Grim raindrop: a translating solution to curve diffusion flow (Q6883538)

The paper proves the existence of a nontrivial properly immersed translating solution to the curve diffusion flow \( X_t^\perp = -\kappa_{ss}N \) in the plane, the fourth-order analogue of curve shortening flow. Previous results showed that properly immersed \textit{stationary} solutions must be lines and raised the question whether properness alone forces translating solitons to be trivial. The authors answer this in the negative.\N\NThe translator equation reduces to the third-order ODE \( \theta_{sss}=-\cos\theta, \) for the tangent angle \(\theta\). A monotone modification of the ODE enables a shooting method, together with a careful analysis of critical points, to produce a bounded solution converging to \(\pm\pi/2\) at infinity. Reflection yields an entire solution, and integration of the tangent directions gives a properly immersed translating curve, termed the ``grim raindrop.'' This provides a new self-similar solution for a fourth-order geometric flow.