On a semilinear diffusion equation on a Riemannian manifold and its stable equilibrium solutions (Q1058669)

The equation \(\partial u/\partial t=\Delta u+f(u)\) with Neumann boundary conditions on a connected orientable compact \(C^{\infty}\) Riemannian manifold (M,g) with smooth boundary \(\partial M\) admits only constant equilibrium solutions, provided M has non-negative Ricci curvature and the second fundamental form of \(\partial M\) with respect to the outward unit normal vector \(\nu\) is non-positive definite. The proof is outlined. A manifold (M,g) and a function f are constructed for which there exists a nonconstant equilibrium solution. The results are generalizations of the results of \textit{H. Matano} [Publ. Res. Inst. Math. Sci. 15, 401-454 (1979; Zbl 0445.35063)].