A topological proof of stability of \(N\)-front solutions of the FitzHugh-Nagumo equations (Q1301777)

It has been shown by \textit{B. Deng} [SIAM J. Math. Anal. 22, 1631-1650 (1991; Zbl 0752.35025)] that the FitzHugh-Nagumo equation admits \(N\)-front and \(N\)-back traveling wave solutions near the parameter value where the traveling wave equation possesses a heteroclinic cycle. In the present paper, the author proves stability of all these heteroclinic traveling wave solutions for the large set of parameters for which the equation can be \(C^r\)-linearized near the equilibria for \(r\geq 3\). The linearized eigenvalue equation along the traveling wave possesses 2\(N+ 1\) eigenvalues in a vicinity of zero. By studying the eigenvalue equation in projectivized coordinates and constructing a suitable topological index, the author shows that zero is a simple eigenvalue and the other \(2N\) small eigenvalues have negative real part, which proves stability of the traveling wave.