We provide a detailed analysis of the minimizers of the functional $u\mapsto {\int }_{{ℝ}^n}{\left|\nabla u\right|}^2+D{\int }_{{ℝ}^n}{\left|u\right|}^{\gamma }$, $\gamma \in (0,2)$, subject to the constraint ${\parallel u\parallel }_{L^2}=1$. This problem, e.g., describes the long-time behavior of the parabolic Anderson in probability theory or ground state solutions of a nonlinear Schrödinger equation. While existence can be proved with standard methods, we show that the usual uniqueness results obtained with PDE-methods can be considerably simplified by additional variational arguments. In addition, we investigate qualitative properties...

An optimal shape control problem for the stationary Navier-Stokes system is considered. An incompressible, viscous flow in a two-dimensional channel is studied to determine the shape of part of the boundary that minimizes the viscous drag. The adjoint method and the Lagrangian multiplier method are used to derive the optimality system for the shape gradient of the design functional.

In the paper the Signorini problem without friction in the linear thermoelasticity for the steady-state case is investigated. The problem discussed is the model geodynamical problem, physical analysis of which is based on the plate tectonic hypothesis and the theory of thermoelasticity. The existence and unicity of the solution of the Signorini problem without friction for the steady-state case in the linear thermoelasticity as well as its finite element approximation is proved. It is known that...

We state and prove a Korn-like inequality for a vector field in a bounded open set of ${ℝ}^N$, satisfying a tangency boundary condition. This inequality, which is crucial in our study of the trend towards equilibrium for dilute gases, holds true if and only if the domain is not axisymmetric. We give quantitative, explicit estimates on how the departure from axisymmetry affects the constants; a Monge–Kantorovich minimization problem naturally arises in this process. Variants in the axisymmetric case are...

We state and prove a Korn-like inequality for a vector field in a bounded open set of ${ℝ}^N$, satisfying a tangency boundary condition. This inequality, which is crucial in our study of the trend towards equilibrium for dilute gases, holds true if and only if the domain is not axisymmetric. We give quantitative, explicit estimates on how the departure from axisymmetry affects the constants; a Monge–Kantorovich minimization problem naturally arises in this process. Variants in the axisymmetric case...

We prove some multiplicity results concerning quasilinear elliptic equations with natural growth conditions. Techniques of nonsmooth critical point theory are employed.

We characterize the existence of the $L^1$ solutions of the truncated moments problem in several real variables on unbounded supports by the existence of the maximum of certain concave Lagrangian functions. A natural regularity assumption on the support is required.

We study a variational problem which was introduced by Hannon, Marcus and Mizel [ESAIM: COCV9 (2003) 145–149] to describe step-terraces on surfaces of so-called “unorthodox” crystals. We show that there is no nondegenerate intervals on which the absolute value of a minimizer is $\pi /2$ identically.

The aim of this paper is to give the proofs of those results that in [4] were only announced, and, at the same time, to propose some possible developments, indicating some of the most significant open problems.

We consider the problem of minimizing the energy$$E\left(u\right):={\int }_{\Omega }{\left|\nabla u\left(x\right)\right|}^2\mathrm{d}x+{\int }_{S_u\cap \Omega }\left(1+\left|\right[u\left]\right(x\left)\right|\right)\mathrm{d}{H}^{N-1}\left(x\right)$$among all functions $u\in SB{V}^2\left(\Omega \right)$ for which two level sets $\{u=l_i\}$ have prescribed Lebesgue measure ${\alpha }_i$. Subject to this volume constraint the existence of minimizers for $E(·)$ is proved and the asymptotic behaviour of the solutions is investigated.

We consider the problem of minimizing the energy $$E\left(u\right):={\int }_{\Omega }{\left|\nabla u\left(x\right)\right|}^2\mathrm{d}x+{\int }_{S_u\cap \Omega }\left(1+\left|\right[u\left]\right(x\left)\right|\right)\mathrm{d}{H}^{N-1}\left(x\right)$$ among all functions u ∈ SBV²(Ω) for which two level sets $\{u=l_i\}$ have prescribed Lebesgue measure ${\alpha }_i$. Subject to this volume constraint the existence of minimizers for E(.) is proved and the asymptotic behaviour of the solutions is investigated.

Let $F$ be a closed subset of ${ℝ}^n$ and let $P\left(x\right)$ denote the metric projection (closest point mapping) of $x\in {ℝ}^n$ onto $F$ in $l^p$-norm. A classical result of Asplund states that $P$ is (Fréchet) differentiable almost everywhere (a.e.) in ${ℝ}^n$ in the Euclidean case $p=2$. We consider the case $2<p<\infty$ and prove that the $i$th component $P_i\left(x\right)$ of $P\left(x\right)$ is differentiable a.e. if $P_i\left(x\right)\ne x_i$ and satisfies Hölder condition of order $1/(p-1)$ if $P_i\left(x\right)=x_i$.

An almost-Riemannian structure on a surface is a generalized Riemannian structure whose local orthonormal frames are given by Lie bracket generating pairs of vector fields that can become collinear. The distribution generated locally by orthonormal frames has maximal rank at almost every point of the surface, but in general it has rank 1 on a nonempty set which is generically a smooth curve. In this paper we provide a short introduction to 2-dimensional almost-Riemannian geometry highlighting its...