Spectra of functionalized operators arising from hypersurfaces (Q2355741)

In the paper under review, the authors investigate the spectra of functionalized operators. Functionalized energies model phase separation in amphiphilic systems. An example is delivered by the functionalized Cahn-Hilliard energy \[ \mathcal{E}_F[u]\equiv \int_{\Omega}\frac{1}{2}\bigg(-\epsilon \Delta u+\frac{1}{\epsilon} W'(u)\bigg)^2-\epsilon \eta \bigg(\frac{\epsilon}{2} |\nabla u|^2+\frac{1}{\epsilon} W(u)\bigg)\, dx \, , \] which balances the square of the variational derivative of the Cahn-Hilliard energy \[ \mathcal{E}[u]\equiv \int_{\Omega}\bigg(\frac{\epsilon}{2} |\nabla u|^2+\frac{1}{\epsilon} W(u)\bigg)\, dx \, , \] against a small multiple of \(\mathcal{E}[u]\). A functionalized operator is obtained by evaluating the second variation of the functionalized energy at a bilayer interface. The authors characterize the center-unstable spectra of functionalized operators and obtain resolvent estimates to the operators associated with gradient flows of the functionalized energies.