A gradient flow for the \(p\)-elastic energy defined on closed planar curves (Q2200784)

The evolution of closed inextensible (both length and speed are constant) curves in a plane are studied under a second order flow that decreases the \(p\)-elastic energy \[ E_p(\gamma)=\frac 1p\int_\gamma \left|\frac{\partial T}{\partial s}\right|^pds,\quad 1<p<\infty. \] A short time existence is obtained. Under some assumptions on the initial data, also uniqueness holds for \(p>2\). In the case \(p=2\) stronger results are deduced. In particular, the evolution of the Lagrangian multipliers has to be controlled in the proofs. A discretization procedure is also employed.