This monograph presents a self-contained introduction to the analytic foundation of a level set approach for various surface evolution equations, including curvature flow equations. These equations are important in many applications, such as material sciences, image processing, and differential geometry. The goal is to introduce a generalized notion of solutions allowing singularities and to solve the initial-value problem globally-in-time in a generalized sense.

For the Second Edition , new chapters have been added that describe a recent approach to surface evolution equations based on deterministic discrete two-person games. This game-theoretic interpretation is used to discuss the fattening phenomenon for the curvature flow equation and to provide an alternative proof for convexity preserving properties.

This text is suitable for applied researchers who would like to know the detail of the theory, as well as its flavor; it is also suitable for graduate students interested in the field. Prerequisites include calculus, linear algebra, and some familiarity with semicontinuous functions. Familiarity with differential geometry and the theory of viscosity solutions is not required.

Provides a self-contained introduction to the level set approach to surface evolution equations Synthesizes results scattered throughout the literature Describes a new approach based on deterministic discrete two-person games

Autorentext

Dr. Yoshikazu Giga is professor at the Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences of the University of Tokyo, Japan. He is a fellow of the American Mathematical Society as well as of the Japan Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. Through his more than 250 papers and 2 monographs, he has substantially contributed to the theory for parabolic partial differential equations including geometric evolution equations, semilinear heat equations, as well as the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. He has received several prizes including the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the Government of Japan and the second Kodaira Kunihiko Prize from the Mathematical Society of Japan. Dr. Mi-Ho Giga is a project researcher at the Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences of the University of Tokyo, Japan. She is a mathematical analyst working on parabolic partial differential equations related to crystal growth at low temperature. She is a member of both the Mathematical Society of Japan and the Japan Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. She is one of the authors of the book 'Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations: Asymptotic Behavior of Solutions and Self-Similar Solutions' published from Birkhauser in 2010 as well as its Japanese original version published from Kyoritu-Shuppan in 1999.

Inhalt

Preface.- Introduction.- Surface Evolution Equations.- Viscosity Solutions.- Comparison Principle.- Classical Level Set Method.- Set-Theoretic Approach.- Deterministic Game Interpretations.- Applications of Game-Theoretic Approach.