Zero reaction limit for hyperbolic conservation laws with source terms (Q1840597)

It is shown that solutions of a scalar hyperbolic conservation law \[ u_t + f(u)_x= \tfrac{1}{\varepsilon}u(1-u^2) \] with a stiff, bistable source term converge to a piecewise function as \(\varepsilon\to 0\). This limiting function \(v\) only takes the values \(+1\) and \(-1\) and regions of constant value are separated by straight lines in the \(x-t\)-plane. While the lines with \(v(x-,t)>v(x+,t)\) correspond to classical shocks and satisfy the Rankine-Hugoniot condition, there are also discontinuities with \(v(x-,t)<v(x+,t)\) which propagate with speed \(f'(0)\). The occurence of these non-shock discontinuities is a new and rather unexpected phenomenon. The proof makes use of the convexity of the flux \(f\) and is based on the method of generalized characteristics. The authors also discuss numerical difficulties one encounters when solving the Cauchy problem using some underresolved numerical method.