Gaussian waves in the Fitzhugh-Nagumo equation demonstrate one role of the auxiliary function H(x, t) in the homotopy analysis method

We apply the method of homotopy analysis to study the Fitzhugh-Nagumo equation.

u_t=u_xx+u(u-α)(1-u),     

On the continuation and boundedness of solutions of a nonlinear differential equation

Sufficient conditions are given so that all solutions of the nonlinear differential equation u″ + φ(t, u, u′)u′ + p(t) gf(u) g(u′) = h(t, u, u′) are continuable to the right of an initial t-value t₀ ? 0. These conditions are then extended so that all solutions u of the equation in question together with their derivative u′ are bounded for t ? t₀ .     

Locally Lipschitz solutions of a single conservation law in several space variables

We consider the Cauchy problem for a single conservation law in several space variables. Letting u(x, t) denote the solution with initial data u₀, we state necessary and sufficient conditions on u₀ so that u(x, t) is locally Lipschitz continuous in the half space {t > 0}. These conditions allow for the preservation of smoothness of u₀ as well as for the smooth resolution of discontinuities in u₀. One consequence of our result is that u(x, t) cannot be locally Lipschitz unless u₀ has locally bounded variation. Another is that solutions which are bounded and locally Lipschitz continuous in {t > 0} automatically have boundary values u₀ at t = 0 in the sense that u(·, t) → u₀ in L_loc¹. Finally, we give an elementary proof that locally Lipschitz solutions satisfy Kruzkov's uniqueness condition.     

Continuous families of vectors that are orbits of a unitary group

We characterize functions u from the real line into a Hilbert space that are the orbits of a unitary group {U(t)}_t∈R; that is, u(t)=U(t)u(0), for all real t. One of the characterizations is that u be the Fourier transform of a certain type of vector-valued measure Z; we then use our characterizations to construct Z from u.     

Single point blow-up for a semilinear initial value problem

The initial value problem on [?R, R] is considered: u_t(t, x) = u_xx(t, x) + u(t, x)^γu(t, ±R) = 0u(0, x) = ?(x), where ? ? 0 and γ is a fixed large number. It is known that for some initial values ? the solution u(t, x) exists only up to some finite time T, and that ∥u(t, ·)∥_∞ → ∞ as t → T. For the specific initial value ? = kψ, where ψ ? 0, ψ_xx + ψ^γ = 0, ψ(±R) = 0, k is sufficiently large, it is shown that if x ≠ 0, then lim_{t → T}u(t, x) and lim_{t → T}u_x(t, x) exist and are finite. In other words, blow-up occurs only at the point x = 0.     

Gaussian bounds for degenerate parabolic equations

Let A be a real symmetric, degenerate elliptic matrix whose degeneracy is controlled by a weight w in the A₂ or QC class. We show that there is a heat kernel Wt(x,y) associated to the parabolic equation wut=divA∇u, and Wt satisfies classic Gaussian bounds:

     

Mixed problems for the time-dependent telegraph equation: Continuous numerical solutions with a priori error bounds

This paper deals with the construction of continuous numerical solutions of mixed problems described by the time-dependent telegraph equation u_tt + c(t)u_t + b(t)u = a(t)u_xx, 0 < x < d, t > 0. Here a(t), b(t), and c(t) are positive functions with appropiate additional alternative hypotheses. First, using the separation of variables technique a theoretical series solution is obtained. Then, after truncation using one-step matrix methods and interpolating functions, a continuous numerical solution with a prefixed accuracy in a bounded subdomain is constructed.     

Positive solutions of a nonlinear initial-value problem on half-line

The nonlinear initial-value problemu″(t)+f(t,u(t))=0,u(t ₀)+bu′(t ₀)=c,t ₀≥0,b≤0,c≥0, is considered for positive solutions on [t ₀, ∞). Existence of positive solutions is proved without the hypothesis thatf(t, ω)≥0 (or ≤0), using the lattice fixed point theorem. A monotonicity condition inf(t, ω) is used to prove the uniqueness of the solution of the initial-value problem. Whenf(t, ω)≥0 (or ≤0), uniqueness is also obtained under a sublinearity condition onf(t, ω).     

On a backward Cauchy problem associated with continuous spectrum operator

The nonlinear backward Cauchy problem

u_t+Au(t)=f(u(t)),u(T)=φ,     

An initial- and boundary-value problem for a model equation for propagation of long waves

An initial- and boundary-value problem for a model equation for small-amplitude long waves is shown to be well-posed. The model has the form u_t + u_x + uu_x ? vu_xx ? α²u_xxt = 0, where x? [0, 1] and t ? 0. The solution u = u(x, t) is specified at t = 0 and on the two boundaries x = 0 and x = 1. Unique classical solutions are shown to exist, which depend continuously on variations of the specified data within appropriate function classes.     

Rate of convergence in a class of singular perturbations

Let V_?, W_?, W and X be Hilbert spaces (0 < ? ? 1) with V_? ? W_? ? W ? X algebraically and topologically, each space being dense in the one that follows it. For each t? [0, T] let a_?(t; u, v), b_?(t; u, v) and b(t; u, v) be continuous sesqui-linear forms on V_?, W_? and W, respectively, which satisfy certain ellipticity conditions. Consider the two equations a_?(t; u_?, v) + b_?(t; u_?, v) = 〈f_?, v〉 (v?V_?) and (u′, v)_x + b(t; u, v) = 〈f, v〉 (v?W). Estimates are obtained on the rate of convergence of u_? to u, assuming a_?(t; u, v) → (u, v)_x and b_?(t; u, v) → b(t; u, v) in an appropriate sense. These results are then applied to singular perturbation of a class of parabolic boundary value problems.     

Asymptotic behaviors of the solution to an initial-boundary value problem for scalar viscous conservation laws

This paper is concerned with the asymptotic behaviors of the solutions to the initial-boundary value problem for scalar viscous conservations laws u_t + f(u)_x = u_xx on [0, 1], with the boundary condition u(0, t) = u₋(t) → u₋, u(1, t) = u₊(t) → u₊, as t → +∞ and the initial data u(x,0) = u₀(x) satisfying u₀(0) = u₋(0), u₀(1) = u₊(1), where u± are given constants, u₋ ≠ u₊ and f is a given function satisfying f″(u) > 0 for u under consideration. By means of an elementary energy estimates method, both the global existence and the asymptotic behavior are obtained. When u₋ 〈 u₊, which corresponds to rarefaction waves in inviscid conservation laws, no smallness conditions are needed. While for u₋ > u₊, which corresponds to shock waves in inviscid conservation laws, it is established for weak shock waves, that is, |u₋−u₊| is small. Moreover, when u_±(t) ≡ u_±, t ≥ 0, exponential decay rates are both obtained.     

A stability analysis for a semilinear parabolic partial differential equation

We consider a parabolic partial differential equation u_t = u_xx + f(u), where ? ∞ < x < + ∞ and 0 < t < + ∞. Under suitable hypotheses pertaining to f, we exhibit a class of initial data φ(x), ? ∞ < x < + ∞, for which the corresponding solutions u(x, t) approach zero as t → + ∞. This convergence is uniform with respect to x on any compact subinterval of the real axis.     

Existence and asymptotic behavior of a functional differential equation in Banach space

Existence and asymptotic behavior of solutions are given for the equation u′(t) = ?A(t)u(t) + F(t,u_t) (t ? 0) and u₀ = ? ? C([?r,0]; X)  C. The space X is a Banach space; the family $\text{{A(t) ¦ 0 ? t ? T}}$ of unbounded linear operators defined on D(A) ? X → X generates a linear evolution system and F: C → X is continuous with respect to a fractional power of A(t₀) for some t₀ ? [0, T].     

Numerical solutions with a priori error bounds for coupled self-adjoint time dependent partial differential systems

This paper is concerned with the construction of accurate continuous numerical solutions for partial self-adjoint differential systems of the type (P(t) u_t)_t = Q(t)u_xx, u(0, t) = u(d, t) = 0, u(x, 0) = f(x), u_t(x, 0) = g(x), 0 ≤ x ≤ d, t >- 0, where P(t), Q(t) are positive definite oR^r×r-valued functions such that P′(t) and Q′(t) are simultaneously semidefinite (positive or negative) for all t ≥ 0. First, an exact theoretical series solution of the problem is obtained using a separation of variables technique. After appropriate truncation strategy and the numerical solution of certain matrix differential initial value problems the following question is addressed. Given T > 0 and an admissible error ϵ > 0 how to construct a continuous numerical solution whose error with respect to the exact series solution is smaller than ϵ, uniformly in D(T) = {(x, t); 0 ≤ x ≤ d, 0 ≤ t ≤ T}. Uniqueness of solutions is also studied.     

Analytic-numerical solutions with a priori error bounds for a class of strongly coupled mixed partial differential systems

This paper deals with the construction of analytic-numerical solutions with a priori error bounds for systems of the type u_t = Au_xx, u(0,t) + u_x(0,t) = 0, Bu(1,t) + Cu_x(1,t) = 0, 0 < x < 1, t > 0, u(x,0) = f(x). Here A, B, C are matrices for which no diagonalizable hypothesis is assumed. First an exact series solution is obtained after solving appropriate vector Sturm-Liouville-type problems. Given an admissible error ε and a bounded subdomain D, after appropriate truncation an approximate solution constructed in terms of data and approximate eigenvalues is given so that the error is less than the prefixed accuracy ε, uniformly in D.     

Existence, uniqueness and stability of travelling waves in a discrete reaction-diffusion monostable equation with delay

In this paper, we study the existence, uniqueness and asymptotic stability of travelling wavefronts of the following equation:

u_t(x,t)=D[u(x+1,t)+u(x-1,t)-2u(x,t)]-du(x,t)+b(u(x,t-r)),     

Generalized periodic solutions of quasilinear equations

We study a boundary-value periodic problem for the quasilinear equationu _ff ?u _xx =F[u,u _f u _x ],u(0,t) =u (π,t),u (x, t + π/q) =u(x, t), 0 ≤x ≤π,t ∈ ?,q ∈ ?. We establish conditions under which the theorem on the uniqueness of a smooth solution is true.     

Boundedness of global positive solutions of a porous medium equation with a moving localized source

In this paper a porous medium equation with a moving localized source ut=ur(Δu+af(u(x₀(t),t))) is considered. It is shown that under certain conditions solutions of the above equation blow up in finite time for large a or large initial data while there exist global positive solutions to the above equation for small a or small initial data. Moreover, in one space dimension case, it is also shown that all global positive solutions of the above equation are uniformly bounded, and this differs from that of a porous medium equation with a local source.     

Extremes of Gaussian processes with a smooth random variance

Let ξ(t) be a standard stationary Gaussian process with covariance function r(t), and η(t), another smooth random process. We consider the probabilities of exceedances of ξ(t)η(t) above a high level u occurring in an interval [0,T] with T>0. We present asymptotically exact results for the probability of such events under certain smoothness conditions of this process ξ(t)η(t), which is called the random variance process. We derive also a large deviation result for a general class of conditional Gaussian processes X(t) given a random element Y.