Analysis of a variable time-step discretization for a phase transition model with micro-movements (Q2474773)

The system of one parabolic equation \(\dot\theta+\theta\dot\chi-\Delta\theta=0\) and one parabolic inclusion \(\dot\chi+\alpha(\dot\chi)-\Delta\chi+\beta(\chi)\ni\theta-\theta_c\) is investigated on a bounded domain \(\Omega\) in \(\mathbb R^n\), \(n\leq3\), assuming that \(\alpha\) is a maximal monotone graph on \(\mathbb R\times\mathbb R\), \(\beta\) is monotone and locally Lipschitz continuous, and \(\theta_c\) is a positive constant. This system may describe a solid-liquid phase transition taking into account the microscopical movements of molecules. Initial-value problem on an interval \((0,T)\) and homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions are considered. Existence of a weak solution \((\theta,\chi)\in L^2(0,T;H^2(\Omega))\times L^\infty(0,T;H^2(\Omega))\) is got by a semi-implicit time discretization. In contrast to a fully implicit discretization, this semi-implicit one uses the right-hand side \(\theta-\theta_c\) from the previous time level, which decouples the discrete system that can be then solved easily by alternating recursively between the two equations, as was already suggested (for a less non-linear system) in Example 12.17 in [\textit{T. Roubíček}, Nonlinear partial differential equations with applications. Basel: Birkhäuser (2005; Zbl 1087.35002)]. Stability and convergence to a weak solution of the continuous problem is then shown.