Proof of quasipatterns for the Swift-Hohenberg equation (Q529970)

This paper proves the existence of quasipatterns, that is stationary solutions which do not have a translational symmetry but which are symmetric under a rotation at an angle \(\frac{\pi}{q}\) for some integer \(q\), for the planar Swift-Hohenberg equation, an important model for pattern formation. Quasipatterns have been observed in several physical systems, but to the authors' knowledge this paper provides the first rigorous proof of their existence for a PDE. This is done by proving the existence of a bifurcation from the trivial solution, working in a Sobolev space of functions given by generalized Fourier series whose frequency vectors belong to the lattice generated by \(2q\) unit vectors which equi-spaced on the unit circle. Proving this bifurcation is challenging, because the linear part of the Swift-Hohenberg equation, acting on the above Sobolev space, has an unbounded inverse, creating a `small divisior' problem. To overcome this the authors employ a version of the Nash-Moser scheme due to \textit{M. Berti} et al. [Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré, Anal. Non Linéaire 27, No. 1, 377--399 (2010; Zbl 1203.47038)].