Semigroups and nonlinear evolution equations (Q1092235)

This paper provides a survey of recent results of the author for parabolic partial differential equations with nonlinear boundary conditions. A particular class of equations known as strongly parabolic quasilinear reaction diffusion systems is treated. The approach of the author is to write these equations abstractly as \(\dot u+Au=F(u)\), \(0<t<\infty\), \({\mathcal B}u=G(u)\). The linear operator A is associated with infinitesimal generator of a strongly continuous analytic semigroup of linear operators. The author develops a generalized variation of constants formula for this semilinear equation and uses this formula to develop existence and uniqueness results. Under certain hypotheses it is proved that the integral equation arising from the generalized variation of parameters formula has a unique maximal solution and that these solutions form a semiflow in an appropriate space such that bounded orbits are relatively compact. The generality of the author's approach allows application to many classes of parabolic systems with nonlinear boundary conditions.