The obstacle problem for the porous medium equation (Q500264)

The obstacle problem for the porous medium equation \[ {\partial u\over\partial t}= \Delta(|u|^{m-1} u) \] is considered in a domain \(\Omega\times (0,T)\), \(\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n\). Here, \(m>1\) or sometimes \(1-2/n<m<1\), \(n\geq 2\). The solution \(u= u(x,t)\) is required to stay above an obstacle \(\psi= \psi(x,t)\), i.e., \(u\geq\psi\). Two kinds of solutions are introduced, called ``string solutions'' and ``weak solutions'' by the authors. In fact, both are defined through a variational inequality with test functions under the integral sign. The existence is proved for both kinds of solutions of the obstacle problem. The time derivative \(\psi_t\) is decisive. The ``strong solutions'' are shown to be locally Hölder continuous. (The difficult question of uniqueness is not treated.) An interesting pendigation method is employed. Also, the stability with respect to perturbations of the obstacle plays a central role.