Diffusion-aggregation processes with mono-stable reaction terms (Q862131)

The authors analyze front propagation of the equation \[ v_{\tau}=[D(v)v_x]_x+f(v), \] which has been used to model several biological phenomena. \(\tau\geq 0, x\in\mathbb R\) and \(f\) is a monostable Fisher-type nonlinear reaction term satisfying \(f(v)>0\) in \((0,1),\;\; f(0)=0=f(1)\). \(D(v)\) changes its sign once from positive to negative values in the feasible interval \(v\in[0,1]\). The above equation accounts for simultaneous diffusive and aggregative behaviors of a population dynamic depending on the population density \(v\) at time \(t\) and position \(x\), and when \(D(v)<0\) in \((0,1)\), it describes the behavior of a population which reacts against the treat of extinction by clustering in groups (in this case, \(f(v)\) accounts for the net rate of growth). The existence of infinitely many traveling wave solutions is proven. These fronts are parameterized by their wave speed and monotonically connect the stationary states \(v\equiv 1\). In the degenerate case when \(D(0)=0\) and/or \(D(1)=0\), sharp profiles appear, corresponding to the minimum wave speed. These wave fronts also have new behaviors, including sharp profiles as well as \textit{finite speed of saturation}, since in addition to those already observed in diffusive models, they can be right compactly supported, left compactly supported or both. The dynamics can exhibit, respectively, the phenomena of finite speed of propagation, finite speed of saturation, or both. They also give a fairly complete investigation in better understanding aggregating processes. The dynamics and the form of front propagation of the model equation for \(D(u)>0\) in \((0,\beta),\;\; D(u)<0\) in \((\beta,1)\), for some \(\beta\in(0,1)\) is still an open problem.