Group classification and symmetry reduction of a \((2+1)\) dimensional diffusion-advection equation (Q2576629)

The authors provide a group classification and symmetry reduction of the nonlinear advection-diffusion equation \[ u_t = Du_{yy}-[K(u)]_x, \tag{1} \] where \(K(u)\) is an initially arbitrary function and \(D\) is a constant which could well be absorbed into one of the variables. Equation ({1.1}) possesses a Lie symmetry \[ \Gamma = \tau\partial_t+ \xi\partial_x+ \eta\partial_y+ \zeta\partial_u, \] where \[ \tau = C_3+C_2t , \quad\xi = C_6+C_5t+C_4x, \quad \eta = C_1+\frac {1}{2} C_2y, \quad\zeta = C_7u + C_8, \] provided \(K (u) \) is a solution of the linear second-order differential equation \[ (C_7u+C_8)K'' + (C_2 -C_4)K' = C_5. \tag{2} \] There are various classes of solution for ({2}) depending upon relations (or lack thereof) between the coefficients. The remainder of the paper is devoted to further analyses of the particular forms of \(K (u) \) admitted. It is unfortunate that the transition from ({2}) to the list of admissible cases in Table 1 is not exactly transparent and the reader must make some check to be reassured of the correctness of Table 1. Each of the admissible forms of \(K (u) \) in Table 1 permits a variety of symmetry reductions to partial differential equations in two independent variables. The equations are again analysed for the possession of Lie point symmetries so that the process of reduction (to ordinary differential equations) can be continued. Not all of the possibilities are explored for the length of the paper would become unacceptable by today's standards. Nevertheless a sufficient number of cases is presented to give a fair indication of the richness of ({1}) from the viewpoint of symmetry analysis. One of the cases leads by an ingenious method of solution to a variety of kink-type solutions. The paper concludes with some figures depicting the behaviour of this class of solution.