Parabolic equations with nonlocal nonlinear source (Q1920821)

This paper deals with the well-posedness and properties of the Cauchy problem for the integro-differential equation \[ u_t-\Delta u+\mu u=\int^t_0 K(x,t,\tau)g(u(x,\tau))d\sigma+f(x,t),\;x\in\mathbb{R}^n,\;t>0,\;u(x,0)=u_0(x). \] Rather lengthy, but natural in view of the subsequent proofs, assumptions are made on \(K\). A typical theorem is that in the case \(f(x,t)=0\), \(0\leq g(\zeta)\leq M_0\zeta^p\), \(p>1\), with \(g(0)=0\), \(g'(\zeta)\geq 0\) for \(\zeta\geq 0\), \(0\leq u_0(x)\leq A(T_0+|x|^2)^{\lambda_1}\), \(\lambda_1=-(K+1)/(p-1)\) with \(K>-1\), the problem is well posed and \[ 0\leq u(x,t)\leq A[T_0+|x|^2]^{\lambda_1} \exp(k t). \] The proof is based on a comparison argument. Under other conditions, a theorem is proven to show that a solution cannot exist beyong a certain time. Remarks on generalizations are made. The paper is nicely written and the proofs are given in detail.