I need a check on the following problem, which is an application of the Lax-Milgram lemma. $$ \begin{cases} \dfrac{\partial u}{\partial t} -\dfrac{\partial }{\partial x} \Bigl( \alpha \dfrac{\partial u}{\partial x}\Bigr) - \beta u =0 \\ u(x,0)=u_0(x), & x \in [0,1] \\ u = \eta, & x=0,\; t>0 \\ \alpha \dfrac{\partial u}{\partial x} + \gamma u =0, & x=1,\; t>0 \end{cases} $$ where $\alpha(x), u_0(x)$ are given functions, $\beta >0$ and $\eta,\gamma \in \mathbb{R}$.
Question. Prove existence and uniqueness of the weak solution, giving some suitable assumptions on $\alpha(x)$,$\gamma, \eta$.
Here's my attempt:
As test functions, I choose $v \in V=H_{\Gamma_d}^1$, where $\Gamma_d={0}$,i.e. I use tes functions which are $0$ where I have the Dirichlet data. By multiplying, with standard arguments one obtains the following bilinear form $$a(u,v)=\gamma u(1)v(1) + \int_0^1 \alpha u' v' dx - \beta \int_0^1 u v dx$$
To show existence and uniqueness, I need to show
- $a(v,v) + \lambda \geq \alpha \|v\|_V^2$ (weakly coercive)
- $a(u,v) \leq M \|u\|_V \|v\|_V$
Weakly coercive: Assume $0<\alpha_0 < \alpha(x) < \alpha_1$ $$a(v,v) + \beta \|v\|_V^2 \geq \frac{\alpha_0}{1+C_p^2} \|v\|_V^2 + \gamma v(1)^2$$
where $C_p$ is the Poincarè constant.
If $\gamma >0$, then:
$$a(v,v) + \beta \|v\|_V^2 \geq \frac{\alpha_0}{1+C_p^2} \|v\|_V^2$$
i.e. $a(\cdot, \cdot)$ is weakly coercive.
Continuity:
$$|a(u,v)| \leq \alpha_1 \|u\|_V \|v\|_V + \beta \|u\|_V \|v\|_V + \gamma u(1)v(1)$$
Now, since I want a bound with the $H^1$ norm, I note that $$|u(1)| \leq \int_0^1 |u'(s)|ds + \eta$$ and therefore $$|u(1)| \leq \|u\|_V + \eta$$ Also, $v(1) = \int_0^1 v'(s)ds$ implies $|v(1)| \leq \|v\|_V$
Hence, $$|a(u,v)| \leq (\alpha_1 + \beta) \|u\|_V \|v\|_V+\gamma \|u\|_V \|v\|_V + \gamma \eta \|v\|_V $$
Now, if $\eta <0$, then $$|a(u,v)| \leq (\alpha_1+\beta+\gamma)\|u\|_V \|v\|_V$$