Gobal existence for a thermodynamically consistent model of phase field type (Q1198682)

The paper is concerned with the initial boundary value problem of phase field type that reads as \[ \varphi_ t=K_ 1\varphi_{xx} +\varphi- \varphi^ 3+ {{a\varphi} \over \theta}, \qquad \theta_ t- a\varphi\varphi_ t =-K_ 2(1/\theta)_{xx}, \] in a one space dimensional setting (i.e. in \((0,1)\times (0,\infty))\) together with Neumann boundary conditions and initial conditions on the unknown fields \(\varphi\) and \(\theta\). The author proves global existence and uniqueness of a classical solution to the above system (under a classical compatibility condition on the initial and boundary condition). These results are achieved through the change of unknown \(u=(1/\theta)\) and through estimates of \(u\) and \(\theta\) from above. Then a priori estimates on \(u\) and \(\varphi\) permit to extend a unique local solution to a global one. At last since the system admits a Lyapunov functional the \(\omega\)-limit set \(\omega(\theta_ 0,\varphi_ 0)\) is a connected compact subset of \(H^ 2\times H^ 1\) which consists of the equilibria.