Global, decaying solutions of a focusing energy-critical heat equation in \(\mathbb{R}^4\) (Q1701867)

The paper deals with the Cauchy problem for the focusing, energy-critical nonlinear heat equation in four space dimensions \[ \begin{cases} u_t=\Delta u+|u|^2u,\\ u(0,x)=u_0(x)\in \dot{H}^1(\mathbb{R}^4) \end{cases} \] for complex-valued \(u(t,x)\) and initial data taken in the energy space \[ \dot{H}^1(\mathbb{R}^4)=\left\{u\in L^4(\mathbb{R}^4;\mathbb{C}):\quad \|u\|^2_{\dot{H}^1(\mathbb{R}^4)}=\int_{\mathbb{R}^4}|\nabla u|^2\;dx<\infty\right\}. \] By means of the ``concentration-compactness plus rigidity'' technique of \textit{C. E. Kenig} and \textit{F. Merle} [Invent. Math. 166, No. 3, 645--675 (2006; Zbl 1115.35125); Acta Math. 201, No. 2, 147--212 (2008; Zbl 1183.35202)] the authors show that solutions emanating from initial data with energy and \(\dot{H}^1(\mathbb{R}^4)\)-norm below those of the stationary solution are global and decay to zero. Precisely, such global solutions are first shown to dissipate to zero by employing a refinement of the small data theory and \(L^2\)-dissipation relations. Then, finite-time blow-up is obtained via the backwards-uniqueness of Escauriaza-Seregin-Šverák [J. Math. Sci., New York 123, No. 6, 4577--4579 (2004; Zbl 1068.35090); Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 169, No. 2, 147--157 (2003; Zbl 1039.35052)].