Analysis of the self-similar solutions of the nonplanar Burgers equation (Q1849046)

The authors investigate the self-similar solutions to the generalized Burgers equation \[ f''+ 2\eta f'+ \frac{2(1-\alpha j)}{\alpha} f- 2^{3/2} f^\alpha f'= 0, \tag{1} \] where \(\alpha >0\) and \(j\geq 0\) are constants. The initial value problem for equation (1) subject to \[ f(0) = \nu, \qquad f'(0) = 0, \tag{2} \] where \(\nu >0\) is a constant, and the connection problem for equation (1) subject to \[ f\sim A\exp (-\eta^2) \eta^{-(\alpha(j+1)-1)/\alpha} \quad\text{as }\eta \to \infty ,\tag{3} \] \[ f\to 0 \quad\text{as }\eta\to -\infty,\tag{4} \] \[ |f |<\infty, \] where \(A>0\) is an arbitrary constant, are considered. The existence of bounded, positive solutions with different types of decay to zero at \(\eta= +\infty \) or \(\eta= -\infty \) for different parametric ranges is studied. The authors conclude that the bounded, positive solutions in this situation exist only for the case \(\frac{1}{j+1} \leq \lambda \leq \frac{1}{j}.\)