Abstract:
We consider the Cauchy problem for the continuity equation with a bounded nearly incompressible vector field b:(0,T)×Rd→Rd, T>0. This class of vector fields arises in the context of hyperbolic conservation laws, in particular in connection with the Keyfitz-Kranzer system.
It is well known that in the generic multi-dimensional case (d⩾1) near incompressibility is sufficient for existence of bounded weak solutions, but uniqueness may fail (even when the vector field is divergence-free), and hence further assumptions on the regularity of b (e.g. Sobolev regularity) are needed in order to obtain uniqueness.
We prove that in the one-dimensional case (d=1) near incompressibility is sufficient for existence and uniqueness of locally integrable weak solutions. We also study compactness properties of the associated Lagrangian flows.