Examples of attractors in scalar reaction-diffusion equations (Q1107030)

Consider the scalar reaction-diffusion equation \(u_ t=\epsilon^2 u_{xx} + f(x,u)\), \(0<x<1\) with Neumann boundary conditions. For cubic nonlinearities of the type \(f(x,u) = u (1-u) (u-a(x))\), where \(a\) is a step function with values in \((0,\frac12) \cup (frac12,1)\), it is shown that the number of stable equilibria stays finite as \(\epsilon\to0\), in agreement with known results for smooth functions \(a\). Moreover, unlike the smooth case, for certain step functions \(a\) it is proved that the total number of equilibria stays bounded and for some simple cases the complete attractor is characterized providing useful examples for the study of attractors in scalar one-dimensional parabolic equations. The proof presented involves the application of phase-energy techniques.