Global solutions for the generalized SQG equation and rearrangements

Abstract

In this paper, we study the existence of rotating and traveling-wave solutions for the generalized surface quasi-geostrophic (gSQG) equation. The solutions are obtained by maximization of the energy over the set of rearrangements of a fixed function. The rotating solutions take the form of co-rotating vortices with $N$-fold symmetry. The traveling-wave solutions take the form of translating vortex pairs. Moreover, these solutions constitute the desingularization of co-rotating $N$ point vortices and counter-rotating pairs. Some other quantitative properties are also established.