Two-bubble dynamics for threshold solutions to the wave maps equation

We consider the energy-critical wave maps equation R^{1 + 2}→ S² in the equivariant case, with equivariance degree k≥ 2. It is known that initial data of energy < 8 πk and topological degree zero leads to global solutions that scatter in both time directions. We consider the threshold case of energy 8 πk. We prove that the solution is defined for all time and either scatters in both time directions, or converges to a superposition of two harmonic maps in one time direction and scatters in the other time direction. In the latter case, we describe the asymptotic behavior of the scales of the two harmonic maps. The proof combines the classical concentration-compactness techniques of Kenig–Merle with a modulation analysis of interactions of two harmonic maps in the absence of excess radiation.