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For positive diffusivity $D(x)$, a diffusion equation with potential-driven drift has diffusive flux $J=-D(c_x+\beta V^{\prime }c)$. On a finite interval with zero flux at both endpoints, the total amount is conserved. The substitution $c=e^{-\lambda t}{e}^{-\beta V}y$ converts the decay eigenvalue problem to the Sturm-Liouville problemThe Rayleigh quotient is $\lambda =\int p|y^{\prime }{|}^2/\int w|y{|}^2\ge 0$. Its zero eigenfunction is constant, giving the stationary solution $c_{\mathrm{eq}}=C{e}^{-\beta V}$. This is a spatial Boltzmann distribution; $D$ changes relaxation rates but cancels out of the zero-flux equilibrium profile. For a sufficiently regular positive $D$ and bounded $V$, the constant eigenfunction is the unique zero mode up to scale.

For $y\ne 0$, the separable differential equation gives $dy/y^2=dx$. Integrating gives $-1/y=x+C_0$, orEach solution is considered on an interval not containing its pole. The additional stationary solution $y=0$ is excluded by the stated condition.

For an admissible nonzero real trial function, integration by parts and the zero-flux boundary conditions reduce the Rayleigh quotient toA nonzero constant trial function attains zero. Positivity of $p$ also shows that equality requires $y^{\prime }=0$. HenceIf the conserved total amount is $M={\int }_{-L}^{L}cdx$, the normalized stationary solution isIts diffusive flux vanishes everywhere. The Boltzmann distribution fixes the spatial profile, while the diffusivity affects the relaxation toward it. Boundedness of $V$ makes the normalization finite on this finite interval.