Partial regularity for subquadratic parabolic systems by \(\mathcal{A}\)-caloric approximation (Q643324)

The paper is concerned with nonsingular parabolic systems of the form \(\partial_tu-\nabla\cdot a(t,x,u,Du)=B(x,t,u,Du)\). The structure function \(a\) is assumed to fulfill ellipticity and regularity conditions which are fairly general and quite natural. Moreover, it is assumed to have ``polynomial'' growth with growth rate \(p\in( {2n\over n+1},2)\). The assumptions on \(B\) are the usual ones. Partial regularity of weak solutions is proven, up to a singular set of vanishing measure in spacetime. Different characterizations of the singular sets are given. In the case \(p>2\) the problem has been solved (see e.g.\ [\textit{F. Duzaar, G. Mingione} and \textit{K. Steffen}, Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 1005, i-x, 118 p. (2011; Zbl 1238.35001)] and the references therein), and even under more general assumptions. Regularity in the subquadratic case \(p<2\), however, has not been treated before the current paper, except for very special equations. The proof uses a variant of the technique of harmonic approximation.