Sharp energy estimates for nonlinear fractional diffusion equations

Abstract

We study the nonlinear fractional equation $(-\Delta)^s u = f(u)$ in $\mathbb{R}^n$, for all fractions $0<s<1$ and all nonlinearities $f$. For every fractional power $s \in (0,1)$, we obtain sharp energy estimates for bounded global minimizers and for bounded monotone solutions. They are sharp since they are optimal for solutions depending only on one Euclidian variable. As a consequence, we deduce the one-dimensional symmetry of bounded global minimizers and of bounded monotone solutions in dimension $n=3$ whenever $1/2 \leq s < 1$. This result is the analogue of a conjecture of De Giorgi on one-dimensional symmetry for the classical equation $-\Delta u = f(u)$ in $\mathbb{R}^n$. It remains open for $n=3$ and $s<1/2$, and also for $n \geq 4$ and all $s$.