Gelfand-type problem for turbulent jets (Q2187181)

The paper under review deals with existence and quantitative properties of solutions to the problem \[ \begin{cases} -\Delta u-\alpha r \varphi(r)\frac{\partial}{\partial r}u=\lambda \psi(r)f(u)\quad & \text{in}\ B,\\ u>0 \quad & \text{in}\ B,\\ u=0 \quad & \text{on}\ \partial B,\\ \end{cases} \] where \(B\) is the unit disk in \(\mathbb{R}^2\) centered at the origin, \(\lambda,\alpha>0\) are parameters, \(f\colon\ [0,\infty)\to(0,\infty)\) is a \(C^1\) convex and non-decreasing function such that \[ \int_0^\infty\frac{ds}{f(s)}<\infty, \] \(\varphi\) and \(\psi\) are non-negative, non-increasing Lipshitz continuous functions on \([0,1]\), \(\varphi(0)=\psi(0)=1\), and \(\varphi(r)\) is positive on \([0,1)\). Moreover, it is supposed that \[ \int_0^1 \max_{r\in[0,s]} \frac{\psi(r)}{\varphi(r)}\;ds<\infty. \] The problem considered models auto-ignition (thermal explosion) of a free round reactive turbulent jet and it falls into the general class of Gelfand-type problems. The parameter \(\alpha\) characterzes the flow rate, while \(\lambda\) (the Frank-Kamenetskii parameter) corresponds to the strength of the reaction. Similarly to the classical Gelfand problem, the equation considered admits a solution when the Frank-Kamenetskii parameter \(\lambda\) does not exceed some critical value \(\lambda^*(\alpha)\) and has no solutions for larger values of \(\lambda\). The authors obtain the sharp asymptotic behavior of the critical Frank-Kamenetskii parameter in the strong flow limit \(\alpha\gg1\). A detailed description is also provided of the extremal solution, that is, the solution corresponding to \(\lambda^*(\alpha)\) in this regime.