On the finite-time splash and splat singularities for the 3-D free-surface Euler equations (Q393702)

The authors prove that the 3-D free-surface incompressible Euler equations with regular initial geometries and velocity fields have solutions which can form a finite-time ``splash'' (or ``splat'') singularity first introduced by \textit{A. Castro} et al. [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 109, No. 3, 733--738 (2012; Zbl 1256.76018)], wherein the evolving 2-D hypersurface, the moving boundary of the fluid domain, self-intersects at a point (or on surface). Such singularities can occur when the crest of a breaking wave falls unto its trough, or in the study of drop impact upon liquid surfaces. The authors approach is founded upon the Lagrangian description of the free-boundary problem, combined with a novel approximation scheme of a finite collection of local coordinate charts; as such a rather general set of geometries for the evolving 2-D free-surface of the fluid is analyzed. It is not assumed that the fluid is irrotational, and as such, this method can be used for a number of other fluid interface problems, including compressible flows, plasmas, as well as the inclusion of surface tension effects. Most of the proofs use Sobolev space technique.