Note on Self-Similarity and Dimensional Analysis (Q4033985)

The starting point of this study, as the author explains, is a claim in the book of Bluman and Cole [\textit{G. W. Bluman} and \textit{J. D. Cole}, Similarity methods for differential equations (1974; Zbl 0292.35001)] that for the heat equation \[ \partial u/\partial t=K\partial^ 2u/\partial x^ 2,\;t=0:u=0,x=0:\;u=Q\delta(t),\;x\to\infty:u=0 \tag{1} \] the dimensional analysis would be useless since in this case it would not lead to a sufficient reduction in the number of variables. The aim of the paper is to vindicate dimensional analysis showing that supplemented by additional information it can lead to equally general solutions as those produced by Lie group considerations. The last thesis is illustrated by reduction of (1) to an ordinary differential equation which can be easily solved analytically. At the end of the paper the author traces the reason why the claim mentioned above was made and points out that this is an improper use of dimensional homogeneity.