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In this paper we are concerned with the existence of a weak solution to the initial boundary value problem for the equation ∂ t u=Δ(Δu) −3 . This problem arises in the mathematical modeling of the evolution of a crystal surface. Existence of a weak solution u with Δu≥0 is obtained via a suitable substitution. Our investigations reveal the close connection between this problem and the equation ∂ t ρ+ρ 2 Δ 2 ρ 3 =0 , another crystal surface model first proposed by H. Al Hajj Shehadeh, R. V. Kohn and J. Weare in [1].

In a recent important breakthrough D. Christodoulou has solved a long standing problem of General Relativity of evolutionary formation of trapped surfaces in the Einstein-vacuum space-times. He has identified an open set of regular initial conditions on an outgoing null hypersurface (both finite and at past null infinity) leading to a formation a trapped surface in the corresponding vacuum space-time to the future of the initial outgoing hypersurface and another incoming null hypersurface with the prescribed Minkowskian data. In this paper we give a simpler proof for a finite problem by enlarging the admissible set of initial conditions and, consistent with this, relaxing the corresponding propagation estimates just enough that a trapped surface still forms. We also reduce the number of derivatives needed in the argument from two derivatives of the curvature to just one. More importantly, the proof, which can be easily localized with respect to angular sectors, has the potential for further developments.

During the past year a group of 12 graduate students, a visiting researcher and a postdoctoral fellow, supported in part by this contract, have studied various nonlinear partial differential equations. Seminars were held twice weekly on the topic of soliton theory. The graduate students involved have been studying the problem of singularity that arises in nonlinear equations.

In this paper, we study the asymptotic behavior of positive solutions of fractional Hardy-Henon equation with an isolated singularity at the origin. We give a classification of isolated singularities of positive solutions near x = 0. Further, we prove the asymptotic behavior of positive singular solutions. These results parallel those known for the Laplacian counterpart proved by Caffarelli, Gidas and Spruck (Caffarelli, Gidas and Spruck in Comm Pure Appl Math, 1981, 1989), but the technique is very different, since the ODEs analysis is a missing ingredient in the fractional case. Our proofs are based on a monotonicity formula, combined with a blow up (down) argument, the Kelvin transformation and uniqueness of solutions of related degenerate equations on semi spherical surface. We also investigate isolated singularities located at infinity of fractional Hardy-Henon equation.