The focusing problem for the porous medium equation: experiment, simulation and analysis (Q272699)

The initial value problem for the porous medium equation with ``slow'' diffusion is considered with the initial data supported outside a compact empty region. The question is how the flows eventually fill this empty region. Experimental studies of convergent gravity flows, self-similar solutions discovered by J. Graveleau (and studied by D. G. Aronson), and the global regularity theory of L. Caffarelli, J. L. Vázquez and N. Wolanski for the porous medium equation are the origins of that ``focusing problem''. The author presents a comprehensive survey of the current state of the experiments, numerical simulations in various geometries and the analytic studies of this problem. The numerical studies involve innovative renormalization techniques and supply raw material for the analysis.