Existence of heteroclinic orbits for a corner layer problem in anisotropic interfaces (Q944182)

The authors consider the problem of finding \(C^2\)-smooth heteroclinic solutions of the singularly perturbed system of second-order differential equations of gradient type: \[ x''=g_x(x,y),\quad \varepsilon y''=g_y(x,y),\quad x,y\in\mathbb R^1,\tag{1} \] withthe boundary conditions \[ x(-\infty)=y(-\infty)=0, \quad x(+\infty)=x_1,\quad y(+\infty)=y_1\tag{2} \] where the parameter \(\varepsilon\) is sufficiently small, and the function \(g(x,y)\) satisfies some salient conditions. In this paper the authors study problem (1)--(2) with the function \(g(x,y)=2(x^2+y^2)+\frac34\,y^4+x^4\). This special problem has a physical motivation: the multi-order-parameter phase field model (for anisotropy of interfaces in an ordered alloy), the description of crystalline interphase boundaries. Solutions of the system (1) with sufficiently small parameter \(\varepsilon>0\) are approximated by a non-smooth connection for the limiting system obtained by setting \(\varepsilon=0\). The irregularity in the formal limit arises due to the branching nature of the set of solutions \((x,y)\) of the equation \(g_y(x,y)=0\), hence the critical manifold has a singularity. The mathematical interest of the problem stems from the fact that the smoothness and normal hyperbolicity of the critical manifold fail at certain points, thus the well-developed geometric singular perturbation theory does not apply. Using a functional analytic approach, the authors prove the existence of \(C^2\)-smooth heteroclinic solutions of the problem (1)--(2), and estimated their dependence on \(\varepsilon\).