On a one-dimensional α-patch model with nonlocal drift and fractional dissipation

Abstract: We consider a one-dimensional nonlocal nonlinear equation of the form: $\partial_t u = (\Lambda^{-\alpha} u)\partial_x u - \nu \Lambda^{\beta}u$ where $\Lambda =(-\partial_{xx})^{\frac 12}$ is the fractional Laplacian and $\nu\ge 0$ is the viscosity coefficient. We consider primarily the regime $0<\alpha<1$ and $0\le \beta \le 2$ for which the model has nonlocal drift, fractional dissipation, and captures essential features of the 2D $\alpha$-patch models. In the critical and subcritical range $1-\alpha\le \beta \le 2$, we prove global wellposedness for arbitrarily large initial data in Sobolev spaces. In the full supercritical range $0 \le \beta<1-\alpha$, we prove formation of singularities in finite time for a class of smooth initial data. Our proof is based on a novel nonlocal weighted inequality which can be of independent interest.