A unified method for boundedness in fully parabolic chemotaxis systems with signal-dependent sensitivity

This paper deals with the Keller--Segel system with signal-dependent sensitivity \begin{equation*} u_t=\Delta u - \nabla \cdot (u \chi(v)\nabla v), \quad v_t=\Delta v + u - v, \quad x\in\Omega,\ t>0, \end{equation*} where $\Omega$ is a bounded domain in $\mathbb{R}^n$, $n\geq 2$; $\chi$ is a function satisfying $\chi(s)\leq K(a+s)^{-k}$ for some $k\geq 1$ and $a\geq 0$. In the case that $k=1$, Fujie (J. Math. Anal. Appl.; 2015; 424; 675--684) established global existence of bounded solutions under the condition $K<\sqrt{\frac{2}{n}}$. On the other hand, when $k>1$, Winkler (Math. Nachr.; 2010; 283; 1664--1673) asserted global existence of bounded solutions for arbitrary $K>0$. However, there is a gap in the proof. Recently, Fujie tried modifying the proof; nevertheless it also has a gap. It seems to be difficult to show global existence of bounded solutions for arbitrary $K>0$. Moreover, the condition for $K$ when $k>1$ cannot connect to the condition when $k=1$. The purpose of the present paper is to obtain global existence and boundedness under more natural and proper condition for $\chi$ and to build a mathematical bridge between the cases $k=1$ and $k>1$.