The sharp interface limit of the matrix-valued Allen-Cahn equation

Abstract

In this work, we study a matrix-valued Allen-Cahn equation with a Saint Venant-Kirchhoff potential $F(\mathbf{A})=\frac{1}{4}\|\mathbf{A}\mathbf{A}^\top-\mathbf{I}\|^2$. Our approach employs the modulated energy method together with weak convergence methods for nonlinear partial differential equations. This avoids the subtle spectrum analysis of the linearized operator at the so-called quasi-minimal orbits as well as the construction of asymptotic expansion. Moreover, it relaxes the assumption on the admissible initial data, which exhibits a phase transition along an initial interface. As a byproduct, we construct a weak solution to the limiting harmonic heat flow system with both minimal pair and Neumann-type boundary conditions across the interface.