On the structure of spectra of travelling waves

• Main Author: Péter Simon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Szeged 2003-10-01
• Series: Electronic Journal of Qualitative Theory of Differential Equations
• Online Access: http://www.math.u-szeged.hu/ejqtde/periodica.html?periodica=1&paramtipus_ertek=publication&param_ertek=158

The linear stability of the travelling wave solutions of a general reaction-diffusion system is investigated. The spectrum of the corresponding second order differential operator $L$ is studied. The problem is reduced to an asymptotically autonomous first order linear system. The relation between the spectrum of $L$ and the corresponding first order system is dealt with in detail. The first order system is investigated using exponential dichotomies. A self-contained short presentation is shown for the study of the spectrum, with elementary proofs. An algorithm is given for the determination of the exact position of the essential spectrum. The Evans function method for determining the isolated eigenvalues of $L$ is also presented. The theory is illustrated by three examples: a single travelling wave equation, a three variable combustion model and the generalized KdV equation.