Two-end solutions to the Allen-Cahn equation in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) (Q2411348)

The presented paper investigates even with respect to the \(Oxy\) plane, axially symmetric solutions to the classical Allen-Cahn equation \[ -\Delta u=u-u^3,\quad |u|<1, \] in the three dimensional Euclidean space. In terms of cylindrical coordinates \(u=u(r,z)\) satisfy \[ \partial^2_z u+\partial^2_r u+r^{-1}\partial_r u+u-u^3=0,\;r\in [0,+\infty), z\in\mathbb{R} \] and \(u(r,z)=u(r,-z)\), \(\partial_r u(0,z)=0\). Using a sophisticated continuation method, the existence of a complete family of axially symmetric solutions with a range of logarithmic growth rates is shown. They may be regarded as the analogue of the family of catenoids and hence called two-end solutions. Besides, nonexistence of two-end solutions with a small growth rate is also shown, which differs from the theory of minimal surfaces.