Evans Function Research Articles

Stability of fronts in the diffusive Rosenzweig–MacArthur model

AbstractWe consider a diffusive Rosenzweig–MacArthur predator–prey model in the situation when the prey diffuses at a rate much smaller than that of the predator. In a certain parameter regime, the existence of fronts in the system is known: the underlying dynamical system in a singular limit is reduced to a scalar Fisher–KPP (Kolmogorov–Petrovski–Piskunov) equation and the fronts supported by the full system are small perturbations of the Fisher–KPP fronts. The existence proof is based on the application of the Geometric Singular Perturbation Theory with respect to two small parameters. This paper is focused on the stability of the fronts. We show that, for some parameter regime, the fronts are spectrally and asymptotically stable using energy estimates, exponential dichotomies, the Evans function calculation, and a technique that involves constructing unstable augmented bundles. The energy estimates provide bounds on the unstable spectrum which depend on the small parameters of the system; the bounds are inversely proportional to these parameters. We further improve these estimates by showing that the eigenvalue problem is a small perturbation of some limiting (as the modulus of the eigenvalue parameter goes to infinity) system and that the limiting system has exponential dichotomies. Persistence of the exponential dichotomies then leads to bounds uniform in the small parameters. The main novelty of this approach is related to the fact that the limit of the eigenvalue problem is not autonomous. We then use the concept of the unstable augmented bundles and by treating these as multiscale topological structures with respect to the same two small parameters consequently as in the existence proof, we show that the stability of the fronts is also governed by the scalar Fisher–KPP equation. Furthermore, we perform numerical computations of the Evans function to explicitly identify regions in the parameter space where the fronts are spectrally stable.

Numerical spectral analysis of standing waves in quantum hydrodynamics with viscosity

<abstract><p>We study the spectrum of the linearization around standing wave profiles for two quantum hydrodynamics systems with linear and nonlinear viscosity. The essential spectrum for such profiles is stable; we investigate the point spectrum using an Evans function technique. For both systems we show numerically that there exists a real unstable eigenvalue, thus providing numerical evidence for spectral instability.</p></abstract>

An Evans function for the linearised 2D Euler equations using Hill’s determinant

We study the point spectrum of the linearisation of Euler’s equation for the ideal fluid on the torus about a shear flow. By separation of variables the problem is reduced to the spectral theory of a complex Hill’s equation. Using Hill’s determinant an Evans function of the original Euler equation is constructed. The Evans function allows us to completely characterise the point spectrum of the linearisation, and to count the isolated eigenvalues with non-zero real part. We prove that the number of discrete eigenvalues of the linearised operator for a specific shear flow is exactly twice the number of non-zero integer lattice points inside the so-called unstable disc.

Fredholm determinants, Evans functions and Maslov indices for partial differential equations

Fredholm determinants, Evans functions and Maslov indices for partial differential equations

Bifurcations and spectral stability of solitary waves in coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations

We study bifurcations and spectral stability of solitary waves in coupled nonlinear Schrödinger (CNLS) equations on the line. We assume that the coupled equations possess a solution of which one component is identically zero, and call it a fundamental solitary wave. We establish criteria under which the fundamental solitary wave undergoes a pitchfork bifurcation, and utilize the Hamiltonian-Krein index theory and Evans function technique to determine the spectral and/or orbital stability of the bifurcated solitary waves as well as that of the fundamental one under some nondegenerate conditions which are easy to verify, compared with those of the previous results. We apply our theory to a cubic nonlinearity case and give numerical evidences for the theoretical results.

Stability of Traveling Fronts in a Neural Field Model

We investigate the stability of traveling front solutions in the neural field model. This model has been studied intensively regarding propagating patterns with saturating Heaviside gain for neuron firing activity. Previous work has shown the existence of traveling fronts in the neural field model in a more complex setting, using a nonsaturating piecewise linear gain. We aimed to study the stability of traveling fronts in the neural field model utilizing the Evans function. We attained the Evans function of traveling fronts using an integration of analytical derivations and a computational approach for the neural field model, with previously uninvestigated piecewise linear gain. Using this approach, we are able to identify both stable and unstable traveling fronts in the neural field model.

Stability of the aneurysm-type solution in a membrane tube with localized wall thinning filled with a fluid with a non-constant velocity profile

We perform the stability analysis of bulging localized structures on the wall of a fluid-filled axisymmetric membrane elastic tube. The wall of the tube is assumed to be subjected to localized thinning. The problem has no translational invariance anymore, hence the stability of a bulging wave centered in the point of the localization of imperfection is usual, and not orbital stability up to a shift as in the case of translationally invariant governing equations. Motionless wave solutions of the governing equations having the form of a localized bulging are called throughout the paper aneurysm solutions. We assume that the fluid is subjected to the power law for viscous friction of a non-Newtonian fluid, and also that the viscosity of the fluid does not play a significant role and it can be neglected. The velocity profile remains not constant along the cross section of the tube (even in the absence of the viscosity) because no-slip boundary conditions are performed on the tube walls. Stability is established by demonstrating the non-existence of the unstable eigenvalues with a positive real part of the linearized problem. This is achieved by constructing the Evans function depending only on the spectral parameter, analytic in the right half of the complex plane Ω+ and which zeroes in Ω+ coincide with the unstable eigenvalues of the problem. The non-existence of zeroes of the Evans function is performed using the argument principle from the analysis of complex variable. Finally, we discuss the possibility of applying of the results of the present analysis to the aneurysm formation in damaged human vessels under the action of the internal pressure.

Symplectic transversality and the Pego-Weinstein theory

This paper studies the linear stability problem for solitary wave solutions of Hamiltonian PDEs. The linear stability problem is formulated in terms of the Evans function, a complex analytic function denoted by D(λ), where λ is the spectral parameter. The main result is the introduction of a new factor, denoted Π, in the Pego & Weinstein (1992) derivative formulaD″(0)=χΠdIdc, where I is the momentum of the solitary wave and c is the speed. Moreover this factor turns out to be related to transversality of the solitary wave, modeled as a homoclinic orbit: the homoclinic orbit is transversely constructed if and only if Π≠0. The sign of Π is a symplectic invariant, an intrinsic property of the solitary wave, and is a key new factor affecting the linear stability. The factor χ was already introduced by Bridges & Derks (1999) and is based on the asymptotics of the solitary wave. A supporting result is the introduction of a new abstract class of Hamiltonian PDEs built on a nonlinear Dirac-type equation, which model a wide range of PDEs in applications. Examples where the theory applies, other than Dirac operators, are the coupled mode equation in fluid mechanics and optics, the massive Thirring model, and coupled nonlinear wave equations. A calculation of D″(0) for solitary wave solutions of the latter class is included to illustrate the theory.

Classification and stability analysis of polarising and depolarising travelling wave solutions for a model of collective cell migration

We study travelling wave solutions of a 1D continuum model for collective cell migration in which cells are characterised by position and polarity. Four different types of travelling wave solutions are identified which represent polarisation and depolarisation waves resulting from either colliding or departing cell sheets as observed in model wound experiments. We study the linear stability of the travelling wave solutions numerically and using spectral theory. This involves the computation of the Evans function most of which we are able to carry out explicitly, with one final step left to numerical simulation.

Stability of traveling wave in a PDE approximation of coupled arrays of Chua's circuit

Coupled arrays of Chua's circuit have been studied extensively. The system admits traveling front, back, pulse as well as periodic and chaotic waves. However, the stability problem of these waves has rarely been investigated. In this paper, we consider the PDE approximation of the system and prove for the PDE that the traveling back is nonlinearly stable. The question of stability can be reduced to an eigenvalue problem in R4. The Evans function method is applied, along with the geometric singular perturbation theory and the smooth linearization.

Large-amplitude modulation of periodic traveling waves

<p style='text-indent:20px;'>We introduce a new approach to the study of modulation of high-frequency periodic wave patterns, based on pseudodifferential analysis, multi-scale expansion, and Kreiss symmetrizer estimates like those in hyperbolic and hyperbolic-parabolic boundary-value theory. Key ingredients are local Floquet transformation as a preconditioner removing large derivatives in the normal direction of background rapidly oscillating fronts and the use of the periodic Evans function of Gardner to connect spectral information on component periodic waves to block structure of the resulting approximately constant-coefficient resolvent ODEs. Our main result is bounded-time existence and validity to all orders of large-amplitude smooth modulations of planar periodic solutions of multi-D reaction diffusion systems in the high-frequency/small wavelength limit.</p>

Spectral stability of pattern-forming fronts in the complex Ginzburg–Landau equation with a quenching mechanism

We consider pattern-forming fronts in the complex Ginzburg–Landau equation with a traveling spatial heterogeneity which destabilises, or quenches, the trivial ground state while progressing through the domain. We consider the regime where the heterogeneity propagates with speed c just below the linear invasion speed of the pattern-forming front in the associated homogeneous system. In this situation, the front locks to the interface of the heterogeneity leaving a long intermediate state lying near the unstable ground state, possibly allowing for growth of perturbations. This manifests itself in the spectrum of the linearisation about the front through the accumulation of eigenvalues onto the absolute spectrum associated with the unstable ground state. As the quench speed c increases towards the linear invasion speed, the absolute spectrum stabilises with the same rate at which eigenvalues accumulate onto it allowing us to rigorously establish spectral stability of the front in . The presence of unstable absolute spectrum poses a technical challenge as spatial eigenvalues along the intermediate state no longer admit a hyperbolic splitting and standard tools such as exponential dichotomies are unavailable. Instead, we projectivise the linear flow, and use Riemann surface unfolding in combination with a superposition principle to study the evolution of subspaces as solutions to the associated matrix Riccati differential equation on the Grassmannian manifold. Eigenvalues can then be identified as the roots of the meromorphic Riccati–Evans function, and can be located using winding number and parity arguments.

Linear Stability of Solitary Waves for the Isothermal Euler–Poisson System

We study the asymptotic linear stability of a two-parameter family of solitary waves for the isothermal Euler–Poisson system. When the linearized equations about the solitary waves are considered, the associated eigenvalue problem in \(L^2\) space has a zero eigenvalue embedded in the neutral spectrum, i.e., there is no spectral gap. To resolve this issue, use is made of an exponentially weighted \(L^2\) norm so that the essential spectrum is strictly shifted into the left-half plane, and this is closely related to the fact that solitary waves exist in the super-ion-sonic regime. Furthermore, in a certain long-wavelength scaling, we show that the Evans function for the Euler–Poisson system converges to that for the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation as an amplitude parameter tends to zero, from which we deduce that the origin is the only eigenvalue on its natural domain with algebraic multiplicity two. We also show that the solitary waves are spectrally stable in \(L^2\) space. Moreover, we discuss (in)stability of large amplitude solitary waves.

Spectral stability of bacteria pulses for a Keller-Segel chemotactic model

This paper is concerned with the stability of traveling waves for a Keller-Segel model with singular chemotactic term and zero chemo-attractant diffusion, where the model and the waves are established to explain the propagation of bacteria pulses along a capillary tube observed in Adler's experiment [1]. By applying the detailed spectral analysis, Evans function method and special transformations and combining with some numerical simulations, in some range of the parameters all the waves are shown to be spectrally stable in some exponentially weighted spaces, and in other range of parameters all the waves are shown to be unstable in any exponentially weighted spaces. The local well-posedness of the classical positive solution to the Cauchy problem of the model is also obtained by applying semigroup argument and some special transformations.

Matched asymptotic expansion approach to pulse dynamics for a three-component reaction–diffusion system

We study the existence and stability of standing pulse solutions to a singularly perturbed three-component reaction–diffusion system with one activator and two inhibitors. We apply the MAE (matched asymptotic expansion) method to construct solutions and the SLEP (singular limit eigenvalue problem) method to evaluate their stability. This approach is not just an alternative approach to geometric singular perturbation and the associated Evans function, it also yields two advantages: one is extendability to higher dimensional cases, and the other is that it allows us to obtain more precise information about the behaviors of critical eigenvalues. This implies the existence of codimension-two singularities of drift and Hopf bifurcations for the standing pulse solution. Moreover, it is numerically confirmed that stable standing and traveling breathers emerge around the singularity in a physically acceptable region.

Spectral analysis of dispersive shocks for quantum hydrodynamics with nonlinear viscosity

In this paper, we investigate spectral stability of traveling wave solutions to 1D quantum hydrodynamics system with nonlinear viscosity in the [Formula: see text], that is, density and velocity, variables. We derive a sufficient condition for the stability of the essential spectrum and we estimate the maximum modulus of eigenvalues with non-negative real part. In addition, we present numerical computations of the Evans function in sufficiently large domain of the unstable half-plane and show numerically that its winding number is (approximately) zero, thus giving a numerical evidence of point spectrum stability.

Stability analysis of traveling wave solutions of a generalized Korteweg–de Vries–Burgers equation with variable dissipation parameter

We consider traveling wave solutions of a generalized Korteweg–de Vries–Burgers equation. The dissipation coefficient depends on coordinate and time and has a smoothed step-like form at every instant of time. Small-scale processes of dissipation and dispersion determine the solution of the traveling wave problem in the high-gradient region. The flux function is non-convex and has two inflection points. It is shown that traveling wave solutions with the same wave speed can converge to the three different limiting values behind the wave. The Evans function technique is used to conduct linear stability analysis. We demonstrate that traveling wave solutions can be linearly stable for each of the three possible cases. Thus, we found linearly stable solutions in the form of a traveling wave, which correspond to admissible discontinuities in hyperbolic model. These discontinuities have the same speed but different states behind them.

Transverse bifurcation of viscous slow MHD shocks

We study by a combination of analytical and numerical Evans function techniques multi-D viscous and inviscid stability and associated transverse bifurcation of planar slow Lax MHD shocks in a channel with periodic boundary conditions. Notably, this includes the first multi-D numerical Evans function study for viscous MHD. Our results suggest that, rather than a planar shock, a nonplanar traveling wave with the same normal velocity is the typical mode of propagation in the slow Lax mode. Moreover, viscous and inviscid stability transitions appear to agree, answering (for this particular model and setting) an open question of Zumbrun and Serre.

Asymptotic stability of two types of traveling waves for some predator-prey models

<p style='text-indent:20px;'>This paper is concerned with the asymptotic stability of wave fronts and oscillatory waves for some predator-prey models. By spectral analysis and applying Evans function method with some numerical simulations, we show that the two types of waves with noncritical speeds are spectrally stable and nonlinearly exponentially stable in some exponentially weighted spaces.

Dynamics and spectral stability of soliton-like structures in fluid-filled membrane tubes

This survey presents results on the stability of elevation solitary waves in axisymmetric elastic membrane tubes filled with a fluid. The elastic tube material is characterized by an elastic potential (elastic energy) that depends non-linearly on the principal deformations and describes the compliant elastic media. Our survey uses a simple model of an inviscid incompressible fluid, which nevertheless makes it possible to trace the main regularities of the dynamics of solitary waves. One of these regularities is the spectral stability (linear stability in form) of these waves. The basic equations of the ‘axisymmetric tube – ideal fluid’ system are formulated, and the equations for the fluid are averaged over the cross-section of the tube, that is, a quasi-one-dimensional flow with waves whose length significantly exceeds the radius of the tube is considered. The spectral stability with respect to axisymmetric perturbations is studied by constructing the Evans function for the system of basic equations linearized around a solitary wave type solution. The Evans function depends only on the spectral parameter , is analytic in the right-hand complex half-plane , and its zeros in coincide with unstable eigenvalues. The problems treated include stability of steady solitary waves in the absence of a fluid inside the tube (the case of constant internal pressure), together with the case of local inhomogeneity (thinning) of the tube wall, the presence of a steady fluid filling the tube (the case of zero mean flow) or a moving fluid (the case of non-zero mean flow), and also the problem of stability of travelling solitary waves propagating along the tube with non-zero speed. Bibliography: 83 titles.