The application of techniques from nonlinear analysis to materials science has seen great developments in the recent years and it has really been a driving force for substantial mathematical research in the area of partial differential equations and the multi-dimensional calculus of variations. This thesis has been motivated by two recent and remarkable experimental observations of H. Seiner in shape-memory alloys which we attempt to interpret mathematically. Much of the work is original and has given rise to deep problems in the calculus of variations. Firstly, we study the formation of non-classical austenite-martensite interfaces. Ball & Carstensen (1997, 1999) theoretically investigated the possibility of the occurrence of such interfaces and studied the cubic-to-tetragonal case extensively. In this thesis, we present an analysis of non-classical austenite-martensite interfaces recently observed by Seiner et al.~in a single crystal of a CuAlNi shape-memory alloy, undergoing a cubic-to-orthorhombic transition. We show that these can be described by the general nonlinear elasticity model and we make some predictions regarding the admissible volume fractions of the martensitic variants involved, as well as the habit plane normals. Interestingly, in the above experimental observations, the interface between the austenite and the martensitic configuration is never exactly planar, but rather slightly curved, resulting from the pattern of martensite not being exactly homogeneous. However, it is not clear how one can reconstruct the inhomogeneous configuration as a stress-free microstructure and, instead, a theoretical approach is followed. In this approach, a general method is provided for the construction of a compatible curved austenite-martensite interface and, by exploiting the structure of quasiconvex hulls, the existence of curved interfaces is shown in two and three dimensions. As far as the author is aware of, this is the first construction of such a curved austenite-martensite interface. Secondly, we study the nucleation of austenite in a single crystal of a CuAlNi shape-memory alloy consisting of a single variant of stabilized 2H martensite. The nucleation process is induced by localized heating and it is observed that, regardless of where the localized heating is applied, the nucleation points are always located at one of the corners of the sample - a rectangular parallelepiped in the austenite. Using a simplified nonlinear elasticity model, we propose an explanation for the location of the nucleation points by showing that the martensite is a local minimizer of the energy with respect to localized variations in the interior, on faces and edges of the sample, but not at some corners, where a localized microstructure can lower the energy. The result for the interior, faces and edges is established by showing that the free-energy function satisfies a set of quasiconvexity conditions at the stabilized variant throughout the specimen, provided this is suitably cut. The proofs of quasiconvexity are based on a rigidity argument and are specific to the change of symmetry in the phase transformation. To the best of the author's knowledge, quasiconvexity conditions at edges and corners have not been considered before.

This thesis concerns the regularity of holonomic minimisers of variational integrals in the context of direct methods in the calculus of variations. Specifically, we consider Sobolev mappings from a bounded domain into a connected compact Riemannian manifold without boundary, to which such mappings are said to be holonomically constrained. For a general class of strictly quasiconvex integral functionals, we give a direct proof of local C^1,α-Hölder continuity, for some 0 < α < 1, of holonomic minimisers off a relatively closed 'singular set' of Lebesgue measure zero. Crucially, the proof constructs comparison maps using the universal covering of the target manifold, the lifting of Sobolev mappings to the covering space and the connectedness of the covering space. A certain tangential A-harmonic approximation lemma obtained directly using a Lipschitz approximation argument is also given. In the context of holonomic minimisers of regular variational integrals, we also provide bounds on the Hausdorff dimension of the singular set by generalising a variational difference quotient method to the holonomically constrained case with critical growth. The results are analogous to energy-minimising harmonic maps into compact manifolds, however in this case the proof does not use a monotonicity formula. We discuss several applications to variational problems in condensed matter physics, in particular those concerning the superfluidity of liquid helium-3 and nematic liquid crystals. In these problems, the class of mappings are constrained to an orbit of 'broken symmetries' or 'manifold of internal states', which correspond to a sub-group of residual symmetries.

We briefly summarize existing result in theory of minimizers of elliptic variational functionals. We introduce proof of existence and regularity such functional under assumpti- ons of quaziconvexity and izotrophic growth estimates, and discuss possible generalization to anizotropic case. Our proof is a compilation from more sources, modified in order of simplicity, readability and detailed analysis of all steps.

<div>The dissertation consists of two research topics.</div><div><br></div><div>The first research direction is to study stability of functional and geometric inequalities. Stability problem is to estimate the deficit of a functional or geometric inequality in terms of the distance from the class of optimizers or a functional that identifies the optimizers. In particular, we investigate the logarithmic Sobolev inequality, the Beckner-Hirschman inequality (the entropic uncertainty principle), and isoperimetric type inequalities for the expected lifetime of Brownian motion. </div><div><br></div><div>The second topic of the thesis is a stochastic representation of fractional integrals and nonlocal operators. We extend the Hardy-Littlewood-Sobolev inequality to symmetric Markov semigroups. To this end, we construct a stochastic representation of the fractional integral using the background radiation process. The inequality follows from a new inequality for the fractional Littlewood-Paley square function. We also prove the Hardy-Stein identity for non-symmetric pure jump Levy processes and the L^p boundedness of a certain class of Fourier multiplier operators arising from non-symmetric pure jump Levy processes. The proof is based on Ito's formula for general jump processes and the symmetrization of Levy processes. <br></div>

Esta tese estuda a geometria de problemas variacionais através da linearização e projetivização das suas equações de Euler - Lagrange. O processo de linearização fornece a passagem das equações de Euler - Lagrange para as equações de Jacobi; a minimalidade (local) de extremais está determinada pelo conceito de ponto conjugado, que tem natureza projetiva. Propriedades de minimalidade local são transformadas em propriedades de auto-interseção de uma curva na variedade de Grassmann adequada. Desenvolvemos este processo em duas aplicações: 1) O estudo da minimalidade local de extremais de problemas variacionais de ordem superior. Neste caso, encontramos uma curva não degenerada de planos isotrópicos num espaço vetorial simplético, que, após prolongamento por derivadas, fornece uma curva degenerada de planos Lagrangeanos cujas auto-interseções determinam a minimalidade. 2) No caso mais clássico de problemas de ordem um, estudamos a versão linear - projetiva do problema inverso: dada uma equação diferencial de ordem dois, quando ela é a equação de Euler - Lagrange de um problema variacional? Veremos que as condições do problema inverso linear - projetivo fornecem informações sobre os possíveis Lagrangianos, por exemplo a assinatura. / In this work we study the geometry of high order calculus of variations through the linearization and projectivization of their Euler Lagrange equations. The linearization process provides the passage from the Euler Lagrange equations to the Jacobi equations; the (local) minimality properties of the extremal is determined by conjugate points, which is a projective concept. Minimaltiy properties of the extremals are transformed into self-intersection propertie of curves in the appropriate Grassmann manifold. We develop this process in two instances: 1) The study of minimality properties of extremals of higher-order variational problems. In this case, we find a non-degenerate curve of isotropic subspaces, that, after prolongation by derivatives, gives a degenerate curve of Lagrangian planes whose self-intersections determine minimality. 2) In the classical case of order one variational problems, we study a projective-linear version of the inverse problem: given a second order differential equation, when is it the Euler-Lagrange equation of a variational problem? We will see that the conditions given by the linear projective inverse problem provides information about the possible Lagrangians, for example, its signature.

by Chan Kwan Leung. / Parallel title in Chinese characters. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-169). / by Chan Kwan Leung. / Acknowledgement --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Chapter 1. --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Objective of our variational method --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Outline of the content --- p.5 / Chapter 2. --- Formulation of the new variational method / Chapter 2.1 --- Formulation --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2 --- Motivation --- p.15 / Chapter 3. --- The variational method applied to the anharmonic oscillator problem / Chapter 3.1 --- Formalism --- p.18 / Chapter 3.2 --- Relationship with usual variational method --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3 --- Relationship with W.K.B. approximation --- p.37 / Chapter 3.4 --- Perturbative corrections --- p.45 / Chapter 3.5 --- Diagonalization of non-orthogonal basis --- p.57 / Chapter 3.6 --- Perturbative corrections using the non-orthogonal basis --- p.72 / Chapter 3.7 --- Some previous works on the anharmonic oscillator problem --- p.85 / Chapter 4. --- The variational method applied to the helium-like atomic problem / Chapter 4.1 --- Previous work on the problem --- p.90 / Chapter 4.2 --- Formulation of the variational method on the problem --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3 --- Zeroth order results for atomic helium --- p.103 / Chapter 4.4 --- Diagonalization using the non-orthogonal basis --- p.109 / Chapter 4.5 --- Results for some helium-like ions --- p.136 / Chapter 4.6 --- Possibility of generalization to systems with more electrons --- p.140 / Chapter 5 --- Concluding remarks / Chapter 5.1 --- Range of applicability of our variational method --- p.164 / Chapter 5.2 --- Ground state problem --- p.165 / Chapter 5.3 --- Completeness of our 'basis' --- p.166 / References --- p.168

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Anna On-Nar Yau. / M.S.

In this dissertation work, I present a broad historical account of how the calculus of variations was applied in economics in the 1920s up until the 1940s. In the interwar period, mathematical economics was a vibrant and plural community of authors. Previous historical works on this period have focused on specific points of these authors. The present dissertation focuses on the mathematical technique, i.e., the calculus of variations and how it was used in economics. This history also encompasses the early mathematization of economics, the early history of econometrics, and the struggles to devise a dynamic theory of economics in a general equilibrium framework. I follow mainly the works of American mathematician Griffith C. Evans (18871973) whom I argue is a seminal author in this literature. In 1924, Evans used the calculus of variations to put forward a dynamic version of A. Cournot\'s classic analysis of monopoly. In the following decades, a handful of authors followed Evans\'s approach and used the calculus of variations to research depreciation, business cycles, optimal savings, and general equilibrium. In the late 1960s, similar mathematical formulations became common place in the form of optimal control and dynamic programming. These new mathematical techniques shared intimate relations with the calculus of variations. / Neste trabalho de dissertação, apresento uma história geral de como o cálculo variacional foi aplicado na economia no período dos anos 1920 até 1940. Durante o período do entreguerras, havia uma comunidade plural e vibrante de autores trabalhando com economia matemática. Trabalhos históricos sobre esse período se debruçaram sobre pontos específicos desses autores. O presente trabalho tem como foco a técnica matemática, i.e., o cálculo variacional e como ele foi utilizado na economia. Minha história também abarca o início da matematização da economia, os primeiros anos da econometria, e os desenvolvimentos de uma teoria dinâmica de economia dentro de um modelo de equilíbrio geral. Este trabalho segue de perto a obra do matemático estadunidense Griffith C. Evans (1887-1973), um autor seminal nesta literatura. Em 1924, Evans usa o cálculo variacional para dinamizar a análise clássica de monopólio de A. Cournot. Nas próximas décadas, a maior parte dos autores que usaram o cálculo variacional em economia seguiram a abordagem de Evans: eles encontraram aplicações para o cálculo de variações em teorias de depreciação, ciclos de negócios e equilíbrio geral. No final da década de 60, modelos matemáticos usando controle ótimo e programação dinâmica se popularizaram em economia. Estas novas técnicas matemáticas têm íntima relação com o cálculo variacional.

In this thesis, results will be presented that pertain to the global regularity of solutions to boundary value problems having the general form \begin{align} F\left[D^2u-A(\,\cdot\,,u,Du)\right] &= B(\,\cdot\,,u,Du),\quad\text{in}\ \Omega^-,\notag\\ T_u(\Omega^-) &= \Omega^+, \end{align} where $A$, $B$, $T_u$ are all prescribed; and $\Omega^-$ along with $\Omega^+$ are bounded in $\mathbb{R}^n$, smooth and satisfying notions of c-convexity and c^*-convexity relative to one another (see [MTW05] for definitions). In particular, the case where $F$ is a quotient of symmetric functions of the eigenvalues of its argument matrix will be investigated. Ultimately, analogies to the global regularity result presented in [TW06] for the Optimal Transportation Problem to this new fully-nonlinear elliptic boundary value problem will be presented and proven. It will also be shown that the A3w condition (first presented in [MTW05]) is also necessary for global regularity in the case of (1). The core part of this research lies in proving various a priori estimates so that a method of continuity argument can be applied to get the existence of globally smooth solutions. The a priori estimates vary from those presented in [TW06], due to the structure of F, introducing some complications that are not present in the Optimal Transportation case.¶ In the final chapter of this thesis, the A3 condition will be reformulated and analysed on round spheres. The example cost-functions subsequently analysed have already been studied in the Euclidean case within [MTW05] and [TW06]. In this research, a stereographic projection is utilised to reformulate the A3 condition on round spheres for a general class of cost-functions, which are general functions of the geodesic distance as defined relative to the underlying round sphere. With this general expression, the A3 condition can be readily verified for a large class of cost-functions that depend on the metrics of round spheres, which is tantamount (combined with some geometric assumptions on the source and target domains) to the classical regularity for solutions of the Optimal Transportation Problem on round spheres.

In this thesis we collect the study of two problems in the Calculus of Variations and Partial Differential Equations. Our first group of results concern the analysis of minimizers in a variational model describing the shape of liquid drops and crystals under the influence of gravity, resting on a horizontal surface. Making use of anisotropic symmetrization techniques and an analysis of fine properties of minimizers within the class of sets of finite perimeter, we establish existence, convexity and symmetry of minimizers. In the case of smooth surface tensions, we obtain uniqueness of minimizers via an ODE characterization. In the second group of results discussed in this thesis, which is joint work with A. Vasseur, we treat a problem in compressible fluid dynamics, establishing a uniform bound from below on the temperature for a variant of the compressible Navier-Stokes-Fourier system under suitable hypotheses. This system of equations forms a mathematical model of the motion of a compressible fluid subject to heat conduction. Building upon the work of (Mellet, Vasseur 2009), we identify a class of weak solutions satisfying a localized form of the entropy inequality (adapted to measure the set where the temperature becomes small) and use a form of the De Giorgi argument for L[superscript infinity] bounds of solutions to elliptic equations with bounded measurable coefficients. / text