Some variational inequalities for age-dependent population dynamics (Q1175660)

This paper discusses a model for age-dependent population diffusion proposed by M. E. Gurtin in 1973. The dynamics of the population is described by the density of the individuals at time \(t\), of age \(a\) and at position \(x\), and is submitted to an external constraint. This paper is related to the author's earlier paper, Japan J. Appl. Math. 5, No. 2, 225-256 (1988; Zbl 0663.92013). The author's purpose is to exemplify the application of the results in the previous paper in the case when the rate of mortality has a divergency property at maximal age. Mixed-type boundary conditions on the time- and age-dependent parts of the boundary are prescribed. A variational formulation of the model is considered and the problem is treated by means of subdifferential operator theory. Existence and uniqueness of nonnegative solutions is proved.