Classical solvability of linear parabolic equations on networks (Q1121448)

An application of the paper would be to consider the heat flow on a network of wires with a finite number of vertices and edges. The network termed a \(C^ v\) network consists of a connected topological graph, \(\Gamma\), in the Euclidean space, \(R^ n\), with n vertices, \(E=\{E_ i:\quad 1\leq i\leq n\}\) and N edges, \(K=\{k_ j:\quad 1\leq j\leq N\}.\) Each \(k_ j\) is assumed to be parametrized by its arc length parameter, \(x_ j\), and we assume that the parametrizations, \(\Pi_ j: [0,I_ j]\mapsto k_ j\) are v times differentiable. That is to say \(\Pi_ j\in C^ v([0,I_ j],\quad {\mathbb{R}}^ n),\) \(1\leq j\leq N\), \(v\geq 1\). The \(C^ v\) network G belong to \(\Gamma\) is the union, \(G=\cup^{N}_{j=1}k_ j\). Endowed with the induced topology, G is a connected and compact space in \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\). The principal result of the paper requires the differentiability of the parametrizations, \(\Pi_ j\), to be \(\geq 3.\) On the parametrized edges, \(k_ j\) of the network G the problem of the form \(L_ ju_ j=f_ j\) is considered with \[ L_ j=L_ j(x_ j,t,\partial /\partial x_ j,\partial /\partial t)=\partial /\partial t- A_ j(x_ j,t,\partial /\partial x_ j) \] and \[ A_ j(x_ j,t,\partial /\partial x_ j)=a_ j(x_ j,t)\partial^ 2/\partial x^ 2_ j+b_ j(x_ j,t)\partial /\partial x_ j+e_ j(x_ j,t). \] There are several additional requirements surrounding the \(C^ v\) network and in particular the interior vertices. Under all of the appropriate conditions the problem has a unique solution, \(u\in C^{2+\alpha,1+\alpha /2}(\Omega)\) where \(\Omega =G\times [0,T].\) That is to say on the \(C^ v\) network in the space variable and a closed real interval for the time variable. The result is proven by showing all of the technical problem requirements are equivalent to an initial boundary value problem. The paper then develops several elementary network operations and their influence on the parabolic problem. The formulation of the problem and the presentation of the proof are exceptionally well organized and extremely precise in every regard. I recommend the paper for the person wishing to learn about recent accomplishments in this area.