 Solution

Let $h=\log \psi$ and $f=2\alpha h_{\theta }$. Direct substitution into the viscous Burgers equation givesIf ${\psi }_Z=\alpha {\psi }_{\theta \theta }$, then $h_Z=\alpha (h_{\theta \theta }+h_{\theta }^2)$, proving the Cole-Hopf transformation. A function of $Z$ inside the parentheses can be removed by rescaling $\psi$ by a time-dependent factor, which leaves $f$ unchanged.

For the forward heat equation and the displayed Gaussian kernel we require $\alpha >0$ and $Z>0$. The algebraic transformation works for nonzero $\alpha$, but the printed convolution is not a forward solution for negative $\alpha$: its Gaussian then grows and the step-data integral diverges.

Integrating the initial logarithmic derivative fixes a convenient positive initial heat datum,Split the heat kernel convolution at zero and complete the square in the positive half. With $h_{\ast }=U(2\theta +UZ)/(4\alpha )$, putThen $\psi =(A_0+e^{h_{\ast }}{C}_0)/\sqrt{4\pi \alpha Z}$. On differentiation, the moving-limit terms cancel because $e^{h_{\ast }}{e}^{-(\theta +UZ{)}^2/(4\alpha Z)}=e^{-{\theta }^2/(4\alpha Z)}$. HenceThis is the viscous Burgers step solution with negative flux. Both integrals can be written as $\sqrt{\pi \alpha Z}$ times a complementary error function.

For fixed $Z>0$, the Gaussian-tail asymptotics give $f\to U$ as $\theta \to +\infty$ and $f\to 0$ as $\theta \to -\infty$. For example $J{e}^{-h_{\ast }}$ tends to zero on the right with a Gaussian factor $e^{-(\theta +UZ{)}^2/(4\alpha Z)}$, while on the left it diverges with a Gaussian factor $e^{{\theta }^2/(4\alpha Z)}$. This holds for either sign of $U$; for $U=0$ the solution is already zero.

The Gaussian tail is strictly decreasing in its lower limit, so $J=1$ occurs exactly at $\theta =-UZ/2$. There $h_{\ast }=0$, and $f=U/2$. For $U>0$, the two lower limits are both far into the negative tail in the mature shock region, so $J\simeq 1$ throughout its thin transition. The solution is then approximately the traveling viscous frontcentred at the inviscid shock position, with thickness of order $\alpha /U$.

In the vanishing-viscosity limit, for $U>0$ the solution tends to the compressive entropy solution of part (a), away from its shock. For $U<0$, it tends instead to the rarefaction wave. To see the latter explicitly inside $0<\theta <-UZ$, both tails have positive lower limits, and their leading asymptotics give $J{e}^{-h_{\ast }}\to (-\theta -UZ)/\theta$. Thus $f\to -\theta /Z$ in the fan, with the constant states outside. Although $J=1$ still marks the fan midpoint, it is not approximately one throughout the expanding fan; replacing it by one there would create an inadmissible compressive-front approximation.