Layered solutions to a bistable reaction-diffusion equation (Q1347249)

Consider the boundary value problem \((*)\) \(\varepsilon^ 2 d^ 2 u/dx^ 2+ u(1- u)[u- (x+ 3/2)]\), \(u(0)= 0\), \(u(1)= 5/2\) where \(\varepsilon> 0\) is a small parameter, \(u_ 0(x)\equiv 0\) and \(u_ 2(x)\equiv x+ 3/2\) are stable solutions with respect to the associated system. By means of upper and lower solutions which are constructed by using asymptotic expansions the authors prove the existence of a solution of \((*)\) with an internal transition layer at \(x= 0\) switching from \(u_ 0(x)\) to \(u_ 2(x)\). The convergence of solutions of the reaction- diffusion equation \((**)\) \(\partial u/\partial t= \varepsilon^ 2\partial^ 2 u/\partial x^ 2+ u(1- u)[u- (x+ 3/2)]\), \(u(x, 0)= \varphi(x)\) to the constructed stationary one with a transition layer is studied by means of a Lyapunov functional. Finally the authors consider solutions of \((*)\) with different boundary conditions and with several transition layers. Numerical studies indicate the existence of a variety of solutions.