Singularity formation in 3D Euler equations with smooth initial data and boundary.

Chen, Jiajie; Hou, Thomas Y · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A long-standing fundamental open problem in mathematical fluid dynamics and nonlinear partial differential equations is to determine whether solutions of the 3D incompressible Euler equations can develop a finite-time singularity from smooth, finite-energy initial data. Leonhard Euler introduced these equations in 1757 [L. Euler, <i>Mémoires de l'Académie des Sci. de Berlin</i> <b>11</b>, 274-315 (1757).], and they are closely linked to the Navier-Stokes equations and turbulence. While the general singularity formation problem remains unresolved, we review a recent computer-assisted proof of finite-time, nearly self-similar blowup for the 2D Boussinesq and 3D axisymmetric Euler equations in a smooth bounded domain with smooth initial data. The proof introduces a framework for (nearly) self-similar blowup, demonstrating the nonlinear stability of an approximate self-similar profile constructed numerically via the dynamical rescaling formulation.