Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-topics-in-applied-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2010/a/2/c/ii/solution
Past exam of the topics in applied mathematics course of the University of Oxford 2010 A 2 c ii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-31
Yes. An immobile concentration can still change locally through reaction while diffusing transports activation. Vanishing diffusion of one component does not prohibit a propagating reaction front.
In the invariant special case , the first equation is already Fisher's equation with growth coefficient one, so it has travelling fronts regardless of . A one-diffuser reaction front also gives a coupled example with nonzero . For , the equations with areFor , choose , , and setIndeed and , giving the second equation. In the first, division by leaves , whose constant and coefficients both vanish with these choices. Ahead of the left-moving wave ; behind it . This explicitly demonstrates a travelling front with substrate depletion but no diffusion, rather than relying solely on the uncoupled special case.
New to topics? Read the docs here!