Conservation laws for a variable coefficient nonlinear diffusion–convection–reaction equation

Abstract

We find the Lie point symmetries of a class of second-order nonlinear diffusion–convection–reaction equations containing an unspecified coefficient function of the independent variable t and determine the subclasses of these equations which are nonlinearly self-adjoint. By using a general theorem on conservation laws proved recently by N.H. Ibragimov we establish conservation laws corresponding to the aforementioned Lie point symmetries, one by one, for the simultaneous system of the original equation together with its adjoint equation through a formal Lagrangian. Particularly, for the nonlinearly self-adjoint subclasses, we construct conservation laws for the corresponding equations themselves.