An introduction to evolution PDEs

Applied and Theoretical Mathematics - Master's Year 2

PSL University, September-December 2025



 


Prerequisite material can be found here


A quite stable program is about well-posedness for parabolic and transport equations
as well as longtime behaviour (mainly for parabolic equations). Additional topics are
the study of particular nonlinear models, some regularity effect in general parabolic
equation and for kinetic equations.

An provisional plan is the following :

Chapter 1: A crash course on evolution PDEs.

Lecture  1 - The heat equation, lecture 1 (updated September 2025)
We tackle the heat equation with the help of the Fourier, heat kernel and energy methods.
We next consider general parabolic equations which is handled with the help of semigroup/perturbation arguments.
Some exercises on lecture 1 (updated September 2025)

Lecture  2 - Transport equations, lecture 2 (updated September 2025)
We solve transport equations by using the characteristics method.
We next apply the semigroup/perturbation arguments for solving a kinetic equation.
Some exercises on lecture 2 (updated September 2025)

Lecture  3 - Parabolic equations, lecture 3
Existence of solutions for parabolic equations by the mean of J.-L. Lions' variational approach.
Some exercises on lecture 3

Lecture 4 - Uniqueness and qualitative properties, lecture 4
We carry on our analysis of the solutions of transport and  parabolic equations, establishing uniqueness,
weak maximum principle, strong maximum principle and ultracontractivity property.
Some exercises on lecture 4





See also the material of previous academic years and the last years exams:
Exam 2013-2014
Exam 2014-2015
Exam 2015-2016
Exam 2016-2017
Exam 2017-2018
Exam 2018-2019
Exam 
2019-2020, with elements of correction exam2020+.
Exam 
2020-2021
Exam 2021-2022
Exam 2022-2023
Exam 2023-2024
Exam 2024-2025

A more extended version of the present lecture will be available here soon