Singular perturbations of finite dimensional gradient flows (Q2470845)

Consider the problem \[ \nabla_{x} f(t, u(t)) = 0, \] where \(f: [0,T] \times X \to \mathbb{R} \) is a time-dependent energy function, \(X\) is a Banach space, together with the perturbed problem \[ \varepsilon \dot u_{\varepsilon} (t) +\nabla_{x} f(t, u_\varepsilon(t)) = 0, \] which is a gradient flow problem. In order to obtain the existence of a quasistatic evolution, the limit as \(\varepsilon \to 0\) is analyzed. The aim is to prove that under a very general assumption on the functional \(f\) the solution \(u_{\varepsilon} (t)\) converges to the evolution obtained by connecting the limit function \(u(t)\) solving the unperturbed problem, through some heteroclinic solutions of the gradient flow. Moreover, \(u(t)\) may admit some discontinuity times, while the approximating solutions \(u_{\varepsilon} (t)\) are always continuous.