On self-similar solutions of the thin film equation when \(n=3\) (Q1979110)

The authors analyze the initial value problem \[ (f^3f''')'=\eta f'-f \;\text{for} \eta >0,\quad f(0)=1,\;f'(0)=0, \;f''(0)=\alpha , \;f'''(0)=0, \;\alpha \in \mathbb{R}, \] for different values of \(\alpha \). They show that there are three types of qualitative behaviour of solutions and all of them occur. (i) A solution \(f\) exists and is positive on \([0,\infty)\), \(f'>0 \) on \((0,\infty)\) and \(f''>0\), \(f'''>0\) on \((a,\infty)\) for some \(a\geq 0\). (ii) \(f\) exists and is positive on \([0,\eta *)\) and \(f(\eta *)=0\). (iii) \(f\) exists and is positive on \((0,\infty)\), \(f'>0\) on \((0,\infty)\) and \(f''\), \(f'''\) oscillate on \((0,\infty)\). Estimates on the asymptotic behaviour for \(\eta \to \infty \) are given in the cases (i) and (iii).