Some minimization problems for mean field models with competing forces (Q6064561)

In this article, the author contemplates three mean-field models with competing forces and their corresponding minimization problems. Known results and open questions about these are collated. In the generalized liquid drop model, an attractive short-range force, the nuclear force, competes with a repulsive long-range force, the Coulomb force. In the corresponding minimization problem, the variable \(m\) is the drop size, and the parameter \(\lambda\) determines the surface tension of the drop. For dimensions \(N\) and \(0<\lambda<N\) it is conjectured that for a critical volume \(m_*\), balls are minimizers for \(m\leq m_*\) and there is no minimizer for \(m>m_*\). The conjecture in the case \(N=1\) and \(0<\lambda<1\), is proven in the appendix. For further cases, results relating to the existence of solutions when \(m\leq m_*\), the uniqueness of balls being the sole minimizers, and the nonexistence of solutions for \(m>m_*\) are referenced and discussed. In the simple model for flocking, an attractive force governed by the parameter \(0<\lambda<N\) competes with a repulsive force determined by the parameter \(\alpha>0\). The variable \(m\) is set to be the total mass or the number of agents in the system. Since minimizers exist for any \(m>0\), the focus lies on results concerning the properties of the minimizers. Explicit solutions are known for \(N\geq 3\) and specific values of \(\lambda\) and \(\alpha\). Results in the small \(m\) and large \(m\) regimes are discussed separately. The section is concluded by mentioning the open problem related to the long time behavior in the constrained aggregation equation. In the generalized Keller-Segel model, a repulsive short-range force, typically cell-to-cell mechanical avoidance, competes with an attractive long-range force, which is the chemotactic attraction. Here the results from two papers co-authored by the author are summarized. The parameter \(q\) is related to the repulsive short-range force and the density \(\rho\). To explain how the choice of the parameter \(q\) affects the existence of minimizers, a relaxed functional is introduced. The open problem relating to this functional and the existence of minimizers in regions of parameters \(q\) and \(\alpha\) is stated. A second open problem concerns the rescaled version of the energy functional and its long time behavior. This paper offers a comprehensive, insightful, and well-written summary of the latest findings and ongoing inquiries related to the three models. For the entire collection see [Zbl 1519.00033].