On a relaxed Cahn-Hilliard tumour growth model with single-well potential and degenerate mobility

Abstract

We consider a phase-field system modelling solid tumour growth. This system consists of a Cahn-Hilliard equation coupled with a nutrient equation. The former is characterised by a degenerate mobility and a singular potential. Both equations are subject to suitable reaction terms which model proliferation and nutrient consumption. Chemotactic effects are also taken into account. Adding an elliptic regularisation, depending on a relaxation parameter $\delta >0$, in the equation for the chemical potential, we prove the existence of a weak solution to an initial and boundary value problem for the relaxed system. Then, we let $\delta$ go to zero, and we recover the existence of a weak solution to the original system.

37 pages, revised version