Entropy-energy inequalities and improved convergence rates for nonlinear parabolic equations (Q862122)

The authors derive inequalities of Poincaré type on the one-dimensional torus and explore their implications to the long-time asymptotics of periodic solutions to nonlinear singular or degenerate parabolic equations of second and fourth order. A global algebraic decay is proved for an entropy functional, faster than exponential for short times, and an asymptotically exponential convergence of the positive solutions towards their average. The asymptotically exponential regime is valid for a larger range of parameters for all relevant cases of applications such as the porous medium/fast diffusion equations, thin film equation and logarithmic fourth order nonlinear diffusion equations. The techniques adopted are based on direct entropy-entropy production methods and appropriate Poincaré type inequalities.