Parabolic differential equations and inequalities with several time variables (Q1088060)

A theory of linear differential inequalities corresponding to the equation \[ \sum^{m}_{i=1}d_ i(t,x)u_{t_ i}=\sum^{n}_{j,k=1}a_{jk}(t,x)u_{x_ jx_ k}+\sum^{n}_{j=1}b_ j(t,x)u_{x_ j}+c(t,x)u, \] abbreviated by \(du_ t=au_{xx}+bu_ x+cu\), is presented. The equation is considered in the set \(\bar G=\bar D\times {\bar \Omega}\subset R^{m+n}\), where D and \(\Omega\) are open domains in \(R^ m\) and \(R^ n\) respectively. \(\bar G\setminus G\) is denoted by \(\Gamma\). In suitable hypotheses on \(a_{jk}\) and \(d_ i\) the following results are proved: (A) \(dw_ t>aw_{xx}+bw_ x+cw\) in G and \(w>0\) on \(\Gamma\) implies \(w>0\) in G, if G is bounded. (B) \(dw_ t\geq aw_{xx}+bw_ x+cw\) in G and \(w\geq 0\) on \(\Gamma\) implies \(w\geq 0\) on \(\bar G,\) if sup c\(<\infty\), inf \(\sum d_ i>0\), and G is bounded. (C) Proposition (B) holds for unbounded G, if there exist positive constants \(\alpha\),k such that \(| w(t,x)| \leq k\ell^{kx^ 2}| a_{jk}| \leq K\), \(c\leq k(1+x^ 2)\), \(\sum d_ i\geq \alpha\) and if \(t_ 1+...+t_ n\) is bounded below for (t,x)\(\in \bar G.\) As an immediate consequence of (B) and (C), two-uniqueness theorems are obtained. These theorems allow applications to the qualitative behavior of quasilinear parabolic equations in the case \(m=1\).