Abstract
A “Hodge” theorem is proved for a non-linear system of equations which are not uniformly elliptic. The solutions are p-forms which minimize a non-regular energy functional over cohomology classes. The theorem is proved by regularizing the functional and proving weak L2 existence. To obtain regularity, we first show that a scalar function of the solution is a subsolution of an elliptic equation from which it follows that the solution is bounded. Hölder continuity is then proved by comparison with a solution of a simpler system known to be Hölder continuous. The solution of the non-regular problem is then obtained from the Shiffman regularization.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BERS, L., Mathematical aspects of subsonic and transonic gas dynamics, Wiley (1958).
DUFF, G.F.D., and SPENCER, D.C., Harmonic tensors on Riemannian manifolds with boundary, Ann. of Math. 56, (1952), 128–156.
GIAQUINTA, M., Multiple integrals in the calculus of variations, Lecture Notes, SFB 72, University of Bonn.
MORREY, C.B., Multiple integrals in the calculus of variations, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1966.
SHIFFMAN, M., On the existence of subsonic flows of a compressible fluid. J. Rat. Mech. Anal.1 (1952) 605–652.
SIBNER, L.M. and SIBNER, R.J., A non-linear Hodge-de Rham theorem, Acta Math.125 (1970) 57–73.
—, Non-linear Hodge theory: Applications, Advances in Math.31 (1979) 1–15.
—, A sub-elliptic estimate for a class of invariantly defined elliptic systems, Pacific J. Math.92 (1981) 417–421.
SMITH, P.D., Non-linear Hodge theory on punctured Riemannian manifolds, Indiana J. Math., Vol. 31, 4 (1982) 553–577.
UHLENBECK, K., Regularity for a class of non-linear elliptic systems, Acta Math.138 (1977) 219–240.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Research supported in part by NSF grant MCS81-03403 and by Sonderforschungsbereich 72, University of Bonn.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sibner, L.M. An existence theorem for a non-regular variational problem. Manuscripta Math 43, 45–72 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01169096
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01169096