An extensive study of the regularity of solutions to doubly singular equations (Q2156034)

Equations of the type \[ \frac{\partial u}{\partial t}\,=\,\nabla\!\cdot\!\bigl(|u|^{m-1}u\,|\nabla u|^{p-2}\nabla u\bigr) \] are notoriously difficult to treat for sign-changing solutions. Even uniqueness is problematic. The present work is about strictly positive solutions; now \(|u|^{m-1}u = u^m\). The parameters are restricted to the range \[ 1 < p <2,\quad m>1,\quad\text{and}\quad 2 < m+p <3. \] (This includes the Evolutionary \(p\)-Laplace Equation for fast diffusion, but rules out the case \(m-1 = 2-p\), corresponding to Trudinger's Equation.) When reading this work one should keep the authors' words in mind: ``In recent years, many papers have been devoted to the regularity of doubly nonlinear singular evolution equations. Many of the proofs are unnecessarily complicated, rely on superfluous assumptions or follow an inappropriate approximation procedure. The aim of this paper is to fix all the misprints, to follow correct procedures, to exhibit, possibly, the shortest and most elegant proofs and to give a complete and self-contained overview of the theory.'' Indeed, the authors have succeeded in reaching their aim. Thus, for the Hölder regularity and the Harnack inequality are given complete proofs beginning from a proper regularization of the equation. The iterations in DeGiorgi's method are completely exhibited in all their glory. ``Expansion of positivity'' plays a central role. An advantage in the proofs is that \textit{a priori} the Sobolev gradient \(\nabla u^{\beta}\) (and not \(\nabla u\)) is supposed to exist with a suitable \(\beta > 1\). Together with some other devices, this simplifies the demanding technicalities.