On the existence of non-negative weak solutions for $1D$ fourth order equations of gradient flow type

Abstract: In this paper, we consider a family of one-dimensional fourth order evolution equations arising as gradient flows of the Korteweg energy, i.e. the $L^2$-norm of the first derivative of some power of the density. This family of equations generalizes the Quantum-Drift-Diffusion equation and the Thin-Film equation. We prove the global-in-time existence of {\em non-negative} weak solutions without requiring any upper bound on the exponent of the power of the density in the energy.