Generalized $1$-harmonic Equation and The Inverse Mean Curvature Flow

We introduce and study generalized $1$-harmonic equations (1.1). Using some ideas and techniques in studying $1$-harmonic functions from [W1] (2007), and in studying nonhomogeneous $1$-harmonic functions on a cocompact set from [W2, (9.1)] (2008), we find an analytic quantity $w$ in the generalized $1$-harmonic equations (1.1) on a domain in a Riemannian $n$-manifold that affects the behavior of weak solutions of (1.1), and establish its link with the geometry of the domain. We obtain, as applications, some gradient bounds and nonexistence results for the inverse mean curvature flow, Liouville theorems for $p$-subharmonic functions of constant $p$-tension field, $p\ge n$, and nonexistence results for solutions of the initial value problem of inverse mean curvature flow.