Curvature diffusion of planar curves with generalised Neumann boundary conditions inside cones (Q6202014)

This article discusses various properties of the curve diffusion flow \(\frac{d\alpha}{d t}=k_{ss} \nu\) subject to Neumann boundary conditions. The main result establishes the existence and uniqueness of a local solution \(\alpha(t)\), \(t\in [0,T)\), \(T\leq \infty\). If \(T<\infty\), then at least one of the following holds: \begin{itemize} \item[(1)] at least one end of the evolving curve \(\alpha(\cdot, t)\) has reached the cone tip; \item[(2)] the curvature \(k\) of the curve satisfies \(\int k^2 ds\geq c(T-t)^{-1/4}\). \end{itemize} The case \(T=\infty\) is also discussed, case in which the curve converges exponentially in the \(C^\infty\)-topology to a circular arc.