Interface foliation near minimal submanifolds in Riemannian manifolds with positive Ricci curvature (Q602047)

The Allen-Cahn equation models two phases \(+1\) and \(-1\) of a material by a real function \(u\) that is a critical point of the \(\varepsilon \)-regularized energy \(\int_\Omega({\varepsilon\over2}|\nabla u|^2+{1\over4\varepsilon} (1-u^2)^2)\,dx\), the Euler-Lagrange equation being \(\varepsilon^2\Delta u+ (1-u^2)u=0\). In the paper, this equation is studied on a smooth compact \(n\)-dimensional Riemannian manifold \(M\) instead of a domain in \(\mathbb{R}^3\). The starting point is the expectation that minimal hypersurfaces of \(M\) should be candidates for phase boundaries (as a special case of constant mean curvature surfaces). The close relations between both have been studied by [\textit{F. Pacard, M. Ritoré}, J.\ Differ.\ Geom.\ 64, No.\ 3, 359--423 (2003; Zbl 1070.58014)]. The current paper describes a phenomenon that is induced by the presence of positive curvature in \(M\). Assuming \(|A_K|^2+\mathrm{Ric}(\nu_K,\nu_K)>0\) for a nondegenerate minimal hypersurface \(K\), the authors prove that there are solutions \(u_{\varepsilon_j}\) for a sequence \(\varepsilon_j\to 0\) which approximate \(\pm 1\) away from the interfaces, but behave rather differently from the single-interface solutions considered by Pacard and Ritoré. They are solutions with \(m\)-tansition layers near \(K\), and the asymptotic behaviour close to \(K\) can be described quite explicitly.