Skip to main content
Log in

Free-Boundary Regularity for a Problem Arising in Superconductivity

  • Published:
Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

This paper concerns regularity properties of the mean-field theory of superconductivity. The problem is reminiscent of the one studied earlier by L.A. Caffarelli, L. Karp and H. Shahgholian in connection with potential theory. The difficulty introduced in this paper is the existence of several patches, where on each patch the solution to the problem may have different constant values. However, using a refined analysis, we reduce the problem to the one-patch case, at least locally near ‘‘regular’’ free boundary points. Using a monotonicity formula, due to Georg S. Weiss, we characterize global solutions of a related equation. Hence earlier regularity results apply and we conclude the C 1 regularity of the free boundary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aftalion, A., Sandier, E., Serfaty, S.: Pinning phenomena in the Ginzburg-Landau model of superconductivity. J. Math. Pure Appl. 80, 339–372 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Alt, H.W., Caffarelli, L.A., Friedman, A.: Variational problems with two phases and their free boundaries. Trans. AMS 282, 431–461 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Berger, J., Rubinstein, J.: On the zero set of the wave function in superconductivity. Comm. Math. Phys. 202, 621–628 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Caffarelli, L.A.: Compactness methods in free boundary problems. Comm. Partial Differential Equations 5, 427–448 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Caffarelli, L.A.: The obstacle problem revisited. J. Fourier Anal. Appl. 4, 383–402 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Caffarelli, L.A., Karp, L., Shahgholian, H.: Regularity of a free boundary with application to the Pompeiu problem. Ann. Math. (2) 151, 269–292 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Caffarelli, L., Salazar, J.: Solutions of fully nonlinear elliptic equations with patches of zero gradient: Existence, regularity and convexity of level curves. Trans. AMS 354, 3095–3116 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Chapman, S.J.: A mean-field model of superconducting vortices in three dimensions. SIAM J. App. Math. 55, 1259–1274 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Elliott, C.M., Schätzle, R., Stoth, B.E.E.: Viscosity solutions of a degenerate parabolic-elliptic system arising in the mean-field theory of superconductivity. Arch. Ratational Mech. Anal. 145, 99–127 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Weiss, G.S.: A homogeneity improvement approach to the obstacle problem. Inv. Math. 138, 23–50 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luis Caffarelli.

Additional information

Communicated by L. Ambrosio

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Caffarelli, L., Salazar, J. & Shahgholian, H. Free-Boundary Regularity for a Problem Arising in Superconductivity. Arch. Rational Mech. Anal. 171, 115–128 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00205-003-0287-0

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00205-003-0287-0

Keywords

Navigation