Boundary dynamics of a two-dimensional diffusive free boundary problem

Abstract

Numerous models of industrial processes such as diffusion in glassy polymers or solidification phenomena, lead to general one-phase free boundary value problems with phase onset. In this paper we develop a framework viable to prove global existence and stability of planar solutions to one such multi-dimensional model whose application is in controlled-release pharmaceuticals. We utilize a boundary integral reformulation to allow for the use of maximal regularity. To this effect, we view the operators as pseudo-differential and exploit knowledge of the relevant symbols. Within this framework, we give a local existence and continuous dependence result necessary to prove planar solutions are locally exponentially stable with respect to two-dimensional perturbations.