Sharp-interface limit of the Allen-Cahn action functional in one space dimension (Q2492655)

The authors analyze the sharp-interface limit of the action minimization problem for the stochastically perturbed Allen-Cahn equation in one space dimension. The action \[ S_\varepsilon[u]={1\over4}\int_0^T\int_0^1 \Big(\varepsilon^{1/2}\partial_t u-\varepsilon^{1/2}\Delta u+\varepsilon^{-3/2}V'(u)\Big)^2\,dx\,dt, \quad u(\cdot,0)\equiv-1,\;u(\cdot,T)\equiv1, \] is a deterministic functional which is linked to the behavior of the stochastic process in the small noise limit. Motivated by heuristic arguments and numerical results the limiting action should count two competing costs: the cost to nucleate interfaces and the cost to propagate them. Here the authors establish for \(d=1\) sharp upper bounds. Furthermore, lower bounds are established, which are in agreement with the heuristic picture. The key technical tool is a \(\Gamma\)-limit type result. A similar result is [\textit{R. V. Kohn, F. Otto, M. G. Reznikoff} and \textit{E. Vanden-Eijnden}, Commun. Pure Appl. Math., doi: 10.1002/cpa.20144]