Global Existence for the 3D Muskat problem

Abstract: The Muskat problem studies the evolution of the interface between two incompressible, immiscible fluids in a porous media. In the case that the fluids have equal viscosity and the interface is graphical, this system reduces to a single nonlinear, nonlocal parabolic equation for the parametrization. Even in this stable regime, wave turning can occur leading to finite time blowup for the slope of the interface. Before that blowup though, we prove that an imperfect comparison principle still holds. Using this, we are able to show that solutions exist for all time so long as either the initial slope is not too large, or the slope stays bounded for a sufficiently long time.

analysis of PDEs

Audience: researchers in the topic

PDE seminar via Zoom