On a semilinear parabolic equation arising in optical bistability (Q1124050)

The parabolic equation \[ (*)\quad u_ t-d\Delta u+u=k I_ 0(x)g(u(x))\quad for\quad (x,t)\in R^ n\times [0,\infty) \] where d and k are constants and g is a smooth bounded function arises in the study of an optical bistable system, the function \(I_ 0(x)\) corresponding to the input beam and the unknown function u denoting the phase shift in a transmitted beam. The existence of two stable solutions is of interest as the ability of the device to switch between two stable outputs provides an optical switch. Two cases are considered, viz., (i) \(I_ 0(x)\equiv 1\) where the input beam is a plane wave and \((ii)\quad I_ 0(x)=\exp (-| \mu | x|^ 2)\) where the input beam is a Gaussian distribution. In case (i) for certain values of the parameters there exist three constant steady state solutions \(u_ 1<u_ 2<u_ 3\) and it is shown using the results of \textit{P. C. Fife} and \textit{J. B. McLeod} [Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 65, 335-361 (1977; Zbl 0361.35035)] that in the case \(n=1\) there exists a travelling wave solution u(x-ct) of (*) such that \(u(\xi)\to u_ 1\) as \(\xi\) \(\to -\infty\) and \(u(\xi)\to u_ 3\) as \(\xi\) \(\to \infty\). In case (ii) it is shown that there exist infinitely many unbounded, non-radial positive solutions but that any positive bounded solution must be radially symmetric. It is also proved that for certain parameter values there exist three bounded positive steady state solutions, two of which are stable; the proof uses sub- and super- solution techniques, shooting arguments and results of \textit{P. Hess} [Commun. Partial. Differ. Equations 6, 951-961 (1981; Zbl 0468.35073)] on the existence of multiple solutions on a bounded domain when the nonlinearity is an oscillating function.