It is well known that the transition density for standard Brownian motion $B_t$ in $\mathbb{R}^d$ yields a solution to the global Cauchy problem for the heat equation $$u_t = \Delta u$$ with initial condition given by the Dirac distribution $\delta_0$.

Unlike the heat equation, the porous medium equation $$u_t = \Delta(u^m)$$ with integer power $m>1$ has finite speed of propagation.

• When is the infinitesimal generator of a stochastic process linear?

• Is there a probabilistic solution of this non-linear diffusion equation?

It is well known that the transition density for standard Brownian motion $B_t$ in $\mathbb{R}^d$ yields a solution to the global Cauchy problem for the heat equation $$u_t = \Delta u$$ with initial condition given by the Dirac distribution $\delta_0$.

Unlike the heat equation, the porous medium equation $$u_t = \Delta(u^m)$$ with exponent $m>1$ has finite speed of propagation.

• When is the infinitesimal generator of a stochastic process linear?

• Is there a probabilistic solution of this non-linear diffusion equation?