Spherically symmetric solutions to a model for interface motion by interface diffusion

summary:The existence of spherically symmetric solutions is proved for a new phase-field model that describes the motion of an interface in an elastically deformable solid, here the motion is driven by configurational forces. The model is an elliptic-parabolic coupled system which consists of a linear elasticity system and a non-linear evolution equation of the order parameter. The non-linear equation is non-uniformly parabolic and is of fourth order. One typical application is sintering