The structure of the singular set in the thin obstacle problem for degenerate parabolic equations (Q829409)

In the paper under review the authors study the thin obstacle problem for degenerate parabolic equations: Given a parameter \(a\in (-1,1)\) and a function \(\psi\) (the thin obstacle), one looks for a solution \(u\) which satisfies \[y^a\partial_t u =\text{div}_x(y^a \nabla_x u) \ \text{ for } (x,y,t)\in B_1^+\times (-1,0],\] \[\min \{ u-\psi, -\lim_{y\rightarrow 0+} y^a\partial_y u\} =0 \text{ for } (x,0,t)\in B'_1\times (-1,0].\] Here \(B_1^+=B_1\cap \{y>0\}\) and \(B'_1=B_1\cap \{y=0\}\), where \(B_1=\{(x,y)\in \mathbb{R}^{n+1}:|(x,y)|<1\}\). Such problem is at a local level equivalent to the obstacle problem for the fractional heat operator \begin{align*} \min\{u-\psi, (\partial_t -\Delta_x)^s u\}=0,\quad s\in (0,1) \end{align*} under appropriate initial and boundary conditions. The authors provide a systematic classification of free boundary points and establish the structure theorem for the so-called singular set. To achieve it the authors establish an Almgren-Poon type monotonicity formula, as well as Weiss and Monneau type monotonicity formulas. The results and proofs generalize those in [\textit{D. Danielli} et al., Optimal regularity and the free boundaryin the parabolic Signorini problem. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS) (2017; Zbl 1381.35249)], which is the case of the heat equation (\(a=0\)).