Well-posedness results for phase field systems with memory effects in the order parameter dynamics (Q1812324)

The paper deals with two models arising in phase transition dynamics. These models are characterized by two systems containing the pair \((\theta,\chi)\), where \(\theta\) is the (relative) temperature and \(\chi\) is the order parameter or phase field. These systems involve the partial differential equations \[ w=-\nu \Delta \chi +\beta (\chi)+\sigma'(\chi)- \lambda'(\chi)\theta,\quad \text{in } \Omega \times (0,\infty), \] \[ \partial_t(\theta +\lambda (\chi))-r_0\Delta \theta =h,\quad \text{in } Q=\Omega \times (0,T), \] with certain initial and boundary conditions and integro partial-differential equations of the forms \[ \mu \partial_t \chi +k\ast w=g\quad \text{in }Q, \qquad g(t)=-\int^{0}_{-\infty}k(t-s)\overline w (s) ds, \] and \[ \mu \partial_t \chi -\Delta (k\ast w)=g\quad \text{in } Q, \qquad g(t)=\int^{0}_{-\infty}k(t-s)\Delta \overline w (s) ds, \] respectively. Here \(\Omega\) is smooth domain in \({\mathbb R}^{N}\) \((N\leq 3)\), \(\nu\), \(\mu\) and \(r_0\) are given constants, and \(\lambda\), \(h\) and \(k\) are some known functions. The problems under consideration represent non-conserved and conserved problems, respectively. Conditions are given, when there exists a solution of these problems, and some estimates for \(\theta \) and \(\chi\) are obtained. Note that similar results for the nonconcerved problem were established by \textit{M. Grasselli} and \textit{H. G. Rotstein} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 261, 205-230 (2001; Zbl 0988.35117)] under more weak conditions on \(\lambda\).