A sharp interface limit of the phase field equations: one-dimensional and axisymmetric (Q4340595)

The main interest of the author concerns the system of two phase-field equations \[ \alpha\epsilon\partial_t\phi-\epsilon\Delta\phi+ {{\sigma^2}\over\epsilon}f'(\phi)-2u=0, \quad \partial_tu+{l\over 2}\partial_t\phi-\Delta u=0. \] There are considered two cases: either the space dimension is 1 and then \(\epsilon\) tends to zero; or the solutions are radially symmetric and then both \(\epsilon\) and \(\alpha\) tend to zero. It turns out that, in the first case, the limiting functions solve the Stefan problem with kinetic undercooling, provided the initial temperature is small compared to the surface tension and the latent heat. In the second case, the limiting functions satisfy the Stefan problem coupled with the Gibbs-Thompson law for the melting temperature. The main tool of analysis is energy type estimates. Some kind of formal first-order asymptotic expansion with respect to \(\epsilon\) is constructed. In fact, it gives an approximation of the exact solution. All results hold without smoothness assumptions on the limiting Stefan problem. This paper is a condensed version of the author's doctoral thesis.