Optimal critical mass for the two-dimensional Keller-Segel model with rotational flux terms (Q2658903)

This paper is devoted to the Cauchy problem for a generalised parabolic-elliptic Keller-Segel system in \(\mathbb R^2\): \[ \begin{cases} \partial_t\rho=\Delta\rho-\chi\nabla\cdot(\rho A\nabla c),&x\in\mathbb R^2,\ t>0,\\ -\Delta c=\rho,&x\in\mathbb R^2,\ t>0, \\ \rho(x,0)=\rho_0(x),&x\in\mathbb R^2, \end{cases} \tag{1} \] where \(\chi>0\) is a constant and \(A\) is a constant rotational matrix: \[A:=\left(\begin{matrix} \cos\alpha&-\sin\alpha\\ \sin\alpha&\cos\alpha \end{matrix}\right) \] for some \(\alpha\in(-\pi,\pi]\). It is shown that some important models arising in mathematical biology, fluid dynamics, and electrokinetics are particular cases of system (1). The main result, Theorem 1.1, extends an earlier result on the global existence vs. blow up of the so-called free-energy solutions for \(\alpha=0\) [\textit{A. Blanchet} et al., Electron. J. Differ. Equ. 2006, Paper No. 44, 33 p. (2006; Zbl 1112.35023)] to an arbitrary angle \(\alpha\). It is proved that for \(\alpha\in\left(-\frac\pi2,\frac\pi2\right)\) there is a critical mass \(\frac{8\pi}{\chi\cos\alpha}\): for smaller values of \(\int_{\mathbb R^2}\rho_0(x)\,dx\) the solution exists globally in time, while a blow-up in finite time occurs for values larger than the critical mass. For \(\alpha\in\left(-\pi,\frac\pi2\right]\cup\left[\frac\pi2,\pi\right]\) the Theorem ensures that the free-energy solutions always exist globally in time. The key ingredient of the proof is the observation that for any angle of rotation \(\alpha\in(-\pi,\pi]\) system (1) possesses a dissipative energy structure. This property also motivates the derivation of the system via an energetic variational approach.