On Pril R g l r t Results for the ata e u a i y Navier-Stokes Equations

MICHAEL STRUWE
E TH, Ziirich
Absbart
Looking at the regularity results of Scheffer, respectively, CaKarelli, Kohn and Nirenberg from a new point of view indicates that estimates for the pressure do not play an essential role in partial regularity results for the Navier-Stokes equations.

1. Introduction

Let P be a domain in R" with smooth boundary aP; P may be unbounded. The motion of an incompressible fluid confined in the region is modelled by the Navier-Stokes equations
(1.1)

8 , u - A u + ( u . v ) u + ~ p = f in P X [ O , T ] ,
div u = 0,

(1.2)

for the velocity u. Of course, the initial data uo should satisfy the compatibility conditions div uo = 0,
uOla, = 0.

For smooth forces f, global weak solutions u E L2,"(P) to (1.1)-(1.3) with Vu E L2(P X [0, TI) were constructed by Leray [9] and Hopf [7].Serrin [15] has shown that local weak solutions u to (1.1)-(1.2) will be locally bounded (and hence locally regular in the spatial variables) if in addition

with

(1*4)
Compare also Okyama [U].

-+-c1 r s

Communications on Pure and Applied Mathematics, Vol. XLI 437-458 (1988) CCC 0010-3640/88/040437-22$04.00 0 1988 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

438

M. STRUWE

Fabes, Jones and Riviere [3], respectively Sohr and v. Wahl (cp. [20], p. 190m have extended these results to cases where equality holds in (1.4); see also Giga [211. However, in dimensions n 2 3 a large gap opens between the regularity available in the existence theorems and the additional regularity required for Serrins result. In n = 3 dimensions, this gap has recently been narrowed by Scheffer [13], respectively Caffarelli, Kohn and Nirenberg [2]. In particular, based on Scheffers ideas the latter authors prove the following local partial regularity result for suitable weak solutions to (1.1)-(1.3).

THEOREM There is an absolute constant E > 0 with the following property: 1.1. If ( u , p ) is a suitable weak solution of the Nauier-Stokes system near ( x , t ) with f E Lq, q > $, and iffinally

then u is essentially bounded in a neighbourhood of ( x , t ) .

See [2], Proposition 2, p. 776; the definition of suitable weak solution is given in [2], p. 779ff. In particular, Theorem 1.1 implies that any suitable weak solution of (1.1)-(1.3) on an open set Q in space-time is locally bounded off a singular set S of Hausdorff dimension dim S 6 1 (with respect to the metric S ( ( x , t ) , ( y , s ) ) = (x -y( see [2], Theorem B, p. 772. The notions of weak solutions and suitable weak solutions essentially W e r in that the latter notion also requires a generalized energy inequality and an estimate for the pressure p . By using Solonnikovs estimates [17], Theorem 17, p. 115, Caffarelli, Kohn and Nirenberg succeed in proving the existence of suitable weak solutions for Sl = R 3 or Sl e R 3 (bounded); see [2], Theorem A, p. 772ff. S o h and von Wahl have recently obtained estimates for the pressure in exterior domains, as well; see [16], p. 436. Note that Scheffer has recently constructed an example of a singular solution u to the Navier-Stokes equations with a highly irregular force f which at al l points in space-time is acting against the motion of the fluid, i.e., the build-up of a singularity seems to be mediated by the pressure; see [14]. In this note, we want to bring out more clearly the role the pressure plays in regularity. While we also require a version of the energy inequality, our results indicate that for the local partial regularity result Theorem 1.1 estimates for the pressure are not essential. To support this view, we prove local a priori estimates for weak solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations under a smallness condition (1.5)-but using no information about the pressure. In order to simplify the problem while keeping the essential difficulties, instead of considering the instationary problem (1.1)-(1.3) in n = 3 space dimensions, we study the time-independent problem (1.1)-(1.2) in n = 5 dimensions. (By the dimensions table in [2],

+d m ) ;

NAVIER-STOKESEQUATIONS

439

(1.9), p. 774, time corresponds to 2 space dimensions.) That is we consider weak solutions u E Hk2(Q; ) of the equation R5 (1.6) (1 -7)

-Au+(u.v)u+vp=f divu = 0 in Q,

in Q,

in the sense that the following relations hold:

i f c p d x forall cp E C,"(S2): divq, = 0,

V q d x = 0 for all 4 E C,"(Q).

Moreover, we impose the following condition reminiscent of the generalized energy inequality in [2]: If B is a ball in Q and if u decomposes u = u w on B, where u B ; W '), w E H for some space H c H:p2( B; OR 5 ) , then the functional

H195/2(

(1 .lo)

L: cp -+ j u * vwcpdx
B

= L(cp)

on C,"(B; R') extends to a continuous linear functional on H , and L ( w ) = 0.

In applications, the easiest way to verify condition (1.10) is to assume some additional regularity for u. Sufficient conditions are for example the conditions u E L:w( 52; W ') or u E H&"'/'(Q; W ') -+ Liz4(Q;R 5 ) . By assumption on u the function w = u - u will enjoy the same regularity as u; whence the functional L from (1.10) extends to a continuous linear map on H := n L 4 ( B ;R'), respectively on H := HA** n B; R5), with
H'3''/,/'(

by (1.2). (Note that for full regularity u E Li, or vu E LiC would be required; see Section 3.)

THEOREM There exists an absolute constant E,, > 0 with the following 1.2. property: If u E H'y2(Q; R') satisfying (1.10) is a weak solution to (1.6)-(1.7) in an open domain Q c R and with force f E Lq( 51) for some 4 > 3, and if for some

'

440
x E

M. STRUWE

C there is R , > 0 such that l

r-li
x-ylcr

(1.11)

lVu12 dy 5 E,

for all r < R,,

then u is Holder-continuous near x for some exponent a > 0, and its a-Holder norm is bounded in terms of the L2-norms of u, V U , the Lq-norm o f f , and R,. (Higher regularity for smooth f then follows. In particular, u is a classical solution to (1.6)-(1.7) o a singular set of Hausdorf dimension less than or equal to 1.) f

For the proof of Theorem 1.2 we rely on standard techniques for proving regularity of solutions of elliptic systems as developed by Morrey 1111, or Giaquinta [5], and Lions-Magenes [lo]. Moreover, we use estimates of Solonnikov [18] for the linearized Stokes' equations

divv = 0.
A similar approach to the stationary Navier-Stokes equations in dimensions n 4 was taken by Giaquinta and Modica [6] in order to obtain generalizations of Gerhardt's [4] regularity result to systems of Navier-Stokes type. The extension of this method to n = 5 dimensions is possible by the use of Lemma 2.4; moreover, we heavily exploit exact dependence of solutions to the linearized Stokes problem on the data of all orders. (Our Theorem 2.7 in this respect serves as an extension of Theorem 1.3 of [6], p. 183.) It would be interesting to know if analogous partial regularity results hold in dimensions n > 5.

We point out that potential theoretical estimates and (local) estimates for the pressure also appear in the proofs of the generalizations of Serrin's result mentioned earlier. As a side line in Section 3 we observe that these results may be obtained by a simple extension of Serrin's original method, where the pressure is eliminated from the equations (1.1) by considering the vorticity w = curl u (in dimension n = 3) instead of u. Thus it seems that local regularity properties are not influenced by the nonlocal effects of the pressure-as long as we are interested only in boundedness and spatial regularity of solutions. Note, however, that given any bounded measurable function a ( t ) and any harmonic function \k the function
u(x,t ) = a ( t ) v * ( x )

is a local weak solution to (1.1)-(1.2). This example due to Serrin [15] makes it clear that higher regularity in time will in general require global estimates-also for the pressure.

NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

441

2. Proof of Theorem 1.2 2.1. Notations. We are interested in the local behavior of weak solutions u to the stationary Navier-Stokes equations (1.6)-(1.7) in a smooth open domain 0 c W5.It will suffice to restrict u to balls

Moreover, by invariance of (1.6)-(1.7) under translation and scaling

u(')

R u ( - ? k )= u R ( x ) ,

we may always shift the center of attention to the point x = 0 and we may assume that u solves (1.8) on the unit ball

Also let

with boundary
S, = aB,.

For a domain P c R", 1 5 p 4 m, k E N let LP(P; W k )denote the Lebesgue space of measurable functions cp: 0 + R k such that

For m E N let H'",J'(P;R ) denote the Sobolev space of functions cp with distributional derivatives Iv"rpI E LP(P) for all la1 6 m and

of The Sobolev space Hr*P(P;R k ) is defined as the 11 I)Hm.p-closure CF(P; R k ) : the space of smooth functions with compact support in 9. For any bounded domain P, Poincar6's inequality holds,
IlcpllHm'P(Q)

6 4% m ,P)llv'"cpIILP(n)

for all cp

H,"%P(Q; ~ ) . R

442

M. STRUWE

Moreover, we recall the trace and embedding theorems (for smooth 52):

In case p = 2 the spaces L 2 ( Q , R k ) ,etc. are Hilbert spaces. The dual of H$y2(52,R k ) is denoted by H-"(Q, W") with the dual norm

92 The definition of Hmp2(i2;k, can be extended to arbitrary real m by interpolation; see Lions-Magenes [lo], Chapter I. The trace theorem continues to hold true for m > f and m - f 6C N; the embedding theorem remains true for m 2 0.

For ease of notation we shall often abbreviate LP = LP(52;R"), etc. if domain and/or range are clear from the context.

2.2. The key lemmata. Let u E H'*2(52; R') be a solution of (1.8)-(1.9) satisfying (1.10) in a domain 52 c R 5 with f E Lq(0), q > We may assume that B c 0.

H.

LEMMA 2.1. There exist absolute constants 0 < A , < 1, e, > 0 with the following property ; Let

then

NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

443

A trivial consequence of Lemma 2.1 is the following:

OBSERVATION Suppose u E H1?(B;R s ) satisfies (1.8)-(1.10) in B with 2.2. f E L9( B ) , q > 4, and suppose that, for some R , > 0, the condition

holds. Then for any E > 0 there is a number 0 < R < R, depending only on E, the L2-norm of u and the L9-norm of f, and the number R , such that the estimate

is valid. Proof: In Lemma 2.1 choose S < e, r, = min{ Rl(llf llLv, S), R , } , rk+l = Airk, k E No,and iterate inequality (2.2). This proves the statement. Theorem 1.2 will now be a consequence of
2.3. For any q > $, any a -= 2 - 5 / q there exists a constant e, > 0 LEMMA depending only on a with the following property: If u E H1i2(B;Ws) satisJies (1.8)-(1.10) in B with f E L9(B) and if, for some radius 0 < R 5 R , = RAllf I l L q B ) , 4,

11f llLv(B),

then there exists a neighborhood U of 0 in B and a constant C depending only on R , q, and a such that for all x E U and all 0 < r s R the Dirichlet growth condition

Proc- of Theorem 2: Take e, = el. By Observation 2 (with R,= inf( R,, R3(llf IILo(B), a)}) and assumption (Lll), condition (2.4) is satisfied for and therefore Lemma 2.3 yields some radius R = R(ll f llLv(B), a,R,, the estimate (2.5), uniformly in a neighborhood U of x, = 0, for r 5 R. By Morreys Dirichlet growth theorem [ll], Theorem 3.5.2, p. 79, condition (2.5) implies that u is Halder continuous with exponent a in U,with Holder norm

444

M. STRUWE

bounded by C. Tracing back the dependence of C through R on the various quantities listed in Lemma 2.3, respectively Observation 2.2, we find that

as claimed.

2 3 A lemma. The following easy application of Fubini's theorem gener.. alizes the well-known Courant-Lebesgue lemma to arbitrary dimensions.

LEMMA2.4. Suppose u E H',,(B). Then there is a radius r

uIs, E H'l2(S,) and

[i,1 such that 1

Proof: By Fubini's theorem, u, v u E L*(S,) for a.e. r E [$, 11. Let A1,, be the set of al values r E [f,1 such that (2.6), respectively (2.7), hold, and let l 1 X l , , = [f,11 \ 4 . 2 . The estimate

and a similar estimate for the measure

lA21show that

i.e., Al n A, # 0, and we can find r as claimed. We apply Lemma 2.4 to our solution u. Scaling with (2.1) we may assume that the conclusion of Lemma 2.4 holds true with r = 1, i.e., u E H 1 l 2 ( B ) , uIs E H','(S). We now decompose u = u + w , where u satisfies
(2.8) (2-9) (2.10)

- A v + v q = O in B,
divu = 0 in B,
u =u

on S ,

while w solves
(2.11) (2.12) (2.13)

- Aw + ( U * V ) U

+v(p-q) =f

in B,

divw = 0 in B ,
w = 0 on S.

NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

445

Note that by (1.2) the necessary compatibility condition for the existence of o is satisfied. Of course, we may give weak interpretations to (2.8)-(2.10), respectively (2.11)-(2.13), analogous to (1.8)-(1.9). For example, u E H 1 , 2 ( B )weakly solves (2.8)-(2.10) if the following relations hold: u - u E Ho>(B)and
(2.14) (2.15)
b u v u * d u = 0 for all v* E C Z ( B ) : divu*
=

0,

/,.

v q * dx = 0 for all q* E C?(B).

2.4. The Stokes problem. In this section we recall Solonnikovs results for the linearized stationary problem (2.8)-(2.10) (Stokes problem) from which we derive dual and intermediate existence and regularity results by the method of transposition and interpolation developed by Lions and Magenes [lo]. In particular, we obtain the following

PROPOSITION Suppose u E H1y2(B;W 5 ) with uIs E Hp2(S;R 5 ) satisfies 2.5. div u = 0. Then there exists a unique solution u E H 3 / 2 , 2 H*/(B; W 5 ) to n Stokes problem (2.8)-(2.10) and

Moreover, u is analytic in B and for any 0 < r <

the estimates

(2.17)

(2.18)
hold. The constants c are independent of the data u.

First we recall the following result by Solonnikov [18]-see also Ladyzenskaya 171, Theorem 111, p. 78-for the inhomogeneous Stokes problem:
(2.19) (2.20) (2.21)
-Av*+vq*=f*

in B , in B, on S.
I

divv* = 0
u*=u*

Since (2.19)-(2.21) is elliptic in the sense of Agmon, Douglis and Nirenberg (see also Solonnikov [18], p. 197ff.) by the estimates in [l],Chapter 10, p. 75ff., Theorem 2.6 below is valid for any dimension n E M.

446

M. STRUWE

THEOREM2.6. Suppose f * E H"I~(B; u* E H m + 2 - 1 / 2 ,(S; R"), 2 W") for some integer m g 0 and suppose that
(2.22)

b*
IlU*llHm+2.2(B) 5

nda = 0,

where n is the exterior unit normal to S; then there exists a unique solution u* E H"+2*2(B; R") to problem (2.19)-(2.21) and (2.23)

4llf*llH".2(B) + Ilu*llHm+2-1/2.2(s)),
* and u * .

with a constant c independent o f f

Note that if u* extends to a function u* E H1*'(B) with div u* = 0, then the compatibility condition (2.22) is automatically satisfied. Following the method of Lions and Magenes we now extend Theorem 2.6 to m E R. By density of Cm(B)in H".'(B), respectively Hhm(B)for all m 2 0, it suffices to establish the a priori estimate (2.23) for real m. Moreover, for our purposes we need only consider the homogeneous case f = 0. For ease of notation we introduce the spaces
(2.24)

Z"=

{{

u E Hmi2(B)ldivu 0} =
E H"(B)Jdivu =

{u

0}

if if

m 2 0, m < 0,

where div u is understood in the sense of distributions. Similarly, we may define trace spaces

with induced norms 11 Ilrm, where

(u,n)(s)= (u,n)p-w(S)XH-m+1/z2 (9
denotes the dual pairing of a distribution u with the (smooth) normal vector field n. Let u E Z" be a solution to (2.8)-(2.10) with boundary data u E r", m E R. Decompose u 7 u1 + VS,where
(2.25)
(2.26)

As=O
-an= u * n s

in

B,

on S.

NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

447

Note that since u E r", the compatibility condition for the existence of s is satisfied. From Lions-Magenes [lo], Theorems 11.5.4, p. 1.165, 11.6.7, p. 1.179, 11.7.4, p. 1.188, we infer moreover the estimate

for all real m, and thus that vs has a trace on S such that
(2.28)

(Note that, if rn - E 2, estimate (2.28) cannot be derived directly from (2.27) via the standard trace theorems; see [lo], Theorem 1.4.3, p.I.26. However, s solves an elliptic equation, and (2.28) follows using the above results of LionsMagenes for the Dirichlet problem for equation (2.25).) The function u, solves a Stokes problem (2.8)-(2.9) with pressure q1 = q and boundary data
u1 = u - v s on S.

Observe that by (2.26) we have u1 n = 0 on S, and (2.22) is satisfied. We now estimate u, in H - " ( B ) for integer m 2 0. By duality,

For any such f * let u* E X m + 2 be the solution to (2.19)-(2.21) with u* Upon integrating by parts we see that

= 0.

Since divu* = divu, = 0 in B, u* = 0, u1 n = 0 on S , the last two terms vanish. By (2.23), (2.28) and the trace theorem we therefore conclude that

448

M. STRUWE

That is, it follows by (2.27), (2.29) that

By interpolation we finally obtain

THEOREM The Stokes problem (2.8)-(2.10) establishes on algebraic and 2.7. topological isomorphism between the spaces 2" and I?" for all m E R and all n >= 2.
N t c that our definition of 8", rrn a result of Triebel [19],Chapter I. oie by 17.1. Theorem 1, p. 118, is consistent with interpolation.
Proof of Proposition 2.5: The first assertion follows from Theorem 2.7 (with m = $) and the Sobolev embedding theorem. By linearity, vu is not changed if we subtract the mean value

from the data. Thus we obtain

as claimed.

To verify the remaining assertions note that q is represented by an H1/292function on B. By (2.9), q is harmonic, in particular, analytic in B, and so is u. Normalizing q by requiring the mean value of q to be 0, we have moreover from (2.8)

The right inequalities simply follow upon testing (2.8) with u - u; we use our choice of S. Let cp E C?(B) be a smooth localizing function, m E N . Multiplying the equation Aq = 0 by P - ' q cp and integrating by parts we obtain the bound

NAVIER-STOKES EQUATXONS

449

Letting m = 1,2,3,. ,, we eventually arrive at the estimate .

for all m E N and any compact subdomain B' @ B. For m > )n will be locally bounded by the Sobolev embedding theorem and
llv411H*.-(B.) $

+ k, Vk+'q

c(dist(S, B ' ) , k)llVUlfL~(S)

9

for any B' Q B, k E No. Choose a radius r E [$, 1 such that (2.6)-(2.7) hold for u and decompose 1 u = 6 + i, where A6 = 0 in B, while t? E H ' 'B,). By the mean value property ,*( of harmonic functions, for any p < I t ,

and the right-hand sides may be further estimated in terms of I l ~ ] l & ~ , , respectively IIvu11&), via Theorem 2.7 (with m = 0). Finally, from Schauder's estimates for the solution 6 of Dirichlet's problem

A ~ = A u V q i B,, = n

we also deduce that, for p <

r, 0 < a! < 1,

and similarly that

IlVV=ll i'(6.J

CPSllV4 i 2 ( S ) . 1

450

M. STRUWE

2.5 Proofs of Lemmata 2.1, 23 Multiply equation (2.11) by w and integrate .: by parts to obtain the identity

pw12dr

+ L(u

vu)wdx

+ /,.

vwwdx =

if.

wdx.

Since u = u + w, where v u E L5I2,and on account of (l.lO), this can be justified by an approximation procedure. Note that by (2.12)-(2.13) any terms involving the pressure disappear. By (1.10) also the third term on the left is non-negative, and by Holder's inequality for f E Lq, 4 > f, we arrive at the estimate

with s = 4/(4 - 1) c $. By the Poincar6-Sobolev inequality,

Young's inequality therefore gives

where we have also used Proposition 2.5. Hence if in addition we take (2.7) into account we see that

Combining this estimate with our Campanato-type estimates (2.17)-(2.18) for the function u we infer that, for p < $,

Choosing a larger constant c1 if necessary, we may assume that (2.31) holds for all p c r = 2. Moreover, using (2.1), we may scale back to the unit ball r = 1. Proof of Lemma 2.1: Choose 0 < A, 5 1 and then el > 0 such that (2.32)
c1 *(A;
+El)

+A;.

NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

451

Scaling inequality (2.31) to arbitrary radii r 5 1, p = A,r, we see that, if

with y = 6

- lo/q

> 2, i.e.,

. Hence Lemma 2 1 follows if we let

In order to prove Lemma 2 3 we note that (2.30) and Proposition 2 5 also . . imply that, for p < r = 1 ,

We may assume that c3 2 cl. The remainder of the proof is similar to that of Lemma 2 1 Assume that .: 1 and E~ > 0 such that (Y < min(l,2 - 5 / 4 } is given. Choose 0 < A,

(2.36)

C3(A\

+ E 2 ) 6 x32+2a=< $'. A,

452
Scaling to arbitrary r

M. STRUWE

1, p = A2r, if

we obtain, analogous to the estimates (2.33)-(2.34), that

Moreover, (2.36) implies (2.32) and hence (2.34). Therefore, if r

s ~ l ( l l f I l L 9 ( B )e2), ,

condition (2.37) reproduces itself. Choose p: 2a < p < y - 2, and define

and if (2.37) holds for r, we infer the estimate

@ ( h 2 r )5 AZ,"@(r)+ (Arr'

+ C4A;'rr-2)11f11i9(B)
R,,

5 hZ,"@(r),

while also (2.37) is reproduced for p = A,r. By iteration we obtain that, for any k E N, any r

@( Ak,r) s

r),

provided only (2.37) holds for r. Now, for any p 5 r there exists a unique ; Hence, for such p, number k E N such that p / r ]A:, A:-'].

NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

45 3

such that

for all p s r, provided (2.37) holds for r. Finally, by continuity, if (2.37) holds with center xo = 0 for some r > 0, this condition will hold true in an open neighborhood U of xo.

3. Serrin's Regularity Result

Let Q be an open domain in R", n 2 3, Q = Q x 10, T[. Denote by LP*q(Q; k )the space of measurable functions cp: Q W such that R
--j

If p = 4 we simply write LP(Q), etc. R") We consider weak solutions u E L2ym(Q; with lvul (1.1)-(1.2) in the sense that div u = 0 as distribution and that

L2(Q) to

Jd{

-u

ar(P

+ VUVcp - ( ( u ' V ) q )

u } dxdt =

Jdf

cp dxdt

for all cp E C r ( Q )with divcp = 0. The following result is due essentially to Serrin [15]. (The limit cases were studied by Fabes, Jones, Riviere, respectively Sohr, and von Wahl; see the Introduction.)
THEOREM 3.1. Suppose u E L2'"(Q;W") with lvul E L2(Q)is a weak solution to the instationary Nauier-Stokes equations in Q = i2 X 10, T [ for an open domain $2 C W", n 2 3, and satisJies either the condition (i) u E LP?q(Q), where 1 < p , 4 < bo, n/p 2/4 s 1, or (ii) u E L"?"(Q) and there is an R > 0 such that

uniformly for all t 10, T [ for some absolute constant essentially bounded (and hence regular) in Q.

> 0. Then u is locally

Proof: Following Serrin [15] we let w = curl u (= *du, if n > 3) denote the vorticity of u; w weakly satisfies the equation (if n = 3)
(3 4

a,d - A@' + -(uiw' axj

- @'a')

curl f ,

454

M. STRUWE

(see Semn [15], (ll), p. 190). For n > 3 a similar equation holds (see [15], (23), p. 194). First assume that u is uniformly bounded while w E L2.Testing (3.1) with (and a similar testing function in dimensions greater than 3), where s 2 1,cp E C$(Q), cp 2 0, we obtain

This estimate holds true for all dimensions (provided the integrals exist). By Holder's inequality and Sobolev's embedding theorem applied to the function 1wI"cp E L2,"(Q) with o(~o~"cp) E L2(Q),we have 1~1"cpE L"lp(Q) for all T, p such that
2 -n + - = - n 1 T p 2 ' and

(3.3)

where

NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

455

Also applying Holder's inequality to the right side of (3.1) yields

where

i.e., 2 - + -p T n + 1 pn * -=1 and the latter is at least estimate

(5+ i),

i n if

n/p

+ 2/q

5 1. In this case, (3.2)-(3.3) yield the

Hence if l1412Lp.'7(,ppcp) < e is sufficiently small-which by absolute continuity of the Lebesgue integral for finite p, q < c can always be achieved by choosing o supp cp sufficiently small-we obtain

By (3.2)-(3.4) this also implies that

for all

8, p

such that n/n

+ 2/p

i n ; in particular we can bound

lwlscp E L z B ( Q ) , where /3 = n + 2 > l .

Letting so = 1, sk+l = @sk for k E No and iterating (3.5) on domains Q , = Q, Q k + l = ((x, t)Jrpk(x, ) 2 l} with suitable functions ( P k + l E CF(Qk), we t eventually see that w E L;Leirn(Q) that and

for any compact subdomain Q' e Q and any r > 0, E > 0 .

456

M. STRUWE

In order to obtain (3.6) in the general case we approximate u by smooth functions u k such that uk+u while
Il'kllLP*q(Q) CIIUIILP-q(Q)

in L 2 ( Q ) as k - ,

00,

for all k. Let wk be the solution to (3.1) for uk with initial and boundary data
w k = w on

aQ x

[O,T ] = Z, respectively Q x {O},

in the sense of distributions. (Since w E L2(Q)weakly solves (3.1), w has a trace

wlz

~-1/2.-1/4

(Z),

wlnx(0) E

H-YQ

x {O}),

see Lions-Magenes [lo], Theorem IV.12.1, p. 11.60. By varying the initial and lateral boundary of Q slightly, we can even achieve that, analogously to Lemma 2.4, wlz E L2(Z),4 * X ( O ) E L2(Q x {}. O)) If
IlukllLP.q(Q)

r C ~ ~ u I ~ t P * '<( C E) ? Q

is small enough-for finite p , 4 < 00 this can always be achieved by choosing a smaller domain Q' @ Q if necessay--wk is unique and a priori bounded in L2(Q)for any k E N Indeed, by duality,
lIWkllL2(Q) =
(@k,

*)/llf*llL2(Q)*

f*GL*(Q)\{o)

For any such f (3.7)

let w* solve the backward heat equation

- a,w*-hw*=f*

in Q

with initial and boundary data

W*=O

on ~ Q X [ O , T ] U Q {T}. X

Note that by [lo], Theorem IV.6.1, p. 11.33, there exists a unique solution w* of (3.7) with a p * , v 'w* E L2(Q)and
(3.8)
Ilatw*llLz(Q)

+ llvzw*11L2(Q) 4 c l l f

*llL2(Q)'

By the trace theorem moreover, respectively by [lo], Theorem 1.3.2, p. 1.21, we can bound

NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

457

E L2(Qx (). Hence the 0) reader may use our previous remark concerning w to avoid working in fractional power spaces, if desired. Estimates (3.8)-(3.9) can also be directly derived from (3.7) by taking the squares of both sides of (3.7) and integrating by parts.) By (3.3) and (3.8)-(3.9) we can also bound

(In particular, also &*/an E L2(dQx [0,TI), w*

vo* E L"%P(Q)

for all numbers n, p such that have

n/?r

+ 2 / p 2 i n . Thus, integrating by parts we

(curlf-

+a lw

wLul),.*)

4 I l f l l L z ( Q ) ( l V W * ( I L 1 ( Q+ IlukllLP.q(Q)llwkllLz(Q)llvw*llLw,p(Q) ) + c ( w ) Ilf * 11L2(Q)

where l/n = 1 - l/p lows that
3

- $,l/p

1 - 1/11

- $,

i.e.,

n/lr

+ 2/p

2 fn. It fol-

ll'kllLz(Q)

I cellwkllL2(Q) + c l l f l l L 2 ( Q ) + c ( w ) ; ;

whence, for e > 0 sufficiently small, w k is uniformly a pnon bounded i L2(Q). n Similarly, we can show that #k is unique, if E > 0 is sufficiently small. Hence @k + w weakly i L2(Q)as k + w. By the uniform local a pnon bounds (3.6) n on ok it then follows that w E Ly2e*"(Q)-and hence u E L$(Q) as in Semn's paper 1151, Lemma 2, p. 190, and 11, p. 193, as claimed.

Acknowledgment. I wish to thank H. Amann, J. Frehse, S. Klainerman, J. Moser and W. van W h for their interest and helpful comments at various stages al of this work. Moreover, I am indepted to the referee for valuable suggestions.

458

M. STRUWE

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Received May, 1987. Revised November, 1987.