On the Cauchy-Dirichlet problem for the singular parabolic equation \(u_{xx}-(1/x)u_ x-u_ t=0\). (Q798866)

The authors deal with the following problem: \(u_{xx}-(1/x)u_ x-u_ t=0\) a.e. in \((0,R)\times (0,T)=Q,\quad x^{-{1\over2}}u(x,0)=g(x),\) \(x\in (0,R)\), \(x^{-{1\over2}}u(x,t)|_{x=0}=0,\quad u(x,t)|_{x=R}=0\) \(t\in (0,T)\). The solution is searched for in the space \(H_{-{1\over2}}^{2,1}(Q)\), completion of a suitable space of smooth functions under the norm \[ \| u\|_{- {1\over2}}=(\iint_{Q}x^{-1}(u^ 2+(u_{xx}-x^{-1}u_ x)^ 2+u^ 2_ t)dx dt)^{{1\over2}}. \] The authors observe that this equation constitutes a limit case of \(u_{xx}+2kx^{-1}u_ x-u_ t=0\); this equation has been studied by a number of authors. The authors also point out that a change of variables leads to a degenerate parabolic equation \(xV_{xx}-a^{-1}V_ t=0\), a is a constant; however, the general theory for these equations is not applicable in the present case. - The authors give a theorem of existence and uniquenss for the problem above, as well as a representation of the solution as a series of Bessel functions.