Uniqueness of conservative solutions for the Hunter-Saxton equation

Abstract

We show that the Hunter-Saxton equation $u_t+uu_x=\frac14\big(\int_{-\infty}^x d\mu(t,z)- \int^{\infty}_x d\mu(t,z)\big)$ and $\mu_t+(u\mu)_x=0$ has a unique, global, weak, and conservative solution $(u,\mu)$ of the Cauchy problem on the line.