Non-linear Stability of Modulated Fronts for the Swift-Hohenberg Equation

Abstract

We consider front solutions of the Swift-Hohenberg equation $\partial_t u= -(1+\partial_x^2)^2 u +ε^2 u -u^3$. These are traveling waves which leave in their wake a periodic pattern in the laboratory frame. Using renormalization techniques and a decomposition into Bloch waves, we show the non-linear stability of these solutions. It turns out that this problem is closely related to the question of stability of the trivial solution for the model problem $\partial_t u(x,t) = \partial_x^2 u (x,t)+(1+\tanh(x-ct))u(x,t)+u(x,t)^p$ with $p>3$. In particular, we show that the instability of the perturbation ahead of the front is entirely compensated by a diffusive stabilization which sets in once the perturbation has hit the bulk behind the front.