-free Euler and Navier-Stokes cases, where unstable singularities are hypothesized to play a crucial role. Here, we present the first systematic discovery of new families of unstable singularities. A stable singularity is a robust outcome, forming even if the initial state is slightly perturbed. In contrast, unstable singularities are exceptionally elusive; they require initial conditions tuned with infinite precision, being in a state of instability whereby infinitesimal perturbations immediately divert the solution from its blow-up trajectory. In particular, we present multiple new, unstable self-similar solutions for the incompressible porous media equation and the 3D Euler equation with boundary, revealing a simple empirical asymptotic formula relating the blow-up rate to the order of instability. Our approach combines curated machine learning architectures and training schemes with a high-precision Gauss-Newton optimizer, achieving accuracies that significantly surpass previous work across all discovered solutions. For specific solutions, we reach near double-float machine precision, attaining a level of accuracy constrained only by the round-off errors of the GPU hardware. This level of precision meets the requirements for rigorous mathematical validation via computer-assisted proofs. This work provides a new playbook for exploring the complex landscape of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) and tackling long-standing challenges in mathematical physics.

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Blowup for the defocusing septic complex-valued nonlinear wave equation in $\mathbb{R}^{4+1}$

In this paper, we prove blowup for the defocusing septic complex-valued nonlinear wave equation in $\mathbb{R}^{4+1}$. This work builds on the earlier results of Shao, Wei, and Zhang [SWZ2024a,SWZ2024b], reducing the order of the nonlinearity from $29$ to $7$ in $\mathbb{R}^{4+1}$. As in [SWZ2024a,SWZ2024b], the proof hinges on a connection between solutions to the nonlinear wave equation and the relativistic Euler equations via a front compression blowup mechanism. More specifically, the problem is reduced to constructing smooth, radially symmetric, self-similar imploding profiles for the relativistic Euler equations. As with implosion for the compressible Euler equations, the relativistic analogue admits a countable family of smooth imploding profiles. The result in [SWZ2024a] represents the construction of the first profile in this family. In this paper, we construct a sequence of solutions corresponding to the higher-order profiles in the family. This allows us to saturate the inequalities necessary to show blowup for the defocusing complex-valued nonlinear wave equation with an integer order of nonlinearity and radial symmetry via this mechanism.

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Asymptotic self-similar blow-up profile for three-dimensional axisymmetric Euler equations using neural networks

Whether there exist finite time blow-up solutions for the 2-D Boussinesq and the 3-D Euler equations are of fundamental importance to the field of fluid mechanics. We develop a new numerical framework, employing physics-informed neural networks (PINNs), that discover, for the first time, a smooth self-similar blow-up profile for both equations. The solution itself could form the basis of a future computer-assisted proof of blow-up for both equations. In addition, we demonstrate PINNs could be successfully applied to find unstable self-similar solutions to fluid equations by constructing the first example of an unstable self-similar solution to the Córdoba-Córdoba-Fontelos equation. We show that our numerical framework is both robust and adaptable to various other equations.

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Smooth self-similar imploding profiles to 3D compressible Euler

The aim of this note is to present the recent results in [Buckmaster, Cao-Labora, Gómez-Serrano, arXiv:2208.09445, 2022], concerning the existence of "imploding singularities" for the 3D isentropic compressible Euler and Navier-Stokes equations. Our work builds upon the pioneering work of Merle, Raphaël, Rodnianski, and Szeftel [Merle, Raphaël, Rodnianski, and Szeftel, Ann. of Math., 196(2):567-778, 2022, Ann. of Math., 196(2):779-889, 2022, Invent. Math., 227(1):247-413, 2022] and proves the existence of self-similar profiles for all adiabatic exponents $γ>1$ in the case of Euler; as well as proving asymptotic self-similar blow-up for $γ=\frac75$ in the case of Navier-Stokes. Importantly, for the Navier-Stokes equation, the solution is constructed to have density bounded away from zero and constant at infinity, the first example of blow-up in such a setting. For simplicity, we will focus our exposition on the compressible Euler equations.

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Smooth imploding solutions for 3D compressible fluids

Building upon the pioneering work [Merle, Rapha\"el, Rodnianski, and Szeftel, Ann. of Math., 196(2):567-778, 2022, Ann. of Math., 196(2):779-889, 2022, Invent. Math., 227(1):247-413, 2022] we construct exact, smooth self-similar imploding solutions to the 3D isentropic compressible Euler equations for ideal gases for all adiabatic exponents $\gamma>1$. For the particular case $\gamma=\frac75$ (corresponding to a diatomic gas, e.g. oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen), akin to the previous result, we show the existence of a sequence of smooth, self-similar imploding solutions. In addition, we provide simplified proofs of linear stability and non-linear stability, which allow us to construct asymptotically self-similar imploding solutions to the compressible Navier-Stokes equations with density independent viscosity for the case $\gamma=\frac75$. Moreover, the solutions constructed have density bounded away from zero and converge to a constant at infinity, representing the first example of singularity formation in such a setting.

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Non-conservative $H^{\frac 12-}$ weak solutions of the incompressible 3D Euler equations

For any positive regularity parameter $β< \frac 12$, we construct non-conservative weak solutions of the 3D incompressible Euler equations which lie in $H^β$ uniformly in time. In particular, we construct solutions which have an $L^2$-based regularity index \emph{strictly larger} than $\frac 13$, thus deviating from the $H^{\frac{1}{3}}$-regularity corresponding to the Kolmogorov-Obhukov $\frac 53$ power spectrum in the inertial range.

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Formation of unstable shocks for 2D isentropic compressible Euler

In this paper we construct unstable shocks in the context of 2D isentropic compressible Euler in azimuthal symmetry. More specifically, we construct initial data that when viewed in self-similar coordinates, converges asymptotically to the unstable $C^{\frac15}$ self-similar solution to the Burgers' equation. Moreover, we show the behavior is stable in $C^8$ modulo a two dimensional linear subspace. Under the azimuthal symmetry assumption, one cannot impose additional symmetry assumptions in order to isolate the corresponding manifold of initial data leading to stability: rather, we rely on modulation variable techniques in conjunction with a Newton scheme.

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Simultaneous development of shocks and cusps for 2D Euler with azimuthal symmetry from smooth data

A fundamental question in fluid dynamics concerns the formation of discontinuous shock waves from smooth initial data. We prove that from smooth initial data, smooth solutions to the 2d Euler equations in azimuthal symmetry form a first singularity, the so-called $C^{\frac{1}{3}} $ pre-shock. The solution in the vicinity of this pre-shock is shown to have a fractional series expansion with coefficients computed from the data. Using this precise description of the pre-shock, we prove that a discontinuous shock instantaneously develops after the pre-shock. This regular shock solution is shown to be unique in a class of entropy solutions with azimuthal symmetry and regularity determined by the pre-shock expansion. Simultaneous to the development of the shock front, two other characteristic surfaces of cusp-type singularities emerge from the pre-shock. These surfaces have been termed weak discontinuities by Landau & Lifschitz [Chapter IX, §96], who conjectured some type of singular behavior of derivatives along such surfaces. We prove that along the slowest surface, all fluid variables except the entropy have $C^{1, {\frac{1}{2}} }$ one-sided cusps from the shock side, and that the normal velocity is decreasing in the direction of its motion; we thus term this surface a weak rarefaction wave. Along the surface moving with the fluid velocity, density and entropy form $C^{1, {\frac{1}{2}} }$ one-sided cusps while the pressure and normal velocity remain $C^2$; as such, we term this surface a weak contact discontinuity.

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Shock formation and vorticity creation for 3d Euler

We analyze the shock formation process for the 3d non-isentropic Euler equations with the ideal gas law, in which sounds waves interact with entropy waves to produce vorticity. Building on our theory for isentropic flows in [3,4], we give a constructive proof of shock formation from smooth initial data. Specifically, we prove that there exist smooth solutions to the non-isentropic Euler equations which form a generic stable shock with explicitly computable blowup time, location, and direction. This is achieved by establishing the asymptotic stability of a generic shock profile in modulated self-similar variables, controlling the interaction of wave families via: (i) pointwise bounds along Lagrangian trajectories, (ii) geometric vorticity structure, and (iii) high-order energy estimates in Sobolev spaces.

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Formation of point shocks for 3D compressible Euler

We consider the 3D isentropic compressible Euler equations with the ideal gas law. We provide a constructive proof of shock formation from smooth initial datum of finite energy, with no vacuum regions, with nontrivial vorticity present at the shock, and under no symmetry assumptions. We prove that for an open set of Sobolev-class initial data which are a small $L^ \infty $ perturbation of a constant state, there exist smooth solutions to the Euler equations which form a generic stable shock in finite time. The blow up time and location can be explicitly computed, and solutions at the blow up time are smooth except for a single point, where they are of cusp-type with Hölder $C^ {\frac{1}{3}}$ regularity. Our proof is based on the use of modulated self-similar variables that are used to enforce a number of constraints on the blow up profile, necessary to establish the stability in self-similar variables of the generic shock profile.

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Weak solutions of ideal MHD which do not conserve magnetic helicity

We construct weak solutions to the ideal magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) equations which have finite total energy, and whose magnetic helicity is not a constant function of time. In view of Taylor's conjecture, this proves that there exist finite energy weak solutions to ideal MHD which cannot be attained in the infinite conductivity and zero viscosity limit. Our proof is based on a Nash-type convex integration scheme with intermittent building blocks adapted to the geometry of the MHD system.

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Formation of shocks for 2D isentropic compressible Euler

We consider the 2D isentropic compressible Euler equations, with pressure law $p(ρ) = (\sfrac{1}γ) ρ^γ$, with $γ>1$. We provide an elementary constructive proof of shock formation from smooth initial datum of finite energy, with no vacuum regions, and with {nontrivial vorticity}. We prove that for initial data which has minimum slope $- {\sfrac{1}{ \eps}}$, for $ \eps>0$ taken sufficiently small relative to the $\OO(1)$ amplitude, there exist smooth solutions to the Euler equations which form a shock in time $\OO(\eps)$. The blowup time and location can be explicitly computed and solutions at the blowup time are of cusp-type, with Hölder $C^ {\sfrac{1}{3}}$ regularity. Our objective is the construction of solutions with inherent $\OO(1)$ vorticity at the shock. As such, rather than perturbing from an irrotational regime, we instead construct solutions with dynamics dominated by purely azimuthal wave motion. We consider homogenous solutions to the Euler equations and use Riemann-type variables to obtain a system of forced transport equations. Using a transformation to modulated self-similar variables and pointwise estimates for the ensuing system of transport equations, we show the global stability, in self-similar time, of a smooth blowup profile.

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Convex integration and phenomenologies in turbulence

In this review article we discuss a number of recent results concerning wild weak solutions of the incompressible Euler and Navier-Stokes equations. These results build on the groundbreaking works of De Lellis and Székelyhidi Jr., who extended Nash's fundamental ideas on $C^1$ flexible isometric embeddings, into the realm of fluid dynamics. These techniques, which go under the umbrella name convex integration, have fundamental analogies the phenomenological theories of hydrodynamic turbulence. Mathematical problems arising in turbulence (such as the Onsager conjecture) have not only sparked new interest in convex integration, but certain experimentally observed features of turbulent flows (such as intermittency) have also informed new convex integration constructions. First, we give an elementary construction of nonconservative $C^{0+}_{x,t}$ weak solutions of the Euler equations, first proven by De Lellis-Székelyhidi Jr.. Second, we present Isett's recent resolution of the flexible side of the Onsager conjecture. Here, we in fact follow the joint work of De Lellis-Székelyhidi Jr. and the authors of this paper, in which weak solutions of the Euler equations in the regularity class $C^{\frac 13-}_{x,t}$ are constructed, attaining any energy profile. Third, we give a concise proof of the authors' recent result, which proves the existence of infinitely many weak solutions of the Navier-Stokes in the regularity class $C^0_t L^{2+}_x \cap C^0_t W^{1,1+}_x$. We conclude the article by mentioning a number of open problems at the intersection of convex integration and hydrodynamic turbulence.

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Nonuniqueness of weak solutions to the Navier-Stokes equation

For initial datum of finite kinetic energy, Leray has proven in 1934 that there exists at least one global in time finite energy weak solution of the 3D Navier-Stokes equations. In this paper we prove that weak solutions of the 3D Navier-Stokes equations are not unique in the class of weak solutions with finite kinetic energy. Moreover, we prove that Holder continuous dissipative weak solutions of the 3D Euler equations may be obtained as a strong vanishing viscosity limit of a sequence of finite energy weak solutions of the 3D Navier-Stokes equations.

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The Surface Quasi-Geostrophic Equation with Random Diffusion

Consider the surface quasi-geostrophic equation with random diffusion, white in time. We show global existence and uniqueness in high probability for the associated Cauchy problem satisfying a Gevrey type bound. This article is inspired by recent work of Glatt-Holtz and Vicol.

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