A moving boundary problem modelling diffusion with nonlinear absorption (Q790355)

The paper is concerned with a qualitative study of the following two moving boundary problems: \(u_ t=u_{xx}+f(u)\), \(t>0\), \(0<x<\gamma(t)\), \(u(t,0)=c_ 0\) (or, in a second case, \(u_ x(t,0)=0),u(t,\gamma(t))=0,u(t,x)>0,t>0,0<x<\gamma(t);u_ x(t,\gamma(t))=0,u(t,x)=0,\) if \(t>0\) and \(\gamma(t)<x\leq \sigma,u(0,x)=u_ 0(x),0\leq x\leq \sigma\). These represent models which describe penetration of oxygen in absorbing tissues. The existence of solutions, the continuity of the moving boundary \(\gamma\) (t) and the behaviour of solutions to these problems as \(t\to \infty\) are established. Previous papers dealing with this subject are [\textit{J. Crank} and \textit{R. S. Gupta}, J. Inst. Math. Appl. 10, 19-33 (1972; Zbl 0247.65064); \textit{J. C. W. Rogers}, ibid. 20, 261-268 (1977; Zbl 0371.76076)].