On systems of Cahn-Hilliard and Allen-Cahn equations considered as gradient flows in Hilbert spaces (Q465416)

The paper under review studies a class of systems of Allen-Cahn and Cahn-Hilliard equations as gradient flows in Hilbert spaces (given by Lebesgue or Sobolev spaces) with densely defined Riemannian metrics. These spaces are referred to as \textit{entropy spaces}. The abstract gradient flow has the form \[ \partial_t u +\nabla_{l,u}S(u)\ni f, \] where \(S\) is a (possibly non-convex) lower semicontinuous \textit{entropy} functional on a Hilbert space, \(\nabla_{l,u}\) denotes the limiting subgradient with respect to a densely defined Riemannian-type metric and \(f\) has sufficient integrability properties. The results rely highly on the techniques developed by \textit{R. Rossi} and \textit{G. Savaré} [ESAIM, Control Optim. Calc. Var. 12, 564--614 (2006; Zbl 1116.34048)], but there appear some original non-trivial steps in the analysis. The paper consists of 8 sections. After the introduction and recalling previous works and preliminary results, the main existence results are proved in Section 6. In the last two sections, the notion of maximum rate of entropy production for reaction-diffusion systems is also discussed in connection with the theory of curves of maximal slope. The paper contains a sufficient amount of physical insight as well, motivating the mathematical derivation of the studied systems.