Some multi-dimensional nonlinear partial differential equations reduce to a linear equation in fewer dimensions after imposing one additional constraint. A large class of useful conditionally integrable reaction-diffusion equations follows from a single non-classical symmetry reduction, yielding an infinite-dimensional but incomplete solution space. This solution device extends further to other nonlinear equations such as higher-order reaction-diffusion, fractional-order diffusion and diffusion-convection. Applications are shown for population dynamics with or without weak Allee effects, speed-limited hyperbolic diffusion, material phase field dynamics, soil-water-plant dynamics and calcium transport on the curved surface of an oocyte. Beyond non-classical symmetry analysis, examples of other conditionally integrable equations are given; nonlinear diffusion in 1 + 2 dimensions and the Madelung-Burgers quantum fluid in 1 + 3 dimensions.
Funding
P.B. gratefully acknowledges support from the Australian Research Council grant no. DP220101680 ‘Random fields: non-Gaussian stochastic models and approximation schemes’ and from IMI-Kyushu University for the project ‘Statistics and Mathematical Modelling in Combination’. B.H.B.-H. is grateful for support from the Australian Research Council Discovery Project no. DP200102130.
History
Publication Date
2023-08-30
Journal
Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences