Solutions in the large for certain nonlinear parabolic systems (Q1066355)

The authors prove the global existence of smooth solutions for certain parabolic systems of the form \((1)\quad u_ t+f(u)_ x=Du_{xx},\) with initial data \((2)\quad u(x,0)=u_ 0(x);\) u and f are vectors and D a constant, diagonazible matrix with positive eigenvalues. It is assumed that f is defined in a ball of radius r centered at a fixed vector \(\bar u,\) and the existence of a local solution is obtained. These local solutions are then extended globally under the assumption that there is a suitable entropy-entropy flux pair for (1). The corresponding existence theorems are developed. The results are shown to be applicable to the equations of (nonisentropic) gas dynamics, including a result which shows that for the Navier-Stokes equations for compressible flow, smoothing of initial discontinuities must occur for the velocity and energy, but cannot occur for the density. A brief survey of the literature is also given.