Initial traces of solutions to a one-phase Stefan problem in an infinite strip (Q1261166)

The authors consider the one-phase Stefan problem \[ u_ t- \Delta(u- 1)_ +=0 \quad \text{in} \quad \mathbb{R}^ N\times (0,T), \tag{1} \] \(N\geq 1\), \(T>0\), where \(S_ += \max(S,0)\). Here, \(u\) is the enthalpy, \((u- 1)_ +\) the temperature, and \(u=1\) the critical temperature of change of phase (after rescaling). Note that no initial datum for \(t=0\) is prescribed a priori. By definition, \(u\) is a solution to (1) if \(u\in L_{\text{loc}}^ 1 (\mathbb{R}^ N\times (0,T))\) and \(u\) satisfies (1) in the sense of distributions. The solution \(u\) is also assumed to be nonnegative. The authors prove additional regularity for \(u\), above using on previous results of themselves and of others. E.g., they show that \((u-1)_ +\) is continuous in \(\mathbb{R}^ N\times (0,T)\), \((u-1)_ +\in W_{2,\text{loc}}^{1,1} (\mathbb{R}^ N\times (0,T))\) and that \(u\in C(0,T;L_{\text{loc}}^ 1(\mathbb{R}^ N))\). The main result in the paper is the a priori estimate, valid for any solution as above, \[ \int_{\mathbb{R}^ N} u(x,t) e^{-| x|^ 2/(T-t)} dx\leq M(N,T,u)<+\infty, \qquad 0<t<T/2.\tag{2} \] Estimate (2) implies that the maximal growth of \(u\), as \(| x|\to+\infty\), is the same as the one of nonnegative solutions to the standard heat equation, i.e., \(u\sim\exp (C| x|^ 2)\), though, for instance, compactly supported solutions to (1) propagate with finite speed. Estimate (2) is shown to be optimal. The method of proof extends to the case of more general equations \(u_ t- L(u-1)_ +=0\), \(L\) linear elliptic operator, and it covers the case of \(u\geq -K\), \(K>0\). The authors infer from (2) several interesting consequences. First, they prove existence and uniqueness of an initial trace of \(u\) at \(t=0\) (such a trace is a locally finite measure in \(\mathbb{R}^ N\), fulfilling a growth condition similar to (2)). Then they derive the existence of a unique solution to the Cauchy problem for (1), under optimal assumptions on the initial datum. A comparison result for such solutions is also given. Finally, estimate (2) is shown to be valid in an \(L^ \infty\) sense, i.e., it is proved that \(u(x,t)\leq C(t) \exp\{C(t) | x|^ 2\}\), for \((x,t)\in \mathbb{R}^ N\times (0,T)\) and \(u\) as above.