Asymptotic profiles for the Kirchhoff equation (Q2460788)

This paper considers the Cauchy problem for the Kirchoff equation \[ \begin{cases} u_{tt} - \Delta u \Big( 1 + \int_{\mathbb R^n} |\nabla u|^2\,dx \Big) = 0 \\ u(x,0) = u_0 (x), \quad u_t (0,x) = u_1 (x), \quad x \in \mathbb R^n\end{cases} \] defined on the whole space \(\mathbb R^n\). The existence of global in time solutions for small initial data \(u_0(x)\), \(u_1(x) \) of low regularity, belonging to a certain class \(Y_k\), \(k > 1\) (\( k\) measures the spatial decay rate), was proved in \textit{T. Yamazaki} [J. Differ. Equ. 143, No. 1, 1--59 (1998; Zbl 0895.35067)]; in that paper Yamazaki also proved that, if \(k > 2 \), the solution \(u(t,x)\) is asymptotically free, i.e. it converges to some solution of a linear wave equation with constant coefficients. In the present paper it is shown that, if \(1<k\leq 2\), there exists a solution of the Kirchhoff equation which is not asymptotically free. The proof is based on an asymptotic expansion of an oscillatory integral associated with the Kirchhoff equation.