On Uniqueness Results for an Elliptic-Parabolic-System

of Partial Differential Equations Arising in Dynamic

Electrowetting

Group 4
Department of Mathematics
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

July 3, 2023

Group 4 Department of Mathematics Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

On Uniqueness Results forErlangen-Nürnberg
an Elliptic-Parabolic-System of Partial
July 3, Differential
2023 Equations
1 / 10Ari
 Uniqueness of solutions in the following the system of equations.
Equations (1a)-(1e) are given by:

−∆v + ∇p = µ∇ϕ + ρ∇V in Ω × (0, T ), (1a)

div v = 0 in Ω × (0, T ), (1b)
∂ϕ
+ v · ∇ϕ − ∆µ = 0 in Ω × (0, T ), (1c)
∂t
∂ρ
+ v · ∇ρ − div(K (ϕ)∇(V + λρ)) = 0 in Ω × (0, T ), (1d)
∂t
−div(∈ [x]∇V ) = ρ · χΩ in Ω∗ × (0, T ), (1e)

Group 4 Department of Mathematics Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

On Uniqueness Results forErlangen-Nürnberg
an Elliptic-Parabolic-System of Partial
July 3, Differential
2023 Equations
1 / 10Ari
 Introduction

We are investigating the uniqueness of solutions in above system.

We assume the existence of two solutions (φ1 , v1 , ρ1 , V1 ) and

(φ2 , v2 , ρ2 , V2 ) satisfying the same initial data.

Our goal is to establish certain estimations and apply Gronwall’s

inequality to demonstrate the uniqueness of the results.

Group 4 Department of Mathematics Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

On Uniqueness Results forErlangen-Nürnberg
an Elliptic-Parabolic-System of Partial
July 3, Differential
2023 Equations
2 / 10Ari
 Estimation Process

To establish the uniqueness of the solutions, we followed a series of

estimations.

Introduce the variables,

w = v1 − v2 ,Φ = φ1 − φ2 and R = ρ1 − ρ2

Estimation (i)

∥∇(V1 − V2 )∥L2 (Ω∗ ) ≤ C ∥R∥L2 (Ω) for all t ∈ (0, T ).

This estimation provides control over the difference in the electric

potential of the solutions, which is crucial for demonstrating uniqueness.

Group 4 Department of Mathematics Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

On Uniqueness Results forErlangen-Nürnberg
an Elliptic-Parabolic-System of Partial
July 3, Differential
2023 Equations
3 / 10Ari
 Estimation (ii)


∥w ∥W 2,3/2 (Ω) ≤ CT ∥∆Φ∥L2 (Ω) + ∥Φ∥L2 (Ω) + ∥R∥L2 (Ω) , for all t ∈
(0, T ).

This estimation provides the difference in velocities w, is bounded in the

W 2,3/2 (Ω).

Estimation (iii)
Z ZZ ZZ
′′
|Φ|2 (T ) + M|∆Φ|2 + MWconv(ϕ 1)
|∇Φ|2
Ω ΩT ΩT
Z Z Z T 
≤ CT |Φ|2 + ∥ω∥2L3 (t)dt
ΩT 0
Z Z ZZ ZZ 
2 2 2
≤ CT |∆Φ| + |Φ| + |R| ,
ΩT ΩT ΩT

Group 4 Department of Mathematics Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

On Uniqueness Results forErlangen-Nürnberg
an Elliptic-Parabolic-System of Partial
July 3, Differential
2023 Equations
4 / 10Ari
 This estimation provides a control on the regularity of the difference in the
solutions, which is crucial for establishing uniqueness.

Estimation (iv)

Z ZZ
2
|∆Φ| (T ) + |∆2 Φ|2
Ω ΩT
Z Z ZZ Z T 
2 2
≤ CT |∆Φ| + |Φ| + ∥ω∥2L3 (t)dt
ΩT ΩT 0
Z Z ZZ ZZ 
2 2 2
≤ CT |∆Φ| + |Φ| + |R| .
ΩT ΩT ΩT

This estimation provides insights into the regularity of the Laplacian of the
difference in the solutions, aiding the proof of uniqueness.

Group 4 Department of Mathematics Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

On Uniqueness Results forErlangen-Nürnberg
an Elliptic-Parabolic-System of Partial
July 3, Differential
2023 Equations
5 / 10Ari
 Estimation (v)

Z ZZ
2
|R| (T ) + λK (ϕ1 )|∇R|2
Ω ΩT
Z T
≤C ∥∇ρ2 (t)∥2L2 (∥∆Φ(t)∥2L2 (Ω) + ∥Φ(t)∥2L2 (Ω) )dt
0
Z Z ZZ ZZ Z T 
2 2 2 2
+C |∆Φ| + |Φ| + |R| + ∥ω∥L3 (t)dt .
ΩT ΩT ΩT 0

This estimation provides control over the regularity of the difference in the
densities and its relationship to the solutions gradients, contributing to the
proof uniqueness.

Group 4 Department of Mathematics Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

On Uniqueness Results forErlangen-Nürnberg
an Elliptic-Parabolic-System of Partial
July 3, Differential
2023 Equations
6 / 10Ari
 Application of Gronwall’s Inequalities

Gronwall’s inequality states that if a function satisfies certain

conditions, then it can be bounded using an exponential function.

Gronwall’s Inequality

Let I = [a, b] or (a, b) with a < b (where b possibly tends to infinity). Let
u, α, and β be real-valued functions defined on I . If u, α ∈ L∞ (I ) and
β ∈ L1 (I ), and
Z t
u(t) ≤ α(t) + β(s)u(s)ds, for all t ∈ I ,
0

then Z t Rt
β(r )dr
u(t) ≤ α(t) + α(s)β(s)e s ds, for all t ∈ I .
0

Group 4 Department of Mathematics Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

On Uniqueness Results forErlangen-Nürnberg
an Elliptic-Parabolic-System of Partial
July 3, Differential
2023 Equations
7 / 10Ari
 If, in addition, α(t) is non decreasing, then
Rt
β(s)ds
u(t) ≤ α(t)e a , for all t ∈ I .

Combining estimation (i)-(v) we have the estimate,

Z Z Z
2 2
|Φ(T )| + |∆Φ(T )| + |R(T )|2
Ω
ZΩZ Ω

2 2 2
≤C (|Φ| + |∆Φ| + R
ΩT
Z T
+C ∥∇ρ2 ∥2L2 (∥Φ∥2L3 + ∥∆Φ∥2L2 )
0

Group 4 Department of Mathematics Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

On Uniqueness Results forErlangen-Nürnberg
an Elliptic-Parabolic-System of Partial
July 3, Differential
2023 Equations
8 / 10Ari
 Now define

Z Z Z
y (t) = |Φ(T )|2 + |∆Φ(T )|2 + |R(T )|2
Ω Ω Ω

Use the fact that ∥∇ρ2 ∥2L2 is contains in L1 (0,T), and ∥∇ρ2 ∥2L2 is
integrable on the interval (0,T).

Apply Gronwall’s inequality

RT
∥∇ρ2 ∥2 2
y (t) = y (0)e CT +C 0 L

Since y(0)=0, we conclude y(t)=0 implying uniqueness of solutions to the

system (1).

Group 4 Department of Mathematics Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

On Uniqueness Results forErlangen-Nürnberg
an Elliptic-Parabolic-System of Partial
July 3, Differential
2023 Equations
9 / 10Ari
 ThankYou!

Group 4 Department of Mathematics Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

On Uniqueness Results forErlangen-Nürnberg
an Elliptic-Parabolic-System of Partial
July 3, Differential
2023 Equations
10 / 10Ari