The first initial-boundary value problem for fully nonlinear parabolic equations generated by functions of the eigenvalues of the Hessian (Q2465892)

The author investigates the first initial-boundary value problem for nonlinear parabolic equations of the form \[ \begin{aligned} -D_t u + f(\lambda(D^2u+\sigma)) &= \psi(x,t) \quad\text{in }\Omega\times (0,T],\\ u&=\varphi(x,t) \quad\text{on }\partial\Omega\times (0,T] \cup \overline\Omega\times\{t=0\}. \end{aligned} \] Here \(\Omega\) is a smooth bounded domain in \({\mathbb R}^n\), \(T>0\), \(\psi\) and \(\varphi\) are smooth functions on \(\overline\Omega\times[0,T]\), \(\sigma\) is a smooth symmetric \(n\times n\) matrix-valued function on \(\overline\Omega\times [0,T]\), \(\lambda(D^2u+\sigma)\) denotes the vector of eigenvalues of \(D^2u+\sigma\), and \(f\) is a suitable symmetric function defined on a convex cone \(\Gamma\subset{\mathbb R}^n\), \(\Gamma\neq {\mathbb R}^n\), with vertex at the origin. Elliptic analogues of these equations were studied by \textit{L.~Caffarelli, L.~Nirenberg} and \textit{J.~Spruck} [Acta Math. 155, 261--301 (1985; Zbl 0654.35031)] and \textit{N. M.~Ivochkina} [Math. USSR, Sb. 56, 403--415 (1987); translation from Mat. Sb., Nov. Ser. 128(170), No. 3, 403--415 (1985; Zbl 0609.35042)] in the case \(\sigma\equiv 0\), while the case of general \(\sigma(x)\) was considered by \textit{Y.~Li} [Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 43, No. 2, 233--271 (1990; Zbl 0705.35038)]. In the parabolic setting with \(\sigma\equiv 0\), the problem was studied by \textit{N. M.~Ivochkina} and \textit{O. A.~Ladyzhenskaya} [J. Math. Sci., New York 87, No. 2, 3353--3365 (1997); translation from Zap. Nauchn. Semin. POMI 221, 127--144 (1995; Zbl 0927.35047)] for \(f\) satisfying the same conditions as in the paper of Caffarelli, Nirenberg and Spruck. The main result here is a general existence and uniqueness theorem for the same class of functions \(f\), with nonzero \(\sigma\), and with the data satisfying certain regularity and structure conditions. As usual, the proof uses the continuity method and relies on the derivation of a priori estimates for solutions and their derivatives up to second order. The presence of \(\sigma\) in the equation introduces some technical difficulties which the author overcomes by using Weyl's theorem on the eigenvalues of symmetric matrices.