Viscosity solutions of two-phase free boundary problems for elliptic and parabolic operators (Q2910076)

The author gives an overview of two-phase free boundary problems of the Alt-Caffarelli type. This problem generally consists of the two phases \(\{u> 0\}\) and \(\{u\leq 0\}^\circ\) (two open sets) in which an elliptic or parabolic equation holds, and of a transition condition across the free boundary \(\partial\{u> 0\}\). In the simplest case the problem is NEWLINE\[NEWLINE\Delta u= 0,\;|\nabla u^+|^2-|\nabla u^-|^2= \Lambda\neq 0\text{ across }\partial\{u> 0\}.NEWLINE\]NEWLINE This problem was treated by \textit{H. W. Alt}, \textit{L. A. Caffarelli} and \textit{A. Friedman} [Ann. Sc. Norm. Super. Pisa, Cl. Sci., IV. Ser. 11, 1--44 (1984; Zbl 0554.35129)]. The main properties of interest are 1) the existence, 2) the optimal regularity of the solution, and 3) the regularity of the free boundary. For the general case uniqueness is not to be expected.NEWLINENEWLINE For more general operators and more general transition conditions the equations have to be interpreted in the viscosity sense.NEWLINENEWLINE The history of the problem is presented together with some recent progress, where the focus lies on more general nonlinear operators and more general types of jump conditions across the boundary. The author also gives examples of several fascinating open problems.