No label defined (Q4263221)

The evolution of the height of interface \(u\) between salt and fresh water in underground aquifers can be modelled by the equation \(\rho(x) u_t= \text{div}(u(1-u) \nabla u)\) for \((x,t)\in \mathbb{R}^N\times \mathbb{R}^+\), where the density \(\rho:\mathbb{R}^N \to\mathbb{R}^+\) depends on the porosity and permeability of the aquifer, the viscosity of water, and the density difference between salt and fresh water. Here the authors investigate the influence of the variation of \(\rho\) on the qualitative behaviour of solutions of the above equation. More precisely, they prove that 1) if \(\rho\in L^1(\mathbb{R}^N)\), then the solutions with finite mass do not decrease to 0 as \(t\to\infty\), but converge to a constant value; 2) for appropriate functions \(\rho\), the interface between sets \(\{u=0\}\), \(\{0<u<1\}\), and \(\{u=1\}\) disappears in finite time. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0919.00052].