Nonlocal approximation of nonlinear diffusion equations

We show that degenerate nonlinear diffusion equations can be asymptotically obtained as a limit from a class of nonlocal partial differential equations. The nonlocal equations are obtained as gradient flows of interaction-like energies approximating the internal energy. We construct weak solutions a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carrillo, JA, Esposito, A, Wu, JS-H
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2024
Description
Summary:We show that degenerate nonlinear diffusion equations can be asymptotically obtained as a limit from a class of nonlocal partial differential equations. The nonlocal equations are obtained as gradient flows of interaction-like energies approximating the internal energy. We construct weak solutions as the limit of a (sub)sequence of weak measure solutions by using the Jordan-Kinderlehrer-Otto scheme from the context of 2-Wasserstein gradient flows. Our strategy allows to cover the porous medium equation, for the general slow diffusion case, extending previous results in the literature. As a byproduct of our analysis, we provide a qualitative particle approximation.