Corner defects in almost planar interface propagation (Q2490929)

The paper addresses the question of the existence and stability of generic defects on propagating fronts in reaction-diffusion models of the type \[ u_t = D\Delta u +cu_y + f(u), \] where \(u(t,x,y)\) is a set of variables, \(\Delta\) is the Laplacian, and \(f(u)\) is a set of nonlinear functions. The subject of the paper is to establish the existence of a generic defect of the propagating front in the form of a corner protruding inward (against the propagation direction). The proof is based on consideration of solutions to a stationary equation resembling the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation. The main assumption employed in the analysis is the existence of solutions describing stable uniformly propagating plane fronts separating different stationary states of the underlying reaction-diffusion-convection system. The existence is proven for the case when the advection velocity, \(c\), in the underlying equatins exceeds a certain minimum value, \(c_{*}\). Also considered are cases when the plane front is unstable. In these cases the type of the generic front defect is different: it turns out to be an inverted corner (outward protruding) or a step in the case of the wavelength instability, and a ``hole'' (a cusp-like defect) in the case of an oscillatory instability.