The spreading speed of solutions of the non-local Fisher-KPP equation (Q1800362)

The author studies solutions of the non-local Fisher-KPP equation \[ \dfrac{\partial u}{\partial t}=\dfrac{1}{2} \Delta u+ \mu u(1-\phi \ast u), \quad t>0, \; x \in \mathbb{R} \] where \(\mu>0\), \(\phi\) is non-negative and integrable. In particular, the long time behavior of solutions to this equation is analyzed. An alternative proof of a well-known result on spreading speed of solutions is given via probabilistic methods. Unlike the local Fisher-KPP equation, there is no maximum principle. Thus, the Feynman-Kay formula alone is relied on to study solutions, provided that \(\phi\) decays fast enough. The first result of the author is a logarithmic delay result which says that if \(\phi\) decays fast enough, then the front location in the non-local equation behaves similarly to that of the local equation. Recall that the front location is the location \(x(t)>0\) beyond which \(u(\cdot, t) \to 0\) as \(t\to \infty\). The precise decay of \(\phi\) is characterized by \[ \limsup_{r\to \infty} r^{\alpha} \int_r^{\infty} \phi(x)dx < \infty \] for certain \(\alpha\). The next results of the author show differences between the local and nonlocal equations when \(\phi\) has a heavier tail.