We prove that a solution of an elliptic operator with periodic coefficients behaves on large scales like an analytic function, in the sense of approximation by polynomials with periodic corrections. Equivalently, the constants in the large-scale $C^{k,1}$ estimate scale exponentially in $k$, just as for the classical estimate for harmonic functions. As a consequence, we characterize entire solutions of periodic, uniformly elliptic equations which exhibit growth like $O(\exp(δ|x|))$ for small~$δ>0$. The large-scale analyticity also implies quantitative unique continuation results, namely a three-ball theorem with an optimal error term as well as a proof of the nonexistence of $L^2$ eigenfunctions at the bottom of the spectrum.
We study partial analyticity of solutions to elliptic systems and analyticity of level sets of solutions to nonlinear elliptic systems. We consider several applications, including analyticity of flow lines for bounded stationary solutions to the 2-d Euler equation, and analyticity of water waves with and without surface tension.
In this paper, we study the Cauchy problem for an integrable multi-component (2N-component) peakon system which is involved in an arbitrary polynomial function. Based on a generalized Ovsyannikov type theorem, we first prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions for the system in the Gevrey-Sobolev spaces with the lower bound of the lifespan. Then we show the continuity of the data-to-solution map for the system. Furthermore, by introducing a family of continuous diffeomorphisms of a line and utilizing the fine structure of the system, we demonstrate the system exhibits unique continuation…
We investigate the quantitative unique continuation of solutions to higher order elliptic equations with singular coefficients. Quantitative unique continuation described by the vanishing order is a quantitative form of strong unique continuation property. We characterize the vanishing order of solutions for higher order elliptic equations in terms of the norms of coefficient functions in their respective Lebesgue spaces. New versions of quantitative Carleman estimates are established.
We establish the strong unique continuation property of fractional orders of linear elliptic equations with Lipschitz coefficients by establishing monotonicity of some Almgren-type frequency functional via an extension procedure.
We prove that solutions to elliptic equations in two variables in divergence form, possibly non-selfadjoint and with lower order terms, satisfy the strong unique continuation property.
In this note we give an elementary proof of the space-like real analyticity of solutions to a degenerate evolution problem that arises in the study of fractional parabolic operators of the type $(\partial_t - div_x(B(x)\nabla_x))^s$, $0<s<1$. Our primary interest is in the so-called \emph{extension variable}. We show that weak solutions that are even in such variable, are in fact real-analytic in the totality of the space variables. As an application of this result we prove the weak unique continuation property for nonlocal parabolic operators of the type above, where $B(x)$ is a uniformly ell…
We consider elliptic equations in planar domains with mixed boundary conditions of Dirichlet-Neumann type. Sharp asymptotic expansions of the solutions and unique continuation properties from the Dirichlet-Neumann junction are proved.
In this paper we develop a monotonicity formula for elliptic systems with Neumann boundary coupling, proving unique continuation and classification of blow-up profiles. As an application, we obtain strong unique continuation for some fourth order equations and higher order fractional problems.
We quantify the uniqueness of continuation from Cauchy or interior data. Our approach consists in extending the existing results in the linear case. As by product we obtain a new stability estimate in the linear case. We also show the so-called strong uniqueness of continuation and the uniqueness of continuation from a set of positive measure. These results are derived by using a linearization procedure.
In this paper, we give the strong unique continuation property for a general two dimensional anisotropic elliptic system with real coefficients in a Gevrey class under the assumption that the principal symbol of the system has simple characteristics. The strong unique continuation property is derived by obtaining some Carleman estimate. The derivation of the Carleman estimate is based on transforming the system to a larger second order elliptic system with diagonal principal part which has complex coefficients.
In this article we deal with different forms of the unique continuation property for second order elliptic equations with nonlinear potentials of sublinear growth. Under suitable regularity assumptions, we prove the weak and the strong unique continuation property. Moreover, we also discuss the unique continuation property from measurable sets, which shows that nodal domains to these equations must have vanishing Lebesgue measure. Our methods rely on suitable Carleman estimates, for which we include the sublinear potential into the main part of the operator.
In this article, we prove the exponential stabilization of the semilinear wave equation with a damping effective in a zone satisfying the geometric control condition only. The nonlinearity is assumed to be subcritical, defocusing and analytic. The main novelty compared to previous results, is the proof of a unique continuation result in large time for some undamped equation. The idea is to use an asymptotic smoothing effect proved by Hale and Raugel in the context of dynamical systems. Then, once the analyticity in time is proved, we apply a unique continuation result with partial analyticity …
Analytic continuation of viscous shock solution for the generalized Burgers equation with polynomial nonlinear source term is investigated. We show that a pertubated wave recovers its analyticity in the space variable in the strip limited by the first pair of singularities of the wave.
Asymptotics of solutions to fractional elliptic equations with Hardy type potentials is studied in this paper. By using an Almgren type monotonicity formula, separation of variables, and blow-up arguments, we describe the exact behavior near the singularity of solutions to linear and semilinear fractional elliptic equations with a homogeneous singular potential related to the fractional Hardy inequality. As a consequence we obtain unique continuation properties for fractional elliptic equations.
In this paper we prove unique continuation principles for some systems of elliptic partial differential equations satisfying a suitable superlinearity condition. As an application, we obtain nonexistence of nontrivial (not necessarily positive) radial solutions for the Lane-Emden system posed in a ball, in the critical and supercritical regimes. Some of our results also apply to general fully nonlinear operators, such as Pucci's extremal operators, being new even for scalar equations.
We study local asymptotics of solutions to fractional elliptic equations at boundary points, under some outer homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition. Our analysis is based on a blow-up procedure which involves some Almgren type monotonicity formulae and provides a classification of all possible homogeneity degrees of limiting entire profiles. As a consequence, we establish a strong unique continuation principle from boundary points.
This paper discusses the unique continuation principal of the solutions of the following perturbed fourth order elliptic differential operator $\mathcal{L}_{A,q}u=0$, where \[ \mathcal{L}_{A,q}(x,D)\ =\ \sum_{j=1}^nD^4_{x_j} + \sum_{j=1}^n A_jD_{x_j} + q, \qquad (A, q) \in W^{1,\infty}(Ω,\mathbb{C}^n) \times L^{\infty}(Ω,\mathbb{C}) \] whose principal term is not given by some integer power of the Laplacian operator. We derive some suitable Carleman estimates which is the main tool to prove the unique continuation principle. As a by-product, we also deduce some stability estimate and prove the…
We prove a quantitative, large-scale doubling inequality and large-scale three-ellipsoid inequality for solutions of uniformly elliptic equations with periodic coefficients. These estimates are optimal in terms of the minimal length scale on which they are valid, and are at least "almost" optimal in the prefactor constants--up to, at most, an iterated logarithm of the initial doubling ratio.
In this paper, we study quantitative spatial analytic bounds and unique continuation inequalities of solutions for fractional heat equations with an analytic lower order term on the whole space. At first, we show that the solution has a uniform positive analytic radius for all time, and the solution enjoys a log-type ultra-analytic bound if the coefficient is ultra-analytic. Second, we prove a Hölder type interpolation inequality on a thick set, with an explicit dependence on the analytic radius of coefficient. Finally, by the telescoping series method, we establish an observability inequality…
In these lectures we present some useful techniques to study quantitative properties of solutions of elliptic PDEs. Our aim is to outline a proof of a recent result on propagation of smallness. The ideas are also useful in the study of the zero sets of eigenfunctions of Laplace-Beltrami operator and we discuss the connection. Some basic facts about second order elliptic PDEs in divergent form are collected in the Appendix at the end of the notes.
We show that a viscosity solution of a uniformly elliptic, fully nonlinear equation which vanishes on an open set must be identically zero, provided that the equation is $C^{1,1}$. We do not assume that the nonlinearity is convex or concave, and thus \emph{a priori} $C^2$ estimates are unavailable. Nevertheless, we use the boundary Harnack inequality and a regularity result for solutions with small oscillations to prove that the solution must be smooth at an appropriate point on the boundary of the set on which it is assumed to vanish. This then permits us to conclude with an application of a …
We give stability estimates in the Cauchy problem for general partial differential equation of the elliptic type similar to the Helmholtz equation. We do not impose any (pseudo)convexity assumptions on the domain or the operator. These conditional stability estimates are getting close to Lipschitz ones when the wave number/frequency is growing. We split solution into low and high frequency parts and impose constraints on the high frequency part only. We give logarithmic bounds on this high frequency part. Proofs use energy estimates and the FBI transform.
In this paper, we obtain new Carleman estimates for a class of variable coefficient degenerate elliptic operators whose constant coefficient model at one point is the so called Baouendi-Grushin operator. This generalizes the results obtained by the two of us with Garofalo in [9] where similar estimates were established for the "constant coefficient" Baouendi-Grushin operator. Consequently, we obtain: (i) a Bourgain-Kenig type quantitative uniqueness result in the variable coefficient setting; (ii) and a strong unique continuation property for a class of degenerate sublinear equations. We also …
Quantitative unique continuation principles for multiscale structures are an important ingredient in a number applications, e.g. random Schrödinger operators and control theory. We review recent results and announce new ones regarding quantitative unique continuation principles for partial differential equations with an underlying multiscale structure. They concern Schrödinger and second order elliptic operators. An important feature is that the estimates are scale free and with quantitative dependence on parameters. These unique continuation principles apply to functions satisfying certain `r…
In this paper we prove strong unique continuation for the following degenerate elliptic equation \begin{equation}\label{e0} Δ_zu +|z|^2\partial_t^2u = Vu,\quad (z,t) \in \mathbb{R}^N \times \mathbb{R} \end{equation} where the potential $V$ satisfies either of the following growth assumptions \begin{align} & |V(z,t)| \leq \frac{f(ρ(z,t))}{ρ(z,t)^2},\ \text{where $f$ satisfies the Dini integrability condition as in (1.3)} \\ & \text{or when } \notag \\ & |V(z,t)| \leq C\frac{ψ(z,t)^ε}{ρ(z,t)^2},\ \text{for some $ε>0$ with $ψ$ as in (2.6) and $N$ even.} \notag \end{align} This extends some of the…
In this paper we describe some recent works on quantitative unique continuation for elliptic, parabolic and dispersive equations. The elliptic results are joint work with J.Bourgain, while the remainder of the works discussed are joint works with L.Escauriaza, G.Ponce and L.Vega.
Based on a variant of frequency function, we improve the vanishing order of solutions for Schrödinger equations which describes quantitative behavior of strong uniqueness continuation property. For the first time, we investigate the quantitative uniqueness of higher order elliptic equations and show the vanishing order of solutions. Furthermore, strong unique continuation is established for higher order elliptic equations using this variant of frequency function.
This paper concerns about the weak unique continuation property of solutions of a general system of differential equation/inequality with a second order strongly elliptic system as its leading part. We put not only some natural assumption which called {\sl basic assumptions}, but also some technical assumptions which we called {\sl further assumptions}. It is shown as usual by first applying the Holmgren transform to this inequality and then establishing a Carleman estimate for the leading part of the transformed inequality. The Carleman estimate given via a partition of unity and Carleman est…
Analytic continuation problems are notoriously ill-posed without additional regularizing constraints, even though every analytic function has a rigidity property of unique continuation from every curve inside the domain of analyticity. In fact, well known theorems, guarantee that every continuous function can be uniformly approximated by analytic functions (polynomials or rational functions, for example). We consider several analytic continuation problems with typical global boundedness constraints. All such problems exhibit a power law precision deterioration as one moves away from the source…
We consider elliptic differential operators on either the entire Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^d$ or on subsets consisting of a cube $Λ_L$ of integer length $L$. For eigenfunctions of the operator, and more general solutions of elliptic differential quations, we derive several quantitative unique continuation results. The first result is of local nature and estimates the vanishing order of a solution. The second is a sampling result and compares the $L^2$-norm of a solution over a union of equidistributed $δ$-balls in space with the $L^2$-norm on the entire space. In the case where the space $\m…
We address the quantitative uniqueness properties of the solutions of the parabolic equation $ \partial_t u - Δu = w_j (x,t) \partial_j u + v(x,t) u $ where $v$ and $w$ are bounded. We prove that for solutions $u$, the order of vanishing is bounded by $C(\Vert v\Vert_{L^\infty}^{2/3}+\Vert w\Vert_{L^\infty}^2)$ matching the upper bound previously established in the elliptic case. in the elliptic case.
We construct blowing-up sign-changing solutions to some nonlinear critical equations by glueing a standard bubble to a degenerate function. We develop a method based on analyticity to perform the glueing when the critical manifold of solutions is degenerate and no Bianchi--Egnell type condition holds.
Let $Ω$ be a bounded open subset with $C^{1+κ}$-boundary for some $κ> 0$. Consider the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator associated to the elliptic operator $- \sum \partial_l ( c_{kl} \, \partial_k ) + V$, where the $c_{kl} = c_{lk}$ are Hölder continuous and $V \in L_\infty(Ω)$ are real valued. We prove that the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator generates a $C_0$-semigroup on the space $C(\partial Ω)$ which is in addition holomorphic with angle $\fracπ{2}$. We also show that the kernel of the semigroup has Poisson bounds on the complex right half-plane. As a consequence we obtain an optimal holomorp…
Asymptotics of solutions to relativistic fractional elliptic equations with Hardy type potentials is established in this paper. As a consequence, unique continuation properties are obtained.
In this survey we discuss the frequency function method so as to study the problem of unique continuation for elliptic partial differential equations. The methods used in the note were mainly introduced by Garofalo and Lin.
This paper studies the quantitative unique continuation for a semi-linear parabolic-elliptic coupled system on a bounded domain. This system is a simplified version of the chemotaxis model introduced by Keller and Segel. With the aid of priori L^infty-estimates (for solutions of the system) built up in this paper, we treat the semi-linear parabolic equation in the system as a linear parabolic equation, and then use the frequency function method and the localization technique to build up two unique continuation inequalities for the system. As a consequence of the above-mentioned two inequalitie…
A Carleman estimate and the unique continuation property of solutions for a multi-terms time fractional diffusion equation up to order $α\,\,(0<α<2)$ and general time dependent second order strongly elliptic time elliptic operator for the diffusion. The estimate is derived via some subelliptic estimate for an operator associated to this equation using calculus of pseudo-differential operators. A special Holmgren type transformation which is linear with respect to time is used to show the local unique continuation of solutions. We developed a new argument to derive the global unique continuatio…
We consider divergence form elliptic operators of the form $L=-\dv A(x)\nabla$, defined in $R^{n+1} = \{(x,t)\in R^n \times R \}$, $n \geq 2$, where the $L^{\infty}$ coefficient matrix $A$ is $(n+1)\times(n+1)$, uniformly elliptic, complex and $t$-independent. We show that for such operators, boundedness and invertibility of the corresponding layer potential operators on $L^2(\mathbb{R}^{n})=L^2(\partial\mathbb{R}_{+}^{n+1})$, is stable under complex, $L^{\infty}$ perturbations of the coefficient matrix. Using a variant of the $Tb$ Theorem, we also prove that the layer potentials are bounded a…
We consider the problem of the strong unique continuation for an elasticity system with general residual stress. Due to the known counterexamples, we assume the coefficients of the elasticity system are in the Gevrey class of appropriate indices. The main tools are Carleman estimates for product of two second order elliptic operators.
In this paper we prove Fefferman's inequalities associated to potentials belonging to a generalized Morrey space $ L^{p,φ} $ or a Stummel class $ \tilde{S}_{α,p} $. Our results generalize and extend Fefferman's inequalities obtained in \cite{CRR,CF,F,Z1}. We also show that the logarithmic of non-negative weak solution of second order elliptic partial differential equation, where its potentials are assumed in generalized Morrey spaces and Stummel classes, belongs to the bounded mean oscillation class. As a consequence, this elliptic partial differential equation has the strong unique continuati…
In this paper we establish the \emph{space-like} strong unique continuation for nonlocal equations of the type $(\partial_t - Δ)^s u= Vu$, for $0<s <1$. The proof of our main result, Theorem 1.1, is achieved via a conditional elliptic type doubling property for solutions to the appropriate extension problem, followed by a blowup analysis.
In this paper, we establish space like strong unique continuation property (sucp) for uniformly parabolic sublinear equations under appropriate structural assumptions. Our main result Theorem 1.1 constitutes the parabolic counterpart of the strong unique continuation result recently established by Ruland in [Ru] for analogous elliptic sublinear equations. Similar to that in [Ru], this is accomplished via a new $L^{2}-L^{2}$ type Carleman estimate for a class of sublinear parabolic operators.
The strong unique continuation property for Einstein metrics can be concluded from the well-known fact that Einstein metrics are analytic in geodesic normal coordinates. Here we give a proof of the same result that given two Einstein metrics with the same Ricci curvature on a fixed manifold, if they agree to infinite order around a point, then they must coincide, up to a local diffeomorphism, in a neighborhood of the point. The novelty of our method lies in the use of a Carleman inequality and thus circumventing the use of analyticity; thus the method is robust under certain non-analytic pertu…
