On the heteroclinic connection problem for multi-well gradient systems (Q305416)

Consider a potential \(W:\mathbb R^N \to [0,\infty )\) with \(m\) distinct zeroes \(p_j\) as global minima. The authors look for solutions to the Hamiltonian system \[ U'' -\nabla_u W= 0 \; \text{on} \; (-\infty, +\infty), \] such that \(U(-\infty)=p_j, U(+\infty)= p_k, j\neq k\). From the authors' abstract: ``Under very mild assumptions on \(W\) we present a simple variational approach to firs find geodesics minimizing length of curves joining any two of the potential wells, where length is computed with respect to a degenerate metric having conformal factor \(\sqrt{W}\). Then we show that when such a minimizing geodesic avoids passing through other wells of the potential at intermediate times, it gives rise to a heteroclinic connection between the two wells.'' The presented approach is an improvement of the one by the second author in [Rocky Mt. J. Math. 21, No. 2, 799--807 (1991; Zbl 0737.49009); ibid. 21, No. 3, 1170--1172 (1991; Zbl 0760.49008)] and is more geometric than some other approaches.