On the evolution of large clusters in the Becker-Döring model (Q1402395)

The convergence of a sequence of suitably rescaled solutions to the Becker-Döring equations towards a solution of the Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner equation is established, thereby extending and providing a rigorous proof of formal arguments originally developed by \textit{O.~Penrose} [The Becker-Döring equations at large times and their connection with the LSW theory of coarsening'', J. Stat. Phys. 89, 305--320 (1997; Zbl 0945.82536)], in a particular case. Recall that the Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner equation is a nonlocal nonlinear transport equation which describes the late stages of coarsening (Ostwald ripening) while the Becker-Döring equations is an infinite system of ordinary differential equations describing the dynamics of cluster formation when the clusters grow by either gaining or shedding one particle. Denoting by \(c_i(t)\) the concentration of clusters of size \(i\geq 1\) at time \(t\geq 0\), the Becker-Döring equations read \[ {dc_1\over dt} = - J_1 - \sum_{k=1}^\infty J_k\,, \quad {dc_i\over dt} = J_{i-1} - J_i\,, \quad i\geq 2\,, \] where \(J_i=a_i\;c_1\;c_i - b_{i+1}\;c_{i+1}\), \(a_i=i^\alpha\) for some \(\alpha\in [0,1)\) and \(b_i = a_i\;( z_s + q\;i^{-\gamma})\) for some \(z_s>0\), \(q>0\) and \(\gamma\in (0,1)\), \(i\geq 1\). Introduce now a new time scale \(\tau=\varepsilon t\) where \(\varepsilon\) is a small parameter, and set \(c_1(t)= z_s + \varepsilon^\gamma\;u^\varepsilon(\tau)\), \(c_i(t) = \varepsilon^2\;\nu^\varepsilon(\lambda,\tau)\), \(J_i(t) = \varepsilon^{2+\alpha-\gamma}\;v^\varepsilon(\lambda,\tau)\) for \(\lambda=\varepsilon i\) and \(i\geq -\ln{\varepsilon}\). Letting \(\varepsilon\to 0\) and treating \(\lambda\) as a continuous parameter in \((0,+\infty)\), it is shown that \((\nu^\varepsilon,v^\varepsilon,u^\varepsilon)\) converge to a measure-valued solution \((\nu,v,u)\) of the Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner equation \(\partial_\tau \nu + \partial_\lambda v = 0\) with \(v=\lambda^\alpha\;(u - q\;\lambda^{-\gamma})\;\nu\) and \[ \int_0^\infty \lambda^\alpha\;d\nu(\lambda,\tau)\;u(\tau) = \int_0^\infty \lambda^{\alpha-\gamma}\;d\nu(\lambda,\tau)\,, \] provided that the sequence of initial data \((\lambda\;\nu^\varepsilon(\lambda,0))\) is tight on \((0,+\infty)\). Higher-order expansions with respect to \(\varepsilon\) are also performed at a formal level and their relevance to the study of the large time behaviour of the Becker-Döring equations is discussed.