Droplet spreading under weak slippage: The optimal asymptotic propagation rate in the multi-dimensional case. (Q1613199)

Summary: We prove optimal estimates on the growth rate of the support of solutions to the thin-film equation \(u_t+\text{div}(|u|^n \nabla\Delta u)=0\) in space dimensions \(N=2\) and \(N=3\) for parameters \(n\in[2,3)\) which correspond to Navier's slip condition \((n=2)\) or certain variants modeling weaker slippage effects. Our approach relies on a new class of weighted energy estiates. It is inspired by the one-dimensional technique of \textit{J. Hulshof} and \textit{A. E. Shishkov}, [Adv. Differ. Equ. 3, No. 5, 625--642 (1998; Zbl 0953.35072)], and it simplifies their method, mainly with respect to basic integral estimates to be used.