Singular limit of the porous medium equation with a drift (Q2419276)

A diffusion equation is studied, containing a nonlinear term which could represent an anti-congestion effect in biological aggregation problems (tumor growth) and population dynamics. An equivalent form is a ``continuity equation'' for the density. The pressure variable \(p_m\) is introduced, given as a function of the density and a parameter \(m\). The point is to study the limit case \(m \rightarrow \infty\). ``The limit problem can be interpreted as imposing a maximum value constraint on the density while it is transported by a vector field \({\overline {b}}\) and created by the source \(f\)'', which appear in the initial equation. When \(m \rightarrow \infty\), a free boundary problem appears, which describes the congested zone evolution. The condition \(f-\operatorname{div}({\overline{b}}) >0\) is imposed, involving some monotonicity properties of the limit density. The limit of the (positive) pressure variable verifies a quasi-static Hele-Shaw-type problem, depending on the expected limit density outside of the congested zone. The viscosity solutions theory, described also in [\textit{I. Kim} and \textit{N. Požár}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 370, No. 2, 873--909 (2018; Zbl 1392.92039)] is used to get the main elements of the convergence and existence results. The new elements of the paper are concerning some monotonicity properties of the limit problem, compared with the zero drift case. The local \(BV\) regularity of the congested zone is studied in the last part, by using some results obtained in [\textit{I. C. Kim}, Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 168, No. 4, 299--328 (2003; Zbl 1044.76019)], but only in the case when the external density is bounded (above) by 1. A list of very interesting open problems is given in the last part of Introduction.