A remark on the finite time singularity of the heat flow for harmonic maps

Abstract

In this paper we study the finite time singularities for the solution of the heat flow for harmonic maps. We derive a gradient estimate for the solution across a finite time singularity. In particular, we find that the solution is asymptotically radial around the isolated singular point in space at a finite singular time. It would be more desirable to understand whether the solution is continuous in space at a finite singular time.