Exponential self-similar mixing and loss of regularity for continuity equations

We consider the mixing behaviour of the solutions of the continuity equation associated with a divergence-free velocity field. In this announcement we sketch two explicit examples of exponential decay of the mixing scale of the solution, in case of Sobolev velocity fields, thus showing the optimality of known lower bounds. We also describe how to use such examples to construct solutions to the continuity equation with Sobolev but non-Lipschitz velocity field exhibiting instantaneous loss of any fractional Sobolev regularity.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, statement of Theorem 11 slightly revise

Exponential self-similar mixing by incompressible flows

We study the problem of the optimal mixing of a passive scalar under the action of an incompressible flow in two space dimensions. The scalar solves the continuity equation with a divergence-free velocity field, which satisfies a bound in the Sobolev space $W^{s,p}$, where $s \geq 0$ and $1\leq p\leq \infty$. The mixing properties are given in terms of a characteristic length scale, called the mixing scale. We consider two notions of mixing scale, one functional, expressed in terms of the homogeneous Sobolev norm $\dot H^{-1}$, the other geometric, related to rearrangements of sets. We study rates of decay in time of both scales under self-similar mixing. For the case $s=1$ and $1 \leq p \leq \infty$ (including the case of Lipschitz continuous velocities, and the case of physical interest of enstrophy-constrained flows), we present examples of velocity fields and initial configurations for the scalar that saturate the exponential lower bound, established in previous works, on the time decay of both scales. We also present several consequences for the geometry of regular Lagrangian flows associated to Sobolev velocity fields.Comment: To appear in Journal of the American Mathematical Society. Some results were announced in G. Alberti, G. Crippa, A. L. Mazzucato, "Exponential self-similar mixing and loss of regularity for continuity equations", C. R. Math. Acad. Sci. Paris, 352(11):901--906, 2014, arXiv:1407.2631v