Ancient multiple-layer solutions to the Allen-Cahn equation

TL;DR

This paper constructs multi-layer solutions to the one-dimensional Allen-Cahn equation, describing multiple transition layers that behave like diverging traveling waves as time approaches negative infinity.

Contribution

It introduces a method to explicitly construct solutions with any number of transition layers using Toda-type systems for interface positions.

Findings

Solutions with any number of layers are constructed.

Layer interfaces diverge logarithmically as time goes to negative infinity.

The interface positions follow a Toda-type dynamic system.

Abstract

We consider the parabolic one-dimensional Allen-Cahn equation $$u_t= u_{xx}+ u(1-u^2)\quad (x,t)\in \mathbb{R}\times (-\infty, 0].$$ The steady state $w(x) =\tanh (x/\sqrt{2})$, connects, as a "transition layer" the stable phases $-1$ and $+1$. We construct a solution $u$ with any given number $k$ of transition layers between $-1$ and $+1$. At main order they consist of $k$ time-traveling copies of $w$ with interfaces diverging one to each other as $t\to -\infty$. More precisely, we find $$ u(x,t) \approx \sum_{j=1}^k (-1)^{j-1}w(x-\xi_j(t)) + \frac 12 ((-1)^{k-1}- 1)\quad \hbox{as} t\to -\infty, $$ where the functions $\xi_j(t)$ satisfy a first order Toda-type system. They are given by $$\xi_j(t)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left(j-\frac{k+1}{2}\right)\log(-t)+\gamma_{jk},\quad j=1,...,k,$$ for certain explicit constants $\gamma_{jk}.$