Linear and semilinear higher order parabolic equations in RN

In this paper we consider some fourth order linear and semilinear equations in R-N and make a detailed study of the solvability of the Cauchy problem. For the linear equation we consider some weakly integrable potential terms, and for any 1 < p < infinity prove that for a suitable family of Bessel potential spaces, H-p(alpha) (R-N), the linear equation defines a strongly continuous analytic semigroup. Using this result, we prove that the nonlinear problems we consider can be solved for initial data in L-p(RN) and in H-p(2) (R-N). We also find the corresponding critical exponents, that is, the largest growth allowed for the nonlinear terms for these classes of initial data. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.