Singularities of the curve shrinking flow for space curves (Q1179972)

The author studies the curve shortening flow \(\partial\gamma/\partial t=k\cdot N\) for a closed space curve where \(k\) is the curvature and \(N\) the principal normal of the curve. The existence of the flow for small time intervals has been shown in the work of \textit{M. Gage} and \textit{R. S. Hamilton} [J. Differ. Geom. 23, 69-96 (1986; Zbl 0621.53001)]. Here the asymptotic behaviour of the solution of finite maximal time intervals is investigated. Let \(S^ 1\times [0,\omega]\) be the maximal domain where \(\gamma\) can be defined. Then two types of singularities develop asymptotically. The first one occurs in the case when \(\lim_{t\to \omega}\| k^ 2(\cdot,t)\|_ \infty(w-t)\) is bounded. In this case \(\gamma\) is asymptotic to a planar solution which is moving by homothety [see \textit{U. Abresch} and \textit{J. Langer}, J. Differ. Geom. 23, 175-196 (1986; Zbl 0592.53002)]. If this quantity is not bounded, then there exists a sequence of points and times \((p_ n,t_ n)\), \(n\in \mathbb{N}\), on which the curvature blows up such that (1) a rescaling of the solution along this sequence (made more precise in the paper) converges \(C^ \infty\) to a planar, convex limiting solution \(\gamma_ \infty\) and (2) \(\gamma_ \infty\) is a solution which moves by translation.