The linear Kompaneets equation (Q1916799)

We consider the linear Kompaneets equation \[ {{\partial u}\over{\partial t}}={1\over {\beta(x)}} [\alpha(x)(u'+k(x)u)]' \] for \(0<x,t<\infty\). Here \({}'\) stands for \(\partial/\partial x\). The coefficients \(\alpha\), \(\beta\), \(k\) are continuous and \(\alpha\), \(\beta\) are strictly positive on the open interval \((0,\infty)\). No assumption is made about the coefficients at \(x=0\) or \(x=\infty\). The initial and boundary conditions are \[ u(0,x)=f(x), \qquad \alpha(x)[u'+ k(x)u]\to 0\quad\text{as }x\to 0,\infty. \] Let \(X_p= L^p((0,\infty); \beta(x)dx)\). Define \(A_p\) on \(X_p\) as follows: \(u\in\text{Dom} (A_p)\) iff \(u\in X_p\cap W^{2,p}_{\text{loc}}(0,\infty)\), \(\omega:=\alpha(u'+ k(x)u)\in W^{1,p}_{\text{loc}} (0,\infty)\), \(\omega(x)\to 0\) as \(x\to 0,\infty\), and \(A_pu:= (1/\beta(x))\omega'\in X_p\). The main result is the following: Suppose \(k\in C^1(0,\infty)\), \[ \int^\infty_0 \beta(x)\exp \Biggl[ -\int^x_1 k(s)ds\Biggr] dx<\infty. \] Then \(A_2\) is essentially \(m\)-dissipative on \(X_1=L^1((0,\infty), \beta(x)dx)\).