Optimal lattice configurations for interacting spatially extended particles

We investigate lattice energies for radially symmetric, spatially extended particles interacting via a radial potential and arranged on the sites of a two-dimensional Bravais lattice. We show the global minimality of the triangular lattice among Bravais lattices of fixed density in two cases: In the first case, the distribution of mass is sufficiently concentrated around the lattice points, and the mass concentration depends on the density we have fixed. In the second case, both interacting potential and density of the distribution of mass are described by completely monotone functions in which case the optimality holds at any fixed density.Comment: 17 pages. 1 figure. To appear in Letters in Mathematical Physic

On Born's conjecture about optimal distribution of charges for an infinite ionic crystal

We study the problem for the optimal charge distribution on the sites of a fixed Bravais lattice. In particular, we prove Born's conjecture about the optimality of the rock-salt alternate distribution of charges on a cubic lattice (and more generally on a d-dimensional orthorhombic lattice). Furthermore, we study this problem on the two-dimensional triangular lattice and we prove the optimality of a two-component honeycomb distribution of charges. The results holds for a class of completely monotone interaction potentials which includes Coulomb type interactions. In a more general setting, we derive a connection between the optimal charge problem and a minimization problem for the translated lattice theta function.Comment: 32 pages. 3 Figures. To appear in Journal of Nonlinear Science. DOI :10.1007/s00332-018-9460-

Classical solutions for a thin–film equation

The main part of the thesis provides existence, uniqueness and regularity for the 1-d thin-film equation with linear mobility. The equation is viewed as a classical free boundary problem. The focus is laid on the blow up situation near the free boundary. The strategy is based on a priori energy type estimates which provide minimal conditions on the initial data such that a unique global solution exists. As a result, smoothness of the solution is obtained as well as the large time behavior of the free boundary. The second part of the thesis is concerned with Schauder estimates for a related degenerate parabolic linear operator of fourth order. The last part of the thesis provides an optimal lower bound for solutions to 1-d thin-film equations whenever the initial data are almost flat

Second order expansion for the nonlocal perimeter functional

The seminal results of Bourgain, Brezis, Mironescu and D\'avila show that the classical perimeter can be approximated by a family of nonlocal perimeter functionals. We consider a corresponding second order expansion for the nonlocal perimeter functional. In a special case, the considered family of energies is also relevant for a variational model for thin ferromagnetic films. We derive the Gamma--limit of these functionals. We also show existence for minimizers with prescribed volume fraction. For small volume fraction, the unique, up to translation, minimizer of the limit energy is given by the ball. The analysis is based on a systematic exploitation of the associated symmetrized autocorrelation function.Comment: 30 pages, 1 figur

Domain structure of bulk ferromagnetic crystals in applied fields near saturation

We investigate the ground state of a uniaxial ferromagnetic plate with perpendicular easy axis and subject to an applied magnetic field normal to the plate. Our interest is the asymptotic behavior of the energy in macroscopically large samples near the saturation field. We establish the scaling of the critical value of the applied field strength below saturation at which the ground state changes from the uniform to a branched domain magnetization pattern and the leading order scaling behavior of the minimal energy. Furthermore, we derive a reduced sharp-interface energy giving the precise asymptotic behavior of the minimal energy in macroscopically large plates under a physically reasonable assumption of small deviations of the magnetization from the easy axis away from domain walls. On the basis of the reduced energy, and by a formal asymptotic analysis near the transition, we derive the precise asymptotic values of the critical field strength at which non-trivial minimizers (either local or global) emerge. The non-trivial minimal energy scaling is achieved by magnetization patterns consisting of long slender needle-like domains of magnetization opposing the applied fieldComment: 38 pages, 7 figures, submitted to J. Nonlin. Sci