Space-time \(L^{2}\) estimates, regularity and almost global existence for elastic waves (Q1791237)

In this paper, the authors first establish a kind of weighted space-time \(L^2\) estimate, which belongs to Keel-Smith-Sogge type estimates, for perturbed linear elastic wave equations. This estimate refines the corresponding one established by the second author [J. Differ. Equations 263, No. 4, 1947--1965 (2017; Zbl 1368.35050)] and is proved by combining the methods in the former paper, the first author et al. [Adv. Differ. Equ. 17, No. 3--4, 267--306 (2012; Zbl 1269.35019)], and some new ingredients. Then together with some weighted Sobolev inequalities, this estimate is used to show a refined version of almost global existence of classical solutions for nonlinear elastic waves with small initial data. Compared with former almost global existence results for nonlinear elastic waves due to \textit{F. John} [Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 41, No. 5, 615--666 (1988; Zbl 0635.35066)], \textit{S. Klainerman} and \textit{T. C. Sideris} [Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 49, No. 3, 307--322 (1996; Zbl 0867.35064)], the main innovation of the authors' one is that it considerably improves the amount of regularity of initial data, i.e., the Sobolev regularity of initial data is assumed to be the smallest among all the admissible Sobolev spaces of integer order in the standard local existence theory. Finally, in the radially symmetric case, the authors establish the almost global existence of a low regularity solution for every small initial data in \(H^3\times H^2\).