Bistable reaction-diffusion on a network

Abstract

We study analytically and numerically a bistable reaction-diffusion equation on an arbitrary finite network. We prove that stable fixed points (multi-fronts) exist for any configuration as long as the diffusion is small. We also study fold bifurcations leading to depinning and give a simple depinning criterion. These results are confirmed by using continuation techniques from bifurcation theory and by solving the time dependent problem near the treshold. A qualitative comparison principle is proved and verified for time dependent solutions, and for some related models.