Pointwise Green function bounds and stability of combustion waves (Q868844)

This paper deals with orbital stability for traveling wave solutions of the following reaction-diffusion convection system: \[ \begin{aligned} u_t+f(u,z)_x&= bu_{xx}+qk\phi(u)z,\\ z_t&=dz_{xx}-k\phi(u)z,\end{aligned} \] where \(u\in\mathbb{R}^n\) and \(z\in\mathbb{R}^r,\) and \(\phi\) is an ignition function. The constant \(q\) refers to the heat release. The diffusion terms \(b, d\) are matrix-valued. The positive constant \(k\) represents the rate of the reaction. This system encompasses Majda's single-reaction combustion model (\(d=0\)) and reactive compressive Navier-Stokes systems (Heavyside-type ignition function). A traveling wave solution is a solution of the form \(u(x-st),z(x-st)\) where \(s\) stands for the wave speed; it satisfies a corresponding ODE system. The authors introduce the definition of an \(X\to Y\) linearly (respectively nonlinearly) orbitally stable traveling wave, where \(X\) and \(Y\) are Banach spaces. Then, they prove a criterion for a traveling wave be \(L^1\cap L^p\to L^p\) linearly orbitally stable. A second result concerned with nonlinear phase-asymptotic orbital stability is proved. The linearized operator about the wave is assumed to have a stable point spectrum. The stability analysis is carried out along with a detailed description of the models for strong detonations and the viscous shock case.