Nonexistence for the Kassoy problem in dimensions 1 and 2 (Q1112217)

The ignition model for a high activation energy thermal explosion of a solid fuel contained in the n-dimensional unit sphere \(\Omega\) is given by \(u_ t=\Delta u+\delta e^ u,\) (\(\xi\),t)\(\in \Omega \times (0,T)\), \(u(\xi,0)=\phi (\xi)\geq 0,\) \(\xi\in \Omega\), \(u(\xi,t)=0,\) (\(\xi\),t)\(\in \partial \Omega \times (0,T)\) where \(\delta >0,\), where \(\phi\) is radially symmetric, decreasing, and \(\Delta \phi +\delta e^{\phi}\geq 0\), and where \(T>0\) is the blowup time. For \(\delta\) sufficiently large, \(T<\infty\). Also, the solutions u(\(\xi\),t) must be radially symmetric, say \(u=u(r,t)\) where \(r=| \xi |\). Using the self-similar change of variables: \(\tau =T-t\), \(x=r\tau^{-1/2}\), and \(\theta (x,\tau)=u(r,t)\), Kassoy and Poland conjectured the asymptotic representation of \(\theta\) as \[ \theta \sim -\ell n(\delta \tau)+y(x)+\sum^{\infty}_{k=1}\tau^ ky_ k(x) \] for each x as \(\tau \to 0^+\). A formal analysis shows that y(x) must satisfy \[ y''+(\frac{n-1}{x}-\frac{x}{2})y'+e^ y-1=0,\quad x>0,\quad y(0)\geq 0,\quad y'(0)=0 \] where y'(x) is bounded for \(x>0\). In this paper we show that for dimensions 1 and 2, the only solution is y(x)\(\equiv 0\). Later results: In dimensions 3 through 9, Eberly and Troy have shown there are infinitely many solutions. Babernes, Bressan, and Eberly show that for dimensions 3 or larger, y(x) must intersect the singular soluton \(S(x)=\ell n(2(n-2)/x^ 2)\) exactly once. With this extra information, the only solution is y(x)\(\equiv 0\). Finally, this unique solution y(x)\(\equiv 0\) allows one to prove that \(u(0,t)\sim -\ell n(\delta (T- t))\) as \(t\to T^-\).