arXiv subjects

Wenhui Shi

Publications and source records attributed to Wenhui Shi.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

The gradient flow of the potential energy on the space of arcs

We study the gradient flow of the potential energy on the infinite-dimensional Riemannian manifold of spatial curves parametrized by the arc length, which models overdamped motion of a falling inextensible string. We prove existence of generalized solutions to the corresponding nonlinear evolutionary PDE and their exponential decay to the equilibrium. We also observe that the system admits solutions backwards in time, which leads to non-uniqueness of trajectories.

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arXiv2018

Uniformly compressing mean curvature flow

Michor and Mumford showed that the mean curvature flow is a gradient flow on a Riemannian structure with a degenerate geodesic distance. It is also known to destroy the uniform density of gridpoints on the evolving surfaces. We introduce a related geometric flow which is free of these drawbacks. Our flow can be viewed as a formal gradient flow on a certain submanifold of the Wasserstein space of probability measures endowed with Otto's Riemannian structure. We obtain a number of analytic results concerning well-posedness and long-time stability which are however restricted to the 1D case of evolution of loops.

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arXiv2016

Optimal Regularity for the Thin Obstacle Problem with $C^{0,α}$ Coefficients

In this article we study solutions to the (interior) thin obstacle problem under low regularity assumptions on the coefficients, the obstacle and the underlying manifold. Combining the linearization method of Andersson \cite{An16} and the epiperimetric inequality from \cite{FS16}, \cite{GPSVG15}, we prove the optimal $C^{1,\min\{α,1/2\}}$ regularity of solutions in the presence of $C^{0,α}$ coefficients $a^{ij}$ and $C^{1,α}$ obstacles $ϕ$. Moreover we investigate the regularity of the regular free boundary and show that it has the structure of a $C^{1,γ}$ manifold for some $γ\in (0,1)$.

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arXiv2016

Higher Regularity for the fractional thin obstacle problem

In this article we investigate the higher regularity properties of the regular free boundary in the fractional thin obstacle problem. Relying on a Hodograph-Legendre transform, we show that for smooth or analytic obstacles the regular free boundary is smooth or analytic, respectively. This leads to the analysis of a fully nonlinear, degenerate (sub)elliptic operator which we identify as a (fully nonlinear) perturbation of the fractional Baouendi-Grushin Laplacian. Using its intrinsic geometry and adapted function spaces, we invoke the analytic implicit function theorem to deduce analyticity of the regular free boundary.

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arXiv2016

The Variable Coefficient Thin Obstacle Problem: Higher Regularity

In this article we continue our investigation of the thin obstacle problem with variable coefficients which was initiated in \cite{KRS14}, \cite{KRSI}. Using a partial Hodograph-Legendre transform and the implicit function theorem, we prove higher order Hölder regularity for the regular free boundary, if the associated coefficients are of the corresponding regularity. For the zero obstacle this yields an improvement of a \emph{full derivative} for the free boundary regularity compared to the regularity of the metric. In the presence of non-zero obstacles or inhomogeneities, we gain \emph{three halves of a derivative} for the free boundary regularity with respect to the regularity of the inhomogeneity. Further we show analyticity of the regular free boundary for analytic metrics. We also discuss the low regularity set-up of $W^{1,p}$ metrics with $p>n+1$ with and without ($L^p$) inhomogeneities. Key new ingredients in our analysis are the introduction of generalized Hölder spaces, which allow to interpret the transformed fully nonlinear, degenerate (sub)elliptic equation as a perturbation of the Baouendi-Grushin operator, various uses of intrinsic geometries associated with appropriate operators, the application of the implicit function theorem to deduce (higher) regularity and the splitting technique from \cite{KRSI}.

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arXiv2016

The Variable Coefficient Thin Obstacle Problem: Optimal Regularity and Regularity of the Regular Free Boundary

This article deals with the variable coefficient thin obstacle problem in $n+1$ dimensions. We address the regular free boundary regularity, the behavior of the solution close to the free boundary and the optimal regularity of the solution in a low regularity set-up. We first discuss the case of zero obstacle and $W^{1,p}$ metrics with $p\in(n+1,\infty]$. In this framework, we prove the $C^{1,α}$ regularity of the regular free boundary and derive the leading order asymptotic expansion of solutions at regular free boundary points. We further show the optimal $C^{1,\min\{1-\frac{n+1}{p}, \frac{1}{2}\}}$ regularity of solutions. New ingredients include the use of the Reifenberg flatness of the regular free boundary, the construction of an (almost) optimal barrier function and the introduction of an appropriate splitting of the solution. Important insights depend on the consideration of various intrinsic geometric structures. Based on variations of the arguments in \cite{KRS14} and the present article, we then also discuss the case of non-zero and interior thin obstacles. We obtain the optimal regularity of the solutions and the regularity of the regular free boundary for $W^{1,p}$ metrics and $W^{2,p}$ obstacles with $p\in (2(n+1),\infty]$.

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arXiv2015

The two phase parabolic Signorini Problem

We study solutions to a variational equation that models heat control on the boundary. This problem can be thought of as the two phase parabolic Signorini problem. We show that when the solution has a sign on the boundary, the study of the free boundary can be reduced to the study of the free boundary in the parabolic Signorini problem. We show that locally there is always a sign on the boundary; therefore, the optimal regularity of the solutions as well as the study of the free boundary is reduced to the one phase parabolic Signorini problem.

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arXiv2015

Singular Perturbation Problem in Boundary/Fractional Combustion

Motivated by a nonlocal free boundary problem, we study uniform properties of solutions to a singular perturbation problem for a boundary-reaction-diffusion equation, where the reaction term is of combustion type. This boundary problem is related to the fractional Laplacian. After an optimal uniform Hölder regularity is shown, we pass to the limit to study the free boundary problem it leads to.

math.AP↗

arXiv2015

The Variable Coefficient Thin Obstacle Problem: Carleman Inequalities

In this article we present a new strategy of addressing the (variable coefficient) thin obstacle problem. Our approach is based on a (variable coefficient) Carleman estimate. This yields semi-continuity of the vanishing order, lower and uniform upper growth bounds of solutions and sufficient compactness properties in order to carry out a blow-up procedure. Moreover, the Carleman estimate implies the existence of homogeneous blow-up limits along certain sequences and ultimately leads to an almost optimal regularity statement. As it is a very robust tool, it allows us to consider the problem in the setting of Sobolev metrics, i.e. the coefficients are only $W^{1,p}$ regular for some $p>n+1$. These results provide the basis for our further analysis of the free boundary, the optimal ($C^{1,1/2}$-) regularity of solutions and a first order asymptotic expansion of solutions at the regular free boundary which is carried out in a follow-up article in the framework of $W^{1,p}$, $p>2(n+1)$, regular coefficients.

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arXiv2015

Higher regularity of the free boundary in the elliptic Signorini problem

In this paper we study the higher regularity of the free boundary for the elliptic Signorini problem. By using a partial hodograph-Legendre transformation we show that the regular part of the free boundary is real analytic. The first complication in the study is the invertibility of the hodograph transform (which is only $C^{0,1/2}$) which can be overcome by studying the precise asymptotic behavior of the solutions near regular free boundary points. The second and main complication in the study is that the equation satisfied by the Legendre transform is degenerate. However, the equation has a subelliptic structure and can be viewed as a perturbation of the Baouendi-Grushin operator. By using the $L^p$ theory available for that operator, we can bootstrap the regularity of the Legendre transform up to real analyticity, which imples the real analyticity of the free boundary.

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