Finite time blow-up for the harmonic map heat flow (Q1315045)

The following system is considered: \[ u_ t- \Delta u=u |\nabla u|^ 2, \quad u(\cdot, 0)= u_ 0(\cdot), \quad u(\cdot,t)|_{\partial B^ 3}= \varphi(\cdot), \tag{1} \] where \(u: B^ 3\to S^ 2\), \(B^ 3\) is the three-dimensional ball, \(S^ 2\) is the two-sphere. It is said that the solution of the system (1) blows up at \(t=T\) if \(\limsup_{t\to T^ -} \|\nabla u(\cdot,t)\|_ \infty =\infty\). The following theorem is proved: Theorem. There exist regular axially symmetric initial and boundary data for which the solution to the harmonic heat flow (1) blows up in finite time.