Essential manifolds for an elliptic problem in an infinite strip (Q1329279)

Elliptic equations on an infinite strip are studied from a dynamical system point of view. A particular example of equations considered is the semilinear problem \[ u_{xx} + u_{yy} - 2 \alpha u_ x - \beta u + f(x,y,u) = 0, \quad (x,y) \in \mathbb{R} \times (0,\pi) \tag{1} \] with appropriate boundary conditions at \(y = 0, \pi\). Existence of a finite dimensional manifold, the so-called essential manifold, is established. Associating with (1) a flow on an appropriate space (the variable \(x\) playing the role of time), the essential manifold becomes an invariant manifold for this flow similar to center or inertial manifolds for evolution equations (parabolic or hyperbolic). Normal hyperbolicity of the essential manifold and estimates of its dimension are given. Various applications of these results shown in the paper include a description of the asymptotic behavior of bounded solutions as \(x \to \infty\) and existence of periodic solutions for reversible equations \((\alpha = 0)\). The relevance of the essential manifold for the study of equations on long finite strips is discussed, as well.