Sharp interface limit of a Stokes/Cahn–Hilliard system. Part I: Convergence result

Abstract

We consider the sharp interface limit of a coupled Stokes/Cahn–Hilliard system in a two-dimensional, bounded and smooth domain, i.e., we consider the limiting behavior of solutions when a parameter $ϵ>0$ corresponding to the thickness of the diffuse interface tends to zero. We show that for sufficiently short times the solutions to the Stokes/Cahn–Hilliard system converge to solutions of a sharp interface model, where the evolution of the interface is governed by a Mullins–Sekerka system with an additional convection term coupled to a two–phase stationary Stokes system with the Young–Laplace law for the jump of an extra contribution to the stress tensor, representing capillary stresses. We prove the convergence result by estimating the difference between the exact and an approximate solutions. To this end we make use of modifications of spectral estimates shown by X. Chen for the linearized Cahn–Hilliard operator. The treatment of the coupling terms requires careful estimates, the use of the refinements of the latter spectral estimate and a suitable structure of the approximate solutions, which will be constructed in the second part of this contribution.