A Free Boundary Problem for Scalar Conservation Laws (Q4699182)

The following free boundary problem is investigated: \[ u_t+ f(u)_x= 0\text{ in }\Lambda \bigl(s(\cdot), T\bigr),\quad u(x,0)= u_0(x)\text{ in }\mathbb{R}^+ \times\{0\}, \] \[ s'(t)=K\biggl(u\bigl(s(t) \bigr), t,s(t)\biggr),\quad s(0) =0 \] where \(f,K,u_0\) are given and \(u,s\) must be determined, and \[ \Lambda \bigl(s(\cdot), T\bigr): =\bigl\{(x,t)\in\mathbb{R}\times (0,T):\;0\leq t\leq T,\;s(t)<x \bigr\}. \] At first, the existence of regular solutions \((s,u)\) is proved under some assumptions on \(f,K,u_0\). Secondly, using a criterion of physical admissibility the uniqueness of the solution is obtained. Next, this problem is redefined as the weak entropy problem. Finally, existence, uniqueness, continuous dependence, comparison properties of entropy solutions for a large class of initial data are proved in the space \(BV(\mathbb{R}^+)\). In this problem the boundary condition is only satisfied as a compatibility condition. This type of problems describes the so-called ion etching and the situation when different materials with different ``sputtering functions'' are masked together.