The initial-boundary value problem for a nonlinear degenerate parabolic equation (Q3978486)

The present paper is concerned with nonnegative solutions of the initial- boundary value problem \[ \begin{alignedat}{2} u_ t&=uu_{xx}-\lambda| u_ x|^ 2\quad&&(a<x<b, t>0), \\ u(a,t)&=u(b,t)=0\quad&&(t>0),\tag{P}\\u(x,0)&=u_ 0(x)\quad&&(a<x<b). \end{alignedat} \] Here, \(\lambda>0\), and \(u_ 0\) is assumed to satisfy the conditions (1) \(u_ 0\in W^{1,\infty}([a,b])\), \(u_ 0(x)\geq 0\) \((a\leq x\leq b)\), or (2) \(u_ 0\in L^ \infty([a,b])\), \(u_ 0(x)\geq 0\) a.e., \(\lim_{x\downarrow a}(u0(x)/(x-a)^ 2)<\infty\), \(\lim_{x\uparrow b}(u_ 0(x)/(b-x)^ 2)<\infty\). For problem (P), the global existence of (weak) solutions and the problem of uniqueness of solutions are investigated. In detail, for (P) with (1), the existence of at least one weak solution is established. Furthermore, for (P) with (2), there is proved the existence of at least one semiconcave weak solution having certain properties. This results in the statement of uniqueness for semiconcave weak solutions depending continuously in \(L^ 1(a,b)\) on the initial data.