The Stefan problem for a hyperbolic heat equation (Q909915)

This paper is concerned with a spatially one-dimensional one-phase Stefan problem for a hyperbolic heat equation which arises from a relaxed version of Fourier's law of heat conduction. Following a discussion of the physical background, the problem is formulated as a hyperbolic system of two first order equations, supplemented by Neumann- or Dirichlet-type boundary conditions at the fixed boundary, and by suitable jump relations at the fluid-solid interface. Existence of a smooth solution with smooth free boundary is established by means of a successive integration procedure, an application of Schauder's fixed point theorem, and continuation arguments. It is shown that the solution is unique. For the Dirichlet problem, the authors consider the asymptotic behavior of solutions at the relaxation parameter (in Fourier's law) tends to zero. Under appropriate assumptions, they obtain convergence to the solution of the corresponding classical Stefan problem.