On the Cauchy problem for a degenerate parabolic equation (Q5949161)

The author studies the global existence and uniqueness of positive solutions of \[ u_t =f(u)\Delta u \quad\text{in } {\mathbb R}^n\times(0,\infty),\qquad u(\cdot,0)=u_0, \] where \(f\) is continuous on \([0,\infty)\), continuously differentiable on \((0,\infty)\), \(f(s)>0\) for \(s>0\) and \(f(0)=0\). Moreover, \(u_0\) is assumed to be bounded, continuous and positive. It is established under additional hypotheses that global existence and convergence to zero as \(t\to\infty\) follows in the case that \(u_0\) vanishes at \(\infty\). Estimates from above are obtained for the decay rate.