On the existence, uniqueness and the stability of a solution to a cooling problem, for an isotropic 3-D solid (Q1774875)

The problem of an isotropic three dimensional solid at a fixed absolute temperature, placed in an environment of initially lower temperature is considered, i.e. there exists a heat flux between the body and the environment. The solid loses energy to the environment through radiation. There exists neither energy supply to the solid, nor production of energy in the solid. Heat conduction in the solid is assumed to be isotropic, and there is no heat conduction on the boundary tangential to the body surface. Air convection around the body is neglected. This model leads to a partial differential equation for the body temperature, subject to boundary conditions. The problem is reformulated as an implicit Cauchy problem. The operators in the implicit formulation are shown to be bounded, compact operators. The spatial derivative part is shown to be a positive operator. Existence of a solution of the problem then follows from the Leray-Schauder principle. Uniqueness of the solution is proved. Stability of the solution is investigated in terms of Lyapunov's theory, and negative eigenvalues of the corresponding differential operator are found. This implies that the equilibrium point is a sink, i.e. asymptotically stable and therefore stable.