Conditional stability of front solutions (Q1369856)

The author investigates the parabolic equation: \[ u_t= u_{xx}+ f(u),\quad x\in\mathbb{R}.\tag{1} \] The nonlinearity \(f(u)\) is in \(C^1(\mathbb{R})\), has two zeros, i.e. \(f(0)= 0\) and \(f(u_s)= 0\) with \(0< u_s\), and is subject to the conditions: \(f(u)>0\) for \(u\in(0, u_s)\), \(f(u)<0\) for \(u>u_s\), \(f'(0)=\mu>0\). The principal aim of the author is to discuss the stability of so-called front solutions. These are solutions of the form \(u(x,t)= u(x- ct)\) \((c>0)\) such that \(\lim u(z)= 0\) as \(z\to+\infty\) and \(\lim u(z)= u_s\) as \(z\to-\infty\). Inserting this ``Ansatz'' into the PDE (1) one gets an ODE for \(u(z)\), namely: \[ u''+cu'+ f(u)= 0. \] The author now investigates the structure of front solutions by using linearized stability theory and a phase plane analysis based on a series of diagrams. He thereby pays particular attention to the minimal speed \(c= c_0\) of front solutions, introduced by Hadeler and Rothe. He then sets \(c^*= 2\mu^{1/2}\) and introduces a further critical speed \(c^+\) whose definition is somewhat involved. The main conclusion of this discussion is that either \(c_0= c^*\) or else \(c_0= c^+\). Finally, a certain Lyapunov function is introduced and its relation to the linearized stability investigated.